Anorak Hour...a few comments

wolfbag

A few points to keep in mind before I start...

1) first of all, while the ANorak Hour doesn't float my personal boat at all, there are bound to be people out there who look forward to it every week, so I suppose it has as much right as any show to be on the air. (though it is pretty esoteric programming and somewhat flies in teh face of some stuff Pete R said in some other thread about pleasing the punters being the most important thing...but I'm digressing and risking a verbal kicking off Pete...*smack*...ouch!)
2) I've no probs with Gerard Roe, in fact I reckon his spot after the Anorak Hour is probably one of the best mixes of stuff in the week...so this ain't a personal thing either.

Right, having got the above straight, on to my whinge...the staple output of the Anorak Hour is clips of classic pirate stations and DJs doing their thang. OK, Radio Caroline broadcasting off some God forsaken tub in the middle of the ocean does, I'm sure, get the heart of the average radio enthusiat racing. But what really gets me is when we're subjected (my CD player's broken!) to clips from 98FM from like 6 months ago, just because the DJ once farted in Radio Nova's studio in 1985 or something...why on earth are Phantom re-broadcasting some moustachioed, blow-dried Nicey with a mid-Atlantic drawl and a polyester jumper playing Phil ****ing Collins (that's his middle name as far as I'm concerned) or suchlike? Drives me bloody mad of a Sunday so it does. Just don't see the value of it...if I wanted to listen to Tony Fenton or one of these gob****es I'd tune into one of the crap stations myself...

Anyone wit me, lids?

ferdi

that show is very very boring, as far as i can see it has nothing going for it.

i listen to quite alot of phantom and the "anorak hour" is the only show that i just have to switch off. dont get me wrong, it could be quite a good idea but the shows present format is terrible.

but hey, thats just me.

ONE LOVE:mad:

ferdi

gouty

Hmm i don't know, usually i'd be jumping on bandwagons at this stage but that guy seems to go to so much effort putting the show together, and seems to have been doing it for quite a while on various different stations along the way.

My boat isn't floated either, but i'd be afraid to knock the guy for it. It's kind of like those people who write those daily weblogs on the net- i'm sure theres a market for them, but i sure as jimmy don't understand it...

Lunar Junkie

I've got to go along with this one, the Anorak Hour is the one Phantom programme I always switch off. If somebody feels the need to document the history of pirate radio, that's great... but it doesn't make the most thrilling listening imaginable.

SimonMaher

Hello all, and thanks for the comments re The Anorak Hour.

I agree that it is not to everyones taste but it does have a strong and very loyal audience. Trust me on this one, you would be amazed at the amount of calls/emails etc the programme gets not just from people with an interest in radio history but from normal punters too. And its response from abroad (its also carried on the Internet and via short-wave) is also excellent.

It is intended as a niche programme aimed at a specific audience. Its not, nor ever will be mainstream programming, but as I keep coming back to its the "normal" programming that puts the crust on the table to enable us to do this specialised programme and others too. Wolfbag, thats what I mean about pleasing the punters. Its all about getting the programme mix right. No verbal smacking needed .

If you don't like it, then do turn off. Theres stuff on Phantom that doesnt exactly float my boat either, but I always come back!

Regards,

Pete Reed

Ger Roe

Hello all,

Pete has covered the main points of why we present 'The Anorak Hour' (specialist prog for a loyal niche audience) but I would like to address the comment about playing clips from 98 fm and other current stations.

The prog is aimed at exploring all aspects of radio broadcasting, Pirate and Legal, both at home and abroad - we feature as much foreign material as we can get our hands on for those who are interested in hearing how different or simillar stations may sound around the world. Likewise there is a considerable countrywide and foreign listenership for the show that do not have the opportunity of hearing local Dublin stations through the usual methods. The programme also gives us an opportunity to inform the general listenership about developments on the broadcasting scene that may directly affect Phantom and it's ability to continue to provide a service for it's listeners. If that doesn't concern you and music is your sole interest in Phantom, fair enough. I hope we can always be there for you.

We don't expect everyone to get the idea of the programme, but many do. If you don't, and the hour is your only gripe with Phantom - then you can consider yourself very lucky. Most of us were so fed up with the entire output of the existing stations that we had to start our own.

It all comes down to the old saying about not being able to please everyone all the time. All we can hope to do is to our best.

Thanks for the comments anyway and I will bear them in mind.

Regards,

Ger Roe.

tony 2 tone

I actually like the show, the whole history of the radio stuff and how a lot of main stream DJ's started off on pirate stations and all the chessey ads.........
And it's not as like it's on at 7 or 8 in the evening,

So shut the fuck up, go and watch Dave Fanning or listen to 104 while its on........

billy the squid

I think personally its a good programme and as someone listening outside dublin the clips of the dublin stations are a welcome addition, especially those unlicenced dublin stations which do not have web streaming.

So heres to the anorak hour keep up the good work

having listened to the anorak hour on sunday afternoons i have had the oppoutunity of listening to some of the music both before and after the show and it isnt too bad. People in dublin are lucky to be able to listen to this station without having to pay for it

clevenger

I get in the car every week when anorak hour is on coming home from sunday league football. I switch on phantom and say s h i t e i forgot this was on and i put on a tape.

i have no intrest in it at all but i think its great that phantom produces it. Ger obviously is a man who knows what he's talkin about and is passionate about his subject matter.

Pete said its not for everyone and he's right,i'll never listen to it but respect to phantom for broadcasting the show, and although i appreciate that it must only be possible due to the more regular programming,maybe one or two more hours a week could be set aside as such for specialist shows.

Ger, Pete and Phantom I salute you

.

gouty

I'm with The Clevster on this one but i do reckon that one, if not both of the previous posts was Ger Roe

SimonMaher

Gouty Said - "i do reckon that one, if not both of the previous posts was Ger Roe"

Gouty, praytell what are you talking about? Im just curious. Which posts? The ones from fcdunne and tony two tone? I asked you to behave and not post untruths here remember. Or am I confused on this one?

Regards,

Pete Reed

billy the squid

I'm with The Clevster on this one but i do reckon that one, if not both of the previous posts was Ger Roe

Thanks for the complement but sorry am not Ger Roe

just a happy-go-lucky-anorack-hour listener in Limerick

anyhoo pete to add to the recording of the RLO protest I sent you the other day I have lots more right here

hope you like

pugwall

Keep up the good work Ger. Its a great show + I try to listen in as much as possible although usually with a hangover.
Less of the Anorak-Bashing! There happens to quite a few of us out there.

gouty

Sorry Pete just kidding! Btw, disappointed to get no reaction to my last reaction to your reaction to my previous untruths

SimonMaher

Fair enough Gouty,

Youre still shockin bold though. As for me responding to your previous response to my response to your posting of untruths, well, I have decided to adopt a wait and see approach and am prepared to leave them as badly phrased generalisations and inaccuracies for the moment. Just behave yourself.

Regards,

Pete Reed

DMC

I've commentated on the Anorak Hour myself on this forum before, the one about the history of Radio Caroline. Its a fantastic show, a great resource, as is www.radiowaves.fm

ZIPPPPPPPP!

Ger, Pete, I thank you!