What does your radio mean to you?

Just shows how bad TV is........

Bet the figures change when radio goes digital and all those millions of car radios no longer work, nice little earner for someone!

I listen to the radio when I'm driving - which isnt much - and sometimes Five Live for the F1 practice sessions when I'm not near a TV or computer. When I'm driving I have the radio on for traffic warnings more than for entertainment. I'm not really an avid listener!

Radio for me is getting football half times and full times when I require it. That's about it. I've never forgiven the bbc for turning radio five - which used to play some great old american shows from the golden age of radio in the 40s and 50s - into a rolling news network.

I have always been an avid listener to Radio 4, even when I was a schoolboy. Why? Because it is intelligent radio for an intelligent audience. It exercises the imagination & challenges at the same time, and is worth the license fee alone. Long may it last!

Apart from Sports and a few well chosen documentaries, I rarely watch television. Radio is a must for me.

The radio is something you can listen to whilst doing other things such as driving or whilst on a computer. Given that more of us are spending time on the computer at the expense of the TV it isn't really surprising that radio listening has gone up.

I've got a radio in my bedroom, sitting room and kitchen. What does it mean to me? A great deal. I can use my imagination whilst listening to the spoken word. I can zoom about and do various chores and not become a couch potato. I tune them into BBC radio 3, 4 and 7. I was bought up listening to the " Home" service on the wireless. We had no TV in those days and spent our evenings listening whilst grouped around the fire. It encouraged me to join the library and become an avid reader.

What does your radio mean to you?


It means that I've forgot my i-pod adapter in the car or it's Monday and someone else is in the office (Monday is admin day).

Can't stand the 'funny' DJs on radio - wish they'd just shut up and play some music. I know there is 'talk radio', is there a 'no talk radio' at all?

Radio on television off (except for select films and news)

Absolutely love Radio 1 in the evenings, Zane Low during week nights. Weekends if i'm in will be either Pete Tong on Friday or Kerrang! for a bit of the heavy stuff.

Really, really not looking forward to the transfer to digital however, which will make my classic Day Sequerra Model 1 redundant.

My favourite channels, Radio 4, Classic FM, sometimes Radio 5, RTE or Radio 3.

When do I listen? With that first cup of morning tea, when on the computer, mowing the grass, in bed at night, over the lunchtime sandwich, on the loo..............

What do I listen too? Just about anything on those stations, especially great music, news and comment.

Favourite programmes? Breakfast, World at One, PM, Any Questions/Answers, Plays in the afternoons, Music programmes that include any of the pre WWII great classical composers or traditional jazz, The Now Show, I am sorry I haven't a clue, Desert Island Discs, Today in Parliament, and to go to sleep, the late night shipping forecast, when I imagine I am back in my bunk in the western approaches rising and falling with the waves passing under the ship.

Pet hate - "The Archers".

Great fear - the digitisation of transmissions which will probably leave many shadow areas when walking in the wilder spots and deprive many seafarers who are out of range further out at sea.

I like listening to the radio because if I don't I HEAR THE VOICES!!!!

The trouble is that radio in this country so often lacks distinctiveness.

We have something like 450 radio stations in this country. That is about 1 station for every 150,000 people.

In the US, they have around 10 THOUSAND radio stations - that is one station for every 30,000 people!

Many of these are specialist stations, whether that is country, hip hop, jazz, talk and so on, meaning that you can find what suits you very easily. Many of them do not make very much money at all, but in the US you don't have the ridiculous licensing system that we have here which means that most stations are owned by huge, bland corporations.

Because there is so much diversity in the US something like 90% of the population listen to radio on a regular basis whereas in the uk it is more like 50%. (Regularly, in the US, means daily, not weekly!)

Also, as radio becomes more bland it becomes more like a background noise so even when people do have it switched on they are not fully listening to it.

In the US, because there is so much variation it is easier to see what people really want to listen to - what is really popular.

In the US there are 600 adult contemporary (sort of radio two) stations, 176 urban stations and 300 rock stations.

However there are 1067 religious stations and nearly 2000 country stations!!!

Radio has never really got going in the UK, and where we did have unique identities like XFM when it first started, they have become bland under corporate rule.

How important is your radio to you? Do you listen to radio differently to the way you watch television? When and how do you listen to radio?

