Ray D'Arcy asks MD of Radio to remove Nuacht - MOD NOTE #76

John Joe Jones

In one of the papers today that Ray D'Arcy has written to Jim Jennings demanding that Nuacht be removed from the 3.30 slot, Nuacht has been broadcast at 3.30pm on RTE Radio 1 for decades, Val Joyce, Donncha O'Dulaing, Ronan Collins.John Creedon and Derek Mooney never had a problem with it while they hosted the R1 afternoon show.

Atlantic Dawn

I suppose when his JNLR figures are released and if he is showing a big gain on Mooney he can make such demands.

L1011

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I suppose when his JNLR figures are released and if he is showing a big gain on Mooney he can make such demands.

The book being released will have 2 months of his show - even the quarterly trading figures which aren't in the public release won't be accurate enough to guess anything from.

Stillhouette

I don't understand why the Nuacht has to be on Radio 1 anyway. RTÉ do run an entire service for the Irish language after all.

Atlantic Dawn

Stillhouette wrote: »

I don't understand why the Nuacht has to be on Radio 1 anyway. RTÉ do run an entire service for the Irish language after all.

Exactly. Is there English news at 3.30pm on RnaG, if not why not?

CountyHurler

I hope this ends the same way as the demand for the last hour of George Hook's show...

bbability

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Exactly. Is there English news at 3.30pm on RnaG, if not why not?

I believe he has every right to have it removed. It's well out of date to force the Irish news on everyone at 3.30. If your of the Irish Speaking nature of less than 1% of the national audience they know where to find it.
With the advancement of technology and most of the nation using modern devices to listen to radio, it's long overdue the bullit. RTE R NA G covers all their needs.

ThisRegard

He has as much right to have it removed as someone working in the canteen with the odd priced soup.

CountyHurler

When the show first aired in February, D'Arcy said that they had been working on it for the month of January, yet the show sounded like there had been absolutely no preparation at all.... And now three months in, he suddenly decides that he wants to get rid of Nuacht.... You'd wonder did anybody in RTE actually sit down with D'Arcy and discuss what the show was gonna be about and what was expected of him before they started shovelling money in to his account...

jimmyw

Yeah I was listening to the podcast of the piece with Una Mullally and I got the impression that he was peed off with having to go to it in the middle of a serious interview.

TBH, if anyone wants to listen to the Irish language news, then go over to RnaG.RTE should not have it on at all to be fair.

Addle

jimmyw wrote: »

Yeah I was listening to the podcast of the piece with Una Mullally and I got the impression that he was peed off with having to go to it in the middle of a serious interview.

So time the start of the interview accordingly.

jelutong

Getting rid of Darcy would be a better idea. He's floundering.

Skid X

I haven't been impressed with his Radio 1 show, but I think Darcy has a point here.

The Nuacht serves little purpose on this show. If anyone wants news in Irish, RTE have an entire Radio station to serve the relatively small number of people who might be interested.

Just because it has always been on Radio 1 at that time does not mean it should remain there forever.

coylemj

CountyHurler wrote: »

When the show first aired in February, D'Arcy said that they had been working on it for the month of January, yet the show sounded like there had been absolutely no preparation at all.... And now three months in, he suddenly decides that he wants to get rid of Nuacht.... You'd wonder did anybody in RTE actually sit down with D'Arcy and discuss what the show was gonna be about and what was expected of him before they started shovelling money in to his account...

Nobody in RTE needed to discuss anything with him, he brought his Today FM format over lock, stock and Arthur Murphy! You're bang on when you say there was no preparation at all - it's clear that RTE wanted the man and are prepared to let him dictate the format.

coylemj

Skid X wrote: »

I haven't been impressed with his Radio 1 show, but I think Darcy has a point here.

The Nuacht serves little purpose on this show. If anyone wants news in Irish, RTE have an entire Radio station to serve the relatively small number of people who might be interested.

Just because it has always been on Radio 1 at that time does not mean it should remain there forever.

Big problem dropping it from RTE1 - it would mean they'd have to dump it from 2FM as well.

I suspect that when TG4 (originally TnaG) and RnaG were being set up that RTE was told that while they'd be able to drop Irish language drama and current affairs programs, they would still have to do Irish language news bulletins on Radio and TV.

hotmail.com

The Gael people will get outraged over a short news bulletin that no one listens to being discontinued.

Like does anyone actually get their news digest off Nuacht at 3.30 PM?

