JJJ Reshuffle

[credence]

I guess maybe they didn't figure into that discussion because they're not on a commercial station. I wouldn't worry too much about them because their advantage is they go national. Their show reaches the very inner innards of whoop-whoop Australia, wheras I don't even know who presents breakfast radio in Melbourne let alone anywhere else in the country, nor do I care. I think Adam and Wil's following is strong and they do well to compete with $10 000 questions and no brainer comedy that appeals to the unwashed masses being offered by the commercial stations.

I do believe Craig Schuftan also presents one hour versions of the J files on Saturday afternoons.

Hey, is Restoring the Balance still on?

[Laurenandë]

I believe that I heard that it has been finished up, there was an announcement on Sunday... and rumours in the j forum.

But that could be very wrong. I kind of hope not...

I heard Adam say yesterday we can catch Restoring the Balance on Sunday's. Maybe it still is on then?

[op shop girl]

I rarely get the opportunity to listen to Restoring the Balence in its entirety, but for the past few weeks they've made references to it possibly being their last show, yet they keep returning.
Which is a good thing, might I add :p

In regards to the Morning Show, I'm going to jump on the "extremely pissed off" band wagon. Despite having very little interst in most political issues discussed, I used to love the little sex/drug/or somehow bizaare doco's as well as the environmental segments.
Even if the new half-hour afternoon program manages to make itself a nice little niche, I'm presuming that on such a tight schedule only important current affairs will be discussed.
I miss irrelevent tit-bits of information

My favourite change in scheduling (although it started last year) has been the introduction of Roots 'N' All.
Hendrix, John Butler, Anni Difranco.... :thumbs-u:

There's only way to stop JJJ from further degredation...we need to work from the inside! Speaking of which, the Brekky homepage has contact details for anyone wanting to do work experience...

[stubbadub]

Heh I'm getting way to old for work experience, but it's a nice idea.

Pretty sure Restoring the Balance has finished for the time being, which is a shame because the Tom and Sterling were really really funny.

They interviewed Richard Kingsmill on Sunday, and gave him heaps of shit, very funny.

Roy and HG will be on soon, but I find with these guys that I have to working/studying when they are on to really get into them.

[Laurenandë]

*looks shamefaced* I didn't really think that through did I? Forgot that Roy and HG had to come back somehow. I hope the show comes back at the end of the year though. They were just starting to do a whole show without calling each other the wrong name.

[Laurenandë]

Craig and Chris's new show is called Today/Today and also seems to have a strong political slant, judging from the ads they started today.

[stubbadub]

I caught a real small glimpse at the Sydney NYE fireworks, and the Restoring the Balance guys were interviewing people for 9, I think they were playing being NZ tourists.

[Cherryish]

Another article with photo in the SMH

Triple J has overhauled its schedule, moving current affairs to the afternoon and cranking up the music. Sue Javes reports.

The ABC's youth station has quietly introduced a raft of changes to its daytime schedule. The current affairs-based morning show, which was hosted by Steve Cannane last year and has been a fixture at the station since the early 1990s, has been replaced by a music show hosted by Mel Bampton.

Two of the Chaser team, Chris Taylor and Craig Reucassel, have replaced Bampton and comedian Charlie Pickering in the drivetime slot with a satirical take on the day's news. Cannane has moved to a 5.30pm timeslot to present Hack, a solid half-hour of current affairs.

Program manager Linda Bracken says the changes will allow Triple J to showcase music earlier in the day, provide a strong comedy element in the afternoons and break news relevant to young people when they are more likely to hear it.

"We're ostensibly a music station but under the old format we didn't get to establish our music credentials until after midday," she says.

As well as playing lots of music, Bampton interviews musicians and talks to experts in hip hop, punk, heavy metal, roots and groove. Bampton says she's "stoked" at the opportunity to talk to artists at length about their music.

"It's not like the quick in-and-out-the-door interviews on the fast-paced programs like breakfast and drive, which are oriented towards comedy. The great thing about this program is you can talk to them about the music, which is what musicians like doing more than anything else."

Cannane rejects any suggestion the changes mean a reduced commitment to current affairs at the station. "If you grabbed a rundown from the morning show last year and cut out the music, film, Dr Karl and the odd fluffy story, the current affairs would boil down to about half an hour. By placing it in a peak listening time like 5.30pm, more school children and university students are going to be able to hear it."

In its first week, Hack tackled such issues as the use of police sniffer dogs at the Big Day Out and music censorship for the under-18s. Cannane intends to pick up on breaking news stories as well as set his own agenda on issues overlooked by mainstream media.

"There's a large number of young people interested in current affairs who are not being catered for. They want to be informed but it has to be material which is relevant to their lives."

Bracken says public reaction to the changes so far has been mostly positive, with the odd complaint coming from older listeners.

"They'll be some older listeners who are sure to complain, saying, 'I've listened to Triple J for 25 years and now I'm switching to 702 ABC.' I say fair enough. We're a station for 18- to 24-year-olds."

[stubbadub]

I still haven't had a chance to listen to Hack yet. I have caught a bit of Mel's show, and well it's just Mel minus Charlie. Ok, but not really good enough to grab the attention.

So has anyone heard Hack yet? What is it like?

[veronica tghf]

Originally Posted by stubbadub

So has anyone heard Hack yet? What is it like?

Hack is good, I certainly try and listen to it if I'm near a radio. But as my Dad commented the other day when we'd been listening to Hack in the car for a little bit, it is fairly solid talk for the Drive slot and sometimes you just want a bit of music to listen to after a long day. I mean you don't want just music, but you also don't want solid talk.

[Laney]

Originally Posted by veronica tghf

Hack is good, I certainly try and listen to it if I'm near a radio. But as my Dad commented the other day when we'd been listening to Hack in the car for a little bit, it is fairly solid talk for the Drive slot and sometimes you just want a bit of music to listen to after a long day. I mean you don't want just music, but you also don't want solid talk.

that's what i think too.
i also use the songs as time to leave the room for a few minutes and do things, and come back