Radio 4 evening comedies are funny even if some of them can be a tad off the wall. But generally I watch TV with my eyes and listen to the radio with my ears. Am I doing something wrong?

I just wish Radio 4 would change that "Sailing By" tune they play at about midnight or after. Gets on my nerves!

Why are so many people listening to radio?

Two reasons -

Firstly the convenience of listening to FM/AM broadcasts with today's miniaturised equipment.

Secondly the fact that despite the multiplicity of TV channels the programmes that are broadcast thereon are increasingly of deplorable quality, frequently repeated and generally aimed at the lumpen proletariat or thrown out as cake to the masses.

Company in the car when grinding through traffic on the daily commute.

Radio is fantastic in the car and Radio 4 is a great way to catch up on the news first thing in a morning. Beyond that, I would not miss it at all. The TV pretty much replicates what you hear on the radio, only with pictures!

I could live without TV, but not without the radio.

TV requires you to sit relatively passively, whilst radio allows you to get on with other tasks. It also stimulates the imagination and is more intellectually satisfying than TV, where modern production values concentrate more on CGI visual effects than content.

BBC Radio 4 is my channel of choice during the day and on car journeys. There is pretty nearly always something on that I find of interest. I also have to have R4 on if I am doing any DIY. I also enjoy Smooth Radio when returning late from band rehearsals and gigs.

I have a digital set, but it is currently tuned to FM as it often 'forgets' the digital tuning or loses the signal, which is annoying when the alarm fails to wake you.

I have no idea what I will do in the car after the switchover, but I guess there will be devices made available that will pick up the digital signal and re-transmit it to the FM radio.

I'm retired, and listen to DAB radio for around four hours every day. It's mostly Radio Four, plus recording of selected Radio Three and Classic FM broadcasts. Then there's Test Match Special on Five Live Sports, and during the wee small hours, the BBC World Service.
It's important to keep abreast of what's going on in the world, and radio is my medium of choice. "You and Yours" is on right now, whilst I'm typing this.

I like to listen to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 and on the way home Radio 4. Whilst they cover current affairs topics they tend to talk to real people on the phone ins particularly, the type you meet in the street. This is in contrast to much of the tv broadcasting which focuses on politicians or a "representative audience". Most times I cant relate to the majority of views expressed or the people expressing them.
I'd rather listen to the radio than watch a soap anyday. I feel like my brain is being washed by the politically correct. Apart from Heartbeat but unfortunately thats being cancelled!

What does your radio mean to you?

Between 6 music and the 4 nights a week Zane Lowe show on radio 1, there's much better access to decent, innovative music than there ever has been before in the UK.

Its also the only way to listen to cricket. I'll take Test Match Special on R4 LW over SKY's televisual presentation any day.

Add to that the fact that most nights I struggle to find more than 30 minutes programming a night, across all TV channels, that I actually want to watch and its no wonder Radio is in resurgence.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I absolutely love 6 Music and I listen to that more then watching TV these days. Decent presenters who are passionate and knowledgable about music, and really varied stuff played old and new, plus such a relief NOT to have to listen to the latest RnB/X factor offerings.

Well done to them for doubling their listening figures and their reprieve from closure, they deserve it.

I love my radio, the one on my mp3 player, the rubbish one in the lounge, the tiny one in my bedroom & even the DAB one in the kitchen which seems to get more interferance & have more trouble tuning than the rubbish pound shop one shaped like a crab that lives in my shower,
My presets are radios 1,2 & 6, Xfm, capital, heart, magic, classic FM & kiss (on the dab when I can get it I'll listen to kerrang)
I find a show with lots of talking is best in the morning as the engagement helps me wake up & anything with lots of music for chores.
At work (depending on which area of the building I'm in) the radio is on all day.
I fell absolutely lost if I have to walk to work in silence because my batteries ran out :(

I only listen to Radio 1 in the morning. This breakfast show is light-hearted and refreshing, with a simple news bulletin every half hour. I only listen to Radio stations without adverts

I could do without TV but no way would I want to do without radio.
My fave channels are Radio 4 (PM, 6 o'clock news, Any questions, Clue, Just a Minute, The Now Show, to name a few) and Radio 7 (crime and thrillers, drama and a whole load of comedy shows from the 1940's to more or less present day).
ANYTHING on any radio channel has to be an improvement on Big Brother or the 62nd series of What Katie Did Next!!!
WHO CARES!!!!