John Joe Jones

If D'Arcy doesn't want Nuacht, why didn't he stay at Today fm?

ThisRegard

hotmail.com wrote: »

The Gael people will get outraged over a short news bulletin that no one listens to being discontinued.

Just like everyone getting outraged about the existence of a short news bulletin?

bbability

John Joe Jones wrote: »

If D'Arcy doesn't want Nuacht, why didn't he stay at Today fm?

Now thats a different debate altogether. I wonder how many listeners RTE lose when they air Nuacht on Radio 1 and 2FM? I'm sure theres a report somewhere showing the drop in listenership.

actua11

Something I haven't been able to find is the regulations on how much gaelige each broadcaster is needed to put out during every day. (If such a thing actually does exist)

I know some stations work in gaelige through the 'Top 30' chart as gaelige, Today FM I presume still do the 'creid é nó ná creid' segments and so forth. I can only assume that Radio 1 are also held to this requirement and achieve it by having a nuacht spot at 3:30?

I have no problem with having it on Radio 1, but if the broadcaster really feels that if is damaging to his show (which if it interrupts interviews it probably is), the perhaps it can be moved to a more suitable time during the show, or perhaps worked into a gap between D'Arcy and Drivetime.

Like I say, the nuacht in itself shouldn't be a problem, but if the timing of it is, then that is a problem that can be easily solved witha simple scheduling shift to fit it in somewhere beter.

StaticNoise

RnaG has a remit to serve the Irish speaking listenership nationally, and they serve the entire Island on FM. It is not like they are hidden away on a localised DAB service or require high speed broadband. I agree that the bulletin should be removed, or that other bulletins should be dramatically reduced.

I believe that it is kept, and promoted, especially on 2FM, so that they can jump on the 'supporting an Gaeilge' bandwagon when SnG comes around each year.
There's no need for it to be kept in its current form.

BPKS

He has a point. It would be one less button for him to press and therefore one less chance to mess it up.

L1011

actua11 wrote: »

I know some stations work in gaelige through the 'Top 30' chart as gaelige, Today FM I presume still do the 'creid é nó ná creid' segments and so forth. I can only assume that Radio 1 are also held to this requirement and achieve it by having a nuacht spot at 3:30?

RTE's licences are not the same as commercial licences, BAI requirements for content don't exist as a result. Lyric wouldn't get close to any of them if they did - Irish content, Irish music content or news/current affairs content.

Zxclnic

bbability wrote: »

Now thats a different debate altogether. I wonder how many listeners RTE lose when they air Nuacht on Radio 1 and 2FM? I'm sure theres a report somewhere showing the drop in listenership.

I agree. Similarly I always switch from 'Drivetime' when the 'Angelus' comes on, and if Matt Cooper can then hold my interest I'll stick with him. I wonder how many listeners RTE loses each day because of that nonsense, as well as 'Nuacht'.

Addle

BPKS wrote: »

He has a point. It would be one less button for him to press and therefore one less chance to mess it up.

But what will he blame the fragmented nature of the show on if the nuact isn't broadcast?

evilivor

Addle wrote: »

But what will he blame the fragmented nature of the show on if the nuact isn't broadcast?

One of his many producers?

Atlantic Dawn

They should just alternate the news on Radio 1/2FM so every 2nd news on the hour is in Irish and scrap the half hourly bulletins, problem solved.

I also feel that RNaG should have an English language obligation to play the same amount of English language radio as the others have to play in Irish, this would help those who have no English and would like to learn the language.

AlanG

It really should stay, Its a variety station and this is part of the variety and a very important part of our culture. I always like to hear some Irish on Irish radio. You could tune to BBC if you want to hear about the royal baby in English.

bbability

AlanG wrote: »

It really should stay, Its a variety station and this is part of the variety and a very important part of our culture. I always like to hear some Irish on Irish radio. You could tune to BBC if you want to hear about the royal baby in English.

Actually BBC serve the Welsh and Scottish speakers very well indeed. BBC Alba has proved a big success. But I don't see BBC Radio Scotland or Wales playing a News bulletin in Welsh or Scottish during mid afternoon. There are far more important matters to address in English.

Expunge

D'Arcy is really foolish.
Talk about winning friends and influencing people!

Not content with the sneaky beaky parachuting in of two "producers" (with RTE management approval), who are not recognised by SIPTU. Those two haven't done the approved qualification course after a public competition for the jobs they are in. That has got the backs up of the heavily unionised staff in the Radio Centre.

