New ideas for a new ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳
It's always interesting to read listeners' responses to the subjects we cover on Over To You - and every now and then we have an item that really seems to capture your imagination.Ìý
One such example was the interview we broadcast last week with the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Director-General, Mark Thompson.Ìý
If you heard last week's programme, you'll know that Rajan's interview with him covered a number of topics - the role of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ in the 21st Century, whether more coverage should be directed to certain parts of the world than others andÌýthe future for radio.Ìý
And you weren't slow to send us your own thoughts on some of these issues, so we've tried to use a good cross-section in this week's programme.
Some listeners expressed their concern that in the future they might find themselves listening to radio programmes on devices other than radios - a computer or mobile phone for example.Ìý
Robert Hyman emailed us from Norway.Ìý "Call me old fashioned," he said,Ìý "but I don't have a computer in each room of my house, and prefer radio from a radio".Ìý
I wonder how many other people feel the same?Ìý
Ìý
Put your hand in your pocket?
There were also some interesting comments about ways of making up for possible cuts in ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ funding that might be necessary in the future.Ìý
These included a suggestion from Dimitri Tsamados that listeners might like to make donations in appreciation of the services provided by the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳.Ìý
And Saeed Salehi suggests charging for different services.Ìý
It would be fascinating to know how many people would agree with these ideas - or whether the audience would disappear to listen to free services elsewhere.Ìý
Reporting from Kyrgyzstan
Also in this week's programme, Rajan talks to Firdevs Robinson, Editor of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Central Asia region, about the dangers and difficulties of reporting the recent ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan - a part of the world that is notoriously dangerous for journalists.Ìý
There are tensions between the Kyrgyz community, and the ethnic Uzbeks who make up 15% of the country's population.Ìý
And interestingly, the Central Asian service includes both Kyrgyz and Uzbek staff - who, understandably, have their own views of the conflict.Ìý
Reconciling the different positions has been a challenge, as Firdevs Robinson tells Rajan in this week's Over To You.
Cathy Packe is the Producer, Over to You
Over To You is your chance to have your say about the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service and its programmes. It airs at 00:40, 03:40 and 12:40 every Sunday (GMT).
Comment number 1.
At 28th Jun 2010, Oblivion wrote:I am a dual nationality British-Czech listening to the World Service in Prague. I would gladly pay a subscription to the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳. I listen to the World Service most days on the FM radio in my mobile phone.
Some years ago I was in the local R&D department of a major web business, and we spent a lot of time researching the future of media. One important conclusion was that the web produces too low a signal to noise ratio. A lot of information is available but it is mostly nonsense. The future is branded, trusted content. People will pay for it.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 28th Jun 2010, Oblivion wrote:Having said the above, it is important that the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s content also remain independent from the preferences of its listeners.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 2nd Jul 2010, onthewaydown wrote:Has the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service FM transmission in Dubai been axed already? Starting yesterday (July 1st) there is only music in FM 87.9, although the World Service website shows it with a normal schedule.
And while we're about it, why is it so difficult to contact the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ with a query like this? The website sends you on an endless trail of FAQs that don't answer the question. When I eventually got to an email link, it required a UK postcode.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 15th Jul 2010, Daisy Chain wrote:Can you imagine how annoying it is for visually impaired folk (and those without fast internet connection) to hear at the end of every radio programme: "find out more on our blog/website"?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 7th Aug 2010, dc0llins wrote:Apparently the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s last low-bandwidth streaming, the World Service, is being discontinued, e.g., from the online Media Player,the link "Play in Real Player or Windows". Is this an oversight, or perhaps to prevent persons in technologically backwards places from listening? Or those in the US unwilling to afford broadband? Fortunately, being an I-Phone user, I have several apps available; too bad about those others.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)