Personally, I prefer listening to BBCs Radio Two, Four and Seven more informative than just watching the mindless eye-candy pap on television. The pictures they conjure from your imagination are outstanding, and will never be surpassed.

I listen to Radio 4 in the car. Since I spend more time in traffic jams these days I guess my listening time has increased. It's strengths are Today, PM and the comedy shows, particularly the Now Show and the News Quiz.

I also need it for the Shipping Forecast and always look forward to "Sailing By" so don't take it off!

i have seven different radios in the house......two for Amateur Radio purposes.
the others are two bedside(am/fm and wifi networked Squeezebox);my main radio listening in the house is via Internet radio using a Logitech Transporter.
on this mode you can access just about any radio station broadcasting via Internet in the world 24 hours a day.
driving for a living mainly night shift i use the radio a lot,but tend to surf around BBC Radio's 3 and 4 and BBC Radio Scotland.
BBC Radio 7 is fast becoming a favourite here mainly for it's excellent sci-fi and drama re broadcasts...using "listen again".
i can live without television, but give me a radio and i'm a happy lad!.

dennis

I listen to BBC Radio 2 mainly, Heart Radio and Radio 6. I have the radio on in the car, on my MP3 player when I am outside doing the gardening, sat in the garden or washing the car, when I am doing housework or DIY and when I go out jogging, etc. Basically, the radio is one medium where you can listen and do other things at the same time and yet remain informed and entertained. It's an excellent medium in my view and with widespread digital on the horizon, I hope it remains accessible to all.

I don't listen to much live radio, but I listen to quite a lot of material online through the iPlayer service and similar tools.

The bad news (possibly) for the BBC is that most of what I listen to is archive material on BBC Radio 7. I would probably be considered to be in the classic Radio 4 demographic, but the station output seems to veer from the intensely patronising to the utterly obscure. Radio 1, 6 Music and the rest may as well be broadcasting in a foreign language for all the sense they make to me.

As for local radio, just one question: why? My own local station seems to be on a mission to provide the background soundtrack to God's waiting room. Nothing challenging, nothing contentious, nothing in any way that might frighten the old folks. The aural equivalent of Horlicks.

BBC at least doesn't have the adverts! I hate the commercials where the voiceover guy tries to gabble the terms & conditions as fast as he can at the end of every radio ad! Why do they have to do this!!? And, given that the BBC doesn't need to have adverts, why don't the DJs just play decent music instead of talking about themselves the whole time? It's so frustrating. I listen to 1Xtra on DAB (new black music. Since when has music been about colour and not about sound??), and occasionally R5 in the car. R1 is just too annoying for words, R2 is too smug and old for words, R3 always seems to be playing the quiet bits of symphonies the whole time, so you can't hear it, and R4 is too twee and middle class. And the R5 presenters are annoying. Maybe I'll just put a CD on.

Radio means everything. Just take the news; Today, The World at One, PM and The World Tonight are all powerful, insightful programmes. Just compare them to the tabloid rubbish of TV news, even Newsnight has gone tabloid.
There are so many wonderful programmes every day. Yes, there are the favourites that recur week on week but in between there are unexpected documentaries, book readings etc. etc. The variety across the networks is fabulous.
Given the choice I would pay double the licence fee to keep the radio and dump the television!

Its almost as good as the internet, Radio 4, 5 and the world service are simply brilliant. TV is rubbish though and I don't even own a set.

Must admit I no longer listen to Chris Evans anymore - I find him too irritating at that time in the morning! I must say though I have really enjoyed the shows when Graham Norton sat in to cover - it's a pity Graham does not have a week day slot as I rarely listen to the radio at weekends (I understand he will have a Saturday morning show from October)

In America Talk Radio is where you get the news. We have a number of Great Conservative radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh who have millions of listeners and make themselves a nice living covering the news our state controlled media hides from the public.

I think the first comment says it all. I also find it really difficult watching TV when I am driving to work and at work. In fact doing many things allows me the chice of either radio or nothing. So much is repeated on TV it doesn't worry me. Heaven help us when the radios go digital. You know, the item that will on average use between 6 and 8 times more power to use than your current am/fm radio! So much for saving the planet.