Now he's off to antagonise NUJ members based at R na G - the sacred cow service of RTE.
It had better keep fine for you Mr. D'Arcy, because I'd say there'll be a few waiting in the long grass. Some of these folks have long memories.

mrbrianj

bbability wrote: »

Actually BBC serve the Welsh and Scottish speakers very well indeed. BBC Alba has proved a big success. But I don't see BBC Radio Scotland or Wales playing a News bulletin in Welsh or Scottish during mid afternoon. There are far more important matters to address in English.

Far more important issue to discuss? at 3.30, on Radio 1, on the Ray Darcy Show??

What are peoples issues with this
Is it because it's Irish
Is it because its 3.30 news slot
Is it because Ray wants it

There is nothing to be getting hot and bothered about a brief Irish news slot. Hit the button and turn back when that gets too boring, or just hold on if you are interested in Rays show.

Wanderer78

sounds like ray needs to get over himself. probably more to the story though

SEPT 23 1989

How are Ray and the crew meant to work around Nuacht,its not as if its on at the same time everyday of the week

twinklerunner

Expunge wrote: »

D'Arcy is really foolish.
Talk about winning friends and influencing people!

Not content with the sneaky beaky parachuting in of two "producers" (with RTE management approval), who are not recognised by SIPTU. Those two haven't done the approved qualification course after a public competition for the jobs they are in. That has got the backs up of the heavily unionised staff in the Radio Centre.

Now he's off to antagonise NUJ members based at R na G - the sacred cow service of RTE.
It had better keep fine for you Mr. D'Arcy, because I'd say there'll be a few waiting in the long grass. Some of these folks have long memories.

Sounds good to me if it antagonises both NUJ & SIPTU

Expunge

twinklerunner wrote: »

Sounds good to me if it antagonises both NUJ & SIPTU

I'm not saying it's not a good thing but in the long run, the Brothers might take him down.
If his own crappy show doesn't do it first, of course.

If he got straight into his interviews instead of foosterin around for the first ten minutes with disjointed, barely understandable monologues, this wouldn't be an issue.

serfboard

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

How are Ray and the crew meant to work around Nuacht,its not as if its on at the same time everyday of the week

Exactly. Ray f**k's up the timing of an interview, then rather than admit it was his (or possibly Jenny's) fault, blames the Nuacht, which is on at the same time everyday, instead.

Why not just abolish the Nuacht - why not the news, the sports news, ads, and anything else that might interrupt the flow? (Like music, for example :rolleyes:).

No. Instead Ray goes for what he perceives to be a soft target.

The show is only an hour and a half long, and you're supposed to such a great broadcaster that you're being paid a shedload of money to do it right. So do it right.

reg114

Darcy has become a byword for negativity and depressing radio, sucking the life out of every discussion, every observation and every interviewee.

Rte thought they were being clever buying a recognizable name experienced in both codes of TV and radio but in reality they've acquired a jaded presenter showing all the signs of someone who's past his sell by date even by radio one's standards.

Both Jenny and Will are clearly completely blind to Ray's paralysing negativity, which illustrates why they should not have been allowed join him at rte.

As far as nuacht is concerned, it's an outdated depressing relic of a bygone era... Come to think of it Ray and the nuacht have a lot in common.

Bacachb2

Radio na Gaeltachta is the all Irish channel of the National Broadcaster RTE. It doesn't broadcast a " service for the Irish language" .It broadcasts in Irish to citizens of this country who speak Irish, citizens who speak Irish and English There are people all over the world who lisen to the radio station and have never been here Some people with no Irish listen to the music Sometimes when I'm listening to R a G in the afternoon I would check Nuacht on Rte1 as ther aren't headlines on Rna G until 4pm
There is NO GOOD reason to drop Nuacht in the afternoon because Ray D'Arcy hasn't acquired the skills to transfer from a sensitive issue to a scheduled Nuacht
It also appears he needs to improve on his technique at introducing the presener of the Nuacht and failing that I think he should apologise properly for the manner in which he did that

John Joe Jones

Remember all the fuss before christmas about RTE planning to shut lw 252 ? well it could be said that the Nuacht on RTE R1 is the only way irish elderly people in the uk have of hearing their native language.

somejoke

He thinks he owns da place now, some cheek!

somesoldiers

Maybe he needs a couple more producers to be able to fit the daily interview around Nuacht.

bbability

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

How are Ray and the crew meant to work around Nuacht,its not as if its on at the same time everyday of the week

This isn't about Ray Darcy and I'm not his biggest fan in the world but he's raised a very good point (if he has).
It's about choice. I don't want to hear the Irish Speaking news on a predominantly English speaking channel. They have a national reach on FM and a worldwide reach on many platforms so the need for the Irish News to go out on RTE 1 or RTE 2 has past its sell by date. Sure why not throw in the Polish News straight after the Irish News if that's the case. There would probably be more tuned into that. The Irish speaking communityhave there own very heavily subsidised radio channel. Fair is Fair.