Nobody has yet ever explained to me how exactly they know what radio station i am listening too?

What part of my radio precisely sends a message back to the BBC and tells them if i am tuning in?

Of course such a device does not exist. Therefore any such figures must be taken form a sample of a few thousand people.

Therefore the BBC has NO IDEA WHATSOEVER how many people are listening to any given radio or TV show.

I'm not sure that I even have a radio apart from one in the car. I hate being 'talked at' and prefer to play music at the computer or while driving.

I listen to the radio approx 3 times the amount of TV viewing. In the kitchen, while doing DIY (lots of that at present), in the car to work 1/2 hour each way, while on the internet. So to me the radio is very important.

Maybe its because of that Absolute 80s station on DAB. Much better then most of the TV output

Nothing, don't listen to it, similar garbage as what's on TV.

Wouldnt be without the radio,brought up on it, with my Dad listening to all the big Clay & liston fights etc, on an old backerlight box where he had to keep retuneing it as the signal strength varied,even listened to Archy Andrews on it and he was a ventriloquist,Billy Cotton Band Show,Plays,all sorts, wouldnt be without a radio, prefer to listen to Football on it, as i did in the last World Cup,You use your imagination when the radio is on. Love Radio 4 , the World Service, Brilliant, long live the Radio.

I don't listen to terrestrial radio EVER i have internet connection on my phone/radio/Mp3/MP4 player sat nav, what do i need to limit myself to a choice of only a few stations and with digital its just more of the same. Internet radio like shoutcast has been providing hundreds of thousands of stations of every genre for a decade and you dont get the annoying gossip either.
How do they get these figures pull them out of there ears lol there are thousands of people like me who dont listen to radio because its mostly opinionated talking heads or some infantile idiot that babbles on about nothing constantly. "uh went to this gig it was brilliant" shut up play the music. there is also we7 that allows you to listen to any artist for free and the ads well they can be skipped.

I havent used the tuner on a hifi in years

35. At 12:55pm on 05 Aug 2010, ONE-SICK-PUPPY wrote:
In America Talk Radio is where you get the news. We have a number of Great Conservative radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh who have millions of listeners and make themselves a nice living covering the news our state controlled media hides from the public.
-------------------------------------------------
OMG anyone who gets news from rush needs there heads examined, but then you did say american conservatives, (republicans) well that explains it you lot voted for bush twice say no more.

Well, we can't watch TV at work so we listen too the radio.

I must be weird. I stopped listening to radio about 8 years ago. I got tired of listening to music that someone else had chosen when I could play a CD of my choice.

I mainly used to listen to Radio 2 driving back and forth to work but I got tired of the same presenters saying the same, tired old jokes day after day after day. If I ever have to listen to Ken Bruce, Sarah Kennedy or Terry Wogan again I would kill myself. They are so depressing and don't have any original conversation left. The BBC kept them too long.

I tried local radio but the number of adverts drove me crazy.

I'm a Radio 4 listener - I could easily live without television, however just leave me with Radio 4. Intelligent, distinctive, occasionally quirky, with some absolutely blinding comedy - The News Quiz and ISIHAC being personal favourites. The variety of programmes on offer is vast, so if I am out without access to the 'wireless' a podcast usually gives me my fix.

I am not surprised to see that the listeners for the Breakfast Show have dropped. My husband and I are 2 of them. We are avid Radio 2 listeners and were not too upset when Chris Evans replaced Terry, but it very soon bacame more of the samenes and it has really boring. I listen to the radio for music not self gratification, which is so common these days. I hoestly don't think CE has any interest in music at all, because he talks over so many records either at the beginning or at the end or both! I am delighted that Simon Mayo does Drivetime though! I now listen to Radio 3 and Radio 4 in the morning.

I dont listen to the radio anymore. They were all playing the same 'music'. This consisted of people talking or chanting over a drum beat or bits from other peoples records.
So, I have CD's in the car, and at home, and I choose what I listen to.
Equally I dont have some overpaid opinionated DJ wittering on at me

Every night, I look forward to climbing into bed, turning on my radio and listening to whatever talk show I can find. This is the way that I fall asleep...after that I just keep on assimilating!
Why are more people listening to radio?
I listen to the radio because I like the call-ins; I like hearing other people's perspectives, and yes, I too have called in to express my mind.
Do I listen to radio differently to the way you watch television?
Sure! With television you sit and dumb down; No attention is required; no one will ask you for your point of view.
But radio, I pay attention; I like to hear popular opinion - mostly because I seem (most of the time) to be out in left field all by lonesome i.e. I think differently about a lot of things.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Because the TV is so poor.

Your article goes into depth abut BBC litening figures (your usual self-indulgence at the BBC) - not a mention that LBC's best presenter, James O'Brien, has increased his audience substantially - presumably at the expense of the BBC.

The reason i listen to music is all of my new TV sets have all been purchased over the last two years and i should have saved my money the TV isnt worth watching we pay a licence fee (robbery) by the BBC .for repeats after repeats of garbage TV shows etc.

I have been lsitening to Radio 2 for about 10 years. I started listening when i was 25 when it had genuinely interesting programs and presenters who knew their trade and their music. I have watched how, over the last 5 years, these presenters have been pushed out for one size fits all celebs who are more interested in self promotion and the art of talking nonesense. Jonathan Ross was one of the last good original presenters who worked fluidly on radio. Radio 2 is still OK during the week but its weekend chose of presenters is terrible.

What was wrong with my absolute 80s comment? Does it show up the quantity of Radio 1 or something

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Tim Davie, director of BBC Audio & Music, said: "This is another good set of figures for the radio industry.

"I'm delighted to see our speech networks, etc, etc enduring demand for high quality news, analysis and discussion on radio."

Has Tim Davie ever actually listened to radio 5 live?, it's the radio equivalant of the Daily Mail, if their not predicting the end of the world on a daily basis they are basing a days worth of storys on some survey or other they have found on the internet. Or a days worth of shock storys based on what the bloke in the pub reckons. (when the recession was pending and we had hourly storys about how by 2010 we would have 30% unemployment and were heading into a 30's style depression, radio 5 actually ran a story about how you could now rent a container ship for £2,500 a day and before the pending recession it was £500,000 a day, as someone that used to work in container leasing I can say with some confidence that £2,500 a day doesn't even cover the fuel for the refridgerated containers, where did the intrepid reporter get his facts from....... you guessed it a bloke in the pub)

Radio 4 Todays program isn't much better, at the same pending recession time the Today program was following 10 people that they were hoping got made redundant so they could prove that its all terrible, after about 3 or 4 weeks when no one was made redundant they just dropped the segment of the program as it didn't fit in with the BBC's "oh my god" news narrative. I really don't need John Humphry's telling me that "the unimaginable has become reality" (yep you've guessed it during another impending doom story) I imagine about the worse that happened to Humphrys was his local Fresh & Wild has closed down.

I get my TV news from either France 24 or HHK (Hong Kong TV) and radio from the world service, try France 24 you'll be shocked, 100's of storys the BBC won't touch (as it doesn't fit with todays news narrative and its not on SKY) and all you get is the facts, not hours of speculation, pointless comment and paid expert "doom mungers"

It's a means of entertainment (or torture if the children present and control the channel) in the car, outside of that I don't listen much.

I'm sure there are numerous excellent stations and good programmes available but given the choice (ie when not driving) I prefer a medium that can engage more of my senses.

Through the BBC it is a demonstration of the waste and bias in the spending of the licence fee - The Asian network; Where is the European network? Radio 1 Extra, where is the station celebrating 'white music'?

What does your radio mean to you?
Naomi Campbell evidence?
Does it matter who owns your football club?
How should a wedding be celebrated?
Who would you give your money to?

For god sake BBC! We are adults not children. Could we please have something sensible, intelligent and worthwhile to squabble and have temper tantrums over!

I'm waiting for the first post (of many probably) lambasting anyone who listens to radio 1 and other such stations. The very worst thing about coming on to HYS with these topics of discussion (TV included) is that it brings the worst kind of 'tv/radio/music snobbery' out in posters.

When there is so much choice available on TV and radio to suit a variety of different tastes, from trashy reality tv to intelligent documnetaries and from trashy euro pop to classical music, I really don't see the need to belittle someone else's tastes? It really is just terrible snobbery, and I long for the day that we don't have to read such vile comments on HYS.

Thanks to the BBC, we have the best quality, most comprehensive radio stations in the world and with the choice of AM, FM and (in some places) DAB we have exceptional geographical coverage so, with the right equipment we can listen to a choice of good radio stations at home, while we travel in cars or on foot, walking or working.

Radio in the car means that I don't notice the odd noises the 12 year old engine sometimes makes! Really!

55. At 1:42pm on 05 Aug 2010, lightoftruth wrote:
What was wrong with my absolute 80s comment? Does it show up the quantity of Radio 1 or something
.........................................................................

You didnt actually criticise the BBC, did you? And especially what a load of mince Radio 1 snd it's idiot presenters are, not that Radio 2 is any better!

Let's face it, there's more on the radio than there is on the TV

ps: Got rid of my TV a long time ago ;o)

That I'm in my car.

"
Latest figures show that overall radio listening figures in the UK have reached a record high
"

This is because TV programs are complete and utter rubbish. I for one rarely watch any tv. I do listen to the radio though, mainly Classic FM.

It's the DJs that I really appreciate. Namely, Chris Moyles, Scott Mills, Jo Whiley and Sara Cox.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I usually listen to France Inter on 162 Long Wave while driving, especially the jolly "Jeux des mille Euros" at 1145 daily, and "Deux mille ans d'histoire" after the lunchtime news. I've been doing this for many years and I'm glad they taught me enough French at school to get me started. I find their news strikes a more sane balance between American and European matters than the BBC's too.

I sometimes listen to "Today" on R4 followed by "Start the Week", "In our Time" or whatever, but if in car I sometimes forget this is followed by the "Daily Service" on LW. If I fail to get to the off switch before the organ or echoey voices start my day is spoilt. On Wed I try to switch off before "Midweek": it's usually got some pretext for talking about derring-do and boats in jolly-hockeysticks tones that are not quite for me.

So if DAB becomes the only option and no-one makes LW sets any more I'll give up listening to the radio, as I already have with watching TV.

I can't remember the last time I listened to the radio.

I can understand listening to informative programming, but if it's just music, well our mp3 player doesn't have annoying DJ chatter but does have enough music to keep it on random play for about a month...

And it's all music we chose, too.

I haven't had a TV since 1992 and like to listen to Radio 4 whilst I cook ; wash up or do the ironing. I rely on it for at least 50% of my news input and enjoy a lot of the comedy. Also I never miss an episode of the Archers.

Well the majority of Television is Soaps, or Cooking, Or "Antique Tat", it just doesnt stimulate my mind. I pick and choose my programs. Coast is a favourite, but the majority of the day I skip between Radio 2, 3, and 4. I like panorama, Question time, News Night, and the Portillo travels, I also watch certain plays on BBC 4. I have about 500 Television channels on Cable, the majority are Tacky vulgar Rubbish. The only reason why I subscribe to this package is because I have a 7 day recall facility.

60. At 2:00pm on 05 Aug 2010, Nic121 wrote:
I'm waiting for the first post (of many probably) lambasting anyone who listens to radio 1 and other such stations. The very worst thing about coming on to HYS with these topics of discussion (TV included) is that it brings the worst kind of 'tv/radio/music snobbery' out in posters.

When there is so much choice available on TV and radio to suit a variety of different tastes, from trashy reality tv to intelligent documnetaries and from trashy euro pop to classical music, I really don't see the need to belittle someone else's tastes? It really is just terrible snobbery, and I long for the day that we don't have to read such vile comments on HYS.

-----

Not sure about telly, even the dedicated documentary channels such as Discovery or History are dumbed down to the point of unwatchability.

But I would agree that if, between analogue, digital and internet, you can't find a station playing music you like, then you probably haven't looked hard enough.

Or you just don't like music...

BBC Radio is unrivaled. I listen early to Radio 2 however Chris Evans is not my choice of broadcasters at this time, I believe that Sarah Kennady has the right balance & it was a poor decision to downgrade her program to make way for at best a 3rd rate programme from Chris Evans. Cricket commentary I have been hooked for over 40 years. DAB & Radio London are fast becoming a must. I never listen to Radio 1 perhaps it is my age but wall to wall pop and DJ's babble are not for me.
It is difficult to describe what & how BBC Radio influences my life - it is like a right arm - a service to be relied upon. Best of all NO COMNMERCIALS!