Bacachb2

Ray Darcy hasn't raised any point here This issue people have with I the broadcasting of Irish language programmes on our National channel has been flagged to death.Thanfully the enforcement of the English language in the Primary school system (started under British rule) has not totally obliterated our culture though It came close enough before the Celtic Revival
I'm not a fluent speaer but I've enough of the language to follow the programme content on R na G and TG4 and actually some local stations had Polish section s when Polish speakers were in a higher numbers here R na G maybe dependent on public funding but it's broadcast content is independent of any commercial or advertising influences
How many food /cookery programme s to you see on others channels sponsored by food companies marketing items that are unhealthy ??
We don't get weather forecast without a bowel of cream being poured over something ina way that would block your arteries by looking at it
Let's have some Polish language and culture in our programmes
They would be great and could be slotted in instead of Ray D'Arcy but let's not be disparaging of The Nuacht on our National channel

Bacachb2

Ray Darcy hasn't raised any point here This issue people have with I the broadcasting of Irish language programmes on our National channel has been flagged to death.Thanfully the enforcement of the English language in the Primary school system (started under British rule) has not totally obliterated our culture though It came close enough before the Celtic Revival
I'm not a fluent speaer but I've enough of the language to follow the programme content on R na G and TG4 and actually some local stations had Polish section s when Polish speakers were in a higher numbers here R na G maybe dependent on public funding but it's broadcast content is independent of any commercial or advertising influences
How many food /cookery programme s to you see on others channels sponsored by food companies marketing items that are unhealthy ??
We don't get weather forecast without a bowel of cream being poured over something ina way that would block your arteries by looking at it
Let's have some Polish language and culture in our programmes
They would be great and could be slotted in instead of Ray D'Arcy but let's not be disparaging of The Nuacht on our National channel

CountyHurler

It would have been funny last week if nuacht had announced "An aimsir, beidh sé te inniu agus beidh an grian ag teatneamh. Agus Ray ar a laethanta saoire :pac:... muwhahahahhaha"

ThisRegard

bbability wrote: »

This isn't about Ray Darcy and I'm not his biggest fan in the world but he's raised a very good point (if he has).
It's about choice. I don't want to hear the Irish Speaking news on a predominantly English speaking channel. They have a national reach on FM and a worldwide reach on many platforms so the need for the Irish News to go out on RTE 1 or RTE 2 has past its sell by date. Sure why not throw in the Polish News straight after the Irish News if that's the case. There would probably be more tuned into that. The Irish speaking communityhave there own very heavily subsidised radio channel. Fair is Fair.

Do you not see the irony in you complaining about choice by not wanting other people have the choice hearing it?

bbability

ThisRegard wrote: »

Do you not see the irony in you complaining about choice by not wanting other people have the choice hearing it?

They can hear on Irish speaking station. The have plenty of choice. That's not a problem. If Irish speaking people had no choice then I'd be on the 3.30 team

ThisRegard

Why is it a problem when it's on for such an insignificant amount of time that you'd hardly notice it?

It's never been a problem with any presenter over the decades until now.

somesoldiers

Bacachb2 wrote: »

a bowel of cream

yum, yum

Ash.J.Williams

Wanderer78 wrote: »

sounds like ray needs to get over himself. probably more to the story though

he mistimed a serious interview and got audibly angry when he had to cut to the nuacht. I believe the cailin nuacht seemed a little peeved with him over it.

jimd2

I am glad that others also fail to see what RTE saw in this guy to bring him back on a (probably) inflated salary.

I just don't like him and some of the rubbish he has spouted over the years. One of the advantages of working is that the amount of times I end up listening to him is very rare (Radio 1 is kind of my default station).

I cannot understand why RTE had to head hunt him when there is other talent out there and not as arrogant in my mind. He probably has a point regarding that slot but that shouls have been sorted in negotiations not in pulic like this afterwards.

RTE would have been far better off developing some younger talent in this slot.