Quality - first and foremost. Why listen to anything else?

I listen to Radio 4 going to/from work, but for music I listen to internet radio as there are no radio stations in the UK which play my choice of music. It also has the advantage of no DJ talk!

'What does Radio mean to you'?

Driving to, and from work, before and after shifts - Radio 4, Live 5 or radio 3 classics for calm? Plus radio 6, Asian Network to keep in touch with all mainstream music/opinion culture? Any 'gold' radio channels too for memories we love to hate - or hate to love?

While having trouble sleeping before early shift, the World Service is at even volume and calming. BBC news channel on tv is a big NO - what IS THE POINT of that that blasted rise in volume of thundering 'sound' link, or whatever it's called?

Whatever Radio channel you prefer, the most forgotten aspect of radio is that it does not rely on the hypnotic 'visuals' of tv; yet entertains, informs and actually enhances and helps me get on with stuff I hate, but have to do, and catch up with at home on a day off.

The Jeremy Vine program is a favorite. I usually listen live on FM, or via the iplayer. Jeremy is such a good presenter. The man who does the afternoon slot Steve Wright isn't too bad. But I am afraid that a couple of the jingles he uses are quite nauseating. One of which is a woman screaming "Steve Wright in the afternoon". I wish that the program engineers would realize that the volume of this woman is far higher than the speech, and nearly blows my eardrums out. Perhaps they could attend to this ?. I know that Steve is on Holiday, and the man who did it for a while " Supermarket Sweep" wasn't as good. He said yes to everything, and it was very very boring and patronizing, its like listening to wallpaper.. This man used to be on local Radio in the Midlands, and he wasn't too hot then. Chris Tarrant's really good. I would like to see him do the morning slot instead of the Current fellow Chris Evans . I used to like Wogan because he was an intelligent man, whereas Mr. Evans was a Radio 1 Reject.

Radio on in the car usually Radio 4, DAB radio at home (Chill, Radio 6 and Planet Rock) sometimes internet radio for 2JJJ and Radio B (antipodean nostalgia). Since we got a V+ box, I only watch TV when I want to and I only watch the shows I want rather than turn on TV and Veg' for the evening.

radio anyone remember dan dare on the radio? or dick barton? i have been listening to the radio for years now its radio oxford in the evenings monday to friday espesialy friday with Roger Twiggy Day saterday evening dave cash rock and roll sunday mornigs radio oxford and suday evenings alan titmarsh and then there is allways radio 7 for the old classic comedy shows whats a television??

When you look at it, the BBCs output across the spectrum of broadcasting is well worth the licence fee but it's high time BBCs output was encrypted for those who only want to pay the licence fee. C'mon Auntie, the technologies there. Don't waste another thirty odd years waiting to implement it like DAB! Why penalise the many for the few?

On my analogue radio my programme was "World Service" Unfortunately I could only listen during the small hours.I invested in DAB,now I can listen 24hrs a day.Also there are more channels than I could listen to.Mostly,I listen to radio 4,classic channel,ws and of course local news channel.Radio is far superior to tv,one is not stuck in a chair,goggle eyed and open mouthed.You can be doing something useful and still learn.

Radio News gives you so much more that the TV, so much faster; JFK, Diana, 9/11 were all stories I first heard on the Radio, 9/11 on BBC world service short wave, radio knows no borders.
Science, Technology and medicine is all but absent from the television, but every day there are such programmes on BBC radio.

Radio Drama, of course still has the best pictures.

I listen to the radio more than watching TV because NO-ONE can offer a decent TV station.

Apart from Radio 1, which is toe curling in it's attempts to be 'hip' & 'cool', but it's always been like that since the early 90's.

I would question the late night programming on Radio 2. Some times I have switched on after 9pm, and it was like going back to a time warp to the 1930s and 40s. Listening to very very old poor quality 78s. What are the audience figures for this stuff. Not very high I would imagine. I would think that the majority of people in the country of that age group are either Dead or in Bed. I have an extensive music Library. Several thousand CDs. Lots of classical music. But I don't know where some of the stuff comes from on Radio three. I sometimes have to switch off to prevent embarrassment listening to Squealing men or women. Or something rather strange that appears to be a by product of an industrial function ?

Radio is the theatre of the mind; television is the theatre of the mindless.

Radio is my choice of entertainment in the car it gives me info and entertainment in the 35 mins it takes to get to work in the morning what else could do that! As for why Chris lost 1 million listeners may be due to the fact Mr Norton was on air for two weeks. he is a visual entertainer, he dose not work on the Radio he makes Terry W sound good!!. For those two weeks I listened to Classic FM or smooth. next time Chris is off get Lisa Tarbuck.

I love my radio. Though cannot stand music on it! I have Radio 4 on all day in the kitchen and on the computer when i am working. you don't have to watch pictures so it isn't distracting and if you zone out then theres something on 30 mins later to catch you back!
my kids, all teens now listen to it with me and esp the 6.30 comedy slot whilst prepping dinner. In the car its R4 all the way, tho i used to listen to LBC at lunchtime when sandi toksvig had a show, would sit in the car with my lunch to listen to it! i have a dab personal radio for dog walking.

Ah ha, well I would suggest the 1 mill drop is as new BBC listners re tunned to listen to Chris, they came across the Today programme on radio 4 and stuck with it - It takes a strong willed person to tune away from John Humpheries!

The standard of questions asked by the HYS Editor drops day by Day.
Is the BBC afraid to ask its readers anything approaching a Political question?
Has the remark by the Conservative Government that it may cut the Licence fee spread fear amongst the Senior Management?

The worse thing talksport radio did,is get rid of george galloway.He was the best thing to listen to on the radio on friday and saturday evenings.i don`t listen to talksport now.I did`nt agree with everything he says but he did do a great job in reminding his listeners of the poorest and less well off in this country and others and their need of help.Thats the real power of radio.

I have always been much more of a radio than a TV person. At the moment, I don't own a TV and have no plans to buy one.

However, I would be a bit lost without my DAB radios. 5 Live in the morning. Radio 2 from about 10. BBC 7 - totally marvellous - for the comedy and the crime and thriller hours. Occasionally a bit of Radio 4 and a few of the other stations, gaydar, LBC and so on. And of course, I can do all sorts of other things while listening to the radio.

I could do without TV but not radio and what really concerns me if digital is forced upon us as we'll be the last to get it! For goodness' sake, there's loads of places round here with no mobile phone coverage!

I consider Radio to be like a life long friend which has been with me in both good times and bad. TV is a medium which locks you down into watching it, but with radio you can drive or just potter around at home doing chores. If I was asked to choose between a TV or a Radio only, then Radio is my choice winner. True indeed is the saying that radio is the theatre of the mind, but it is also the sound track to my life.

Why are more people listening to radio?


Given the inane fertilizer that is on TV do you really need to ask this

Test Match Special and music when I'm driving. I used to love BBC radio for news and current events but now it is so obviously biased that I can longer be bothered. And just the mention of Richard Bacon has me reaching for the 'off' button. It's a great shame because Simon Mayo was very entertaining.

At 1:08pm on 05 Aug 2010, lightoftruth wrote:
Maybe its because of that Absolute 80s station on DAB. Much better then most of the TV output

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Hear, Hear!
I'm listening to it as I type in fact (The Stranglers, Always the Sun are playing).

I don't have a TV; I have a radio and use the computer at the library. I get all my news from Yahoo, NPR, and the BBC. I keep the radio on enough to hear just about every current issue at least once, but sometimes I take a vacation and go a few days silent. And I pop over to the weather channel to follow hurricanes. I don't think I'm missing anything important. I get bits of Fox news or others at the mall, car repair, etc, where TVs are often playing and still don't think I missed anything.
I'll say one thing. This is a much better forum for bloggin than Yahoo. I love the Brits.

Despite the spin, the record figures were only achieved due to the once in 4-year week of abnormal election coverage from news and current affairs programmes.

Entertainment listening actually fell in some key areas with at least 1m deserting Radio 2 and Chris Evans.

BBC UK radio share coverage overall fell heralding a justified reduction in the licence fee perhaps?

I just hope the BBC will not trot out these abnormal figures to justify the unwanted scrapping of about 150 million analogue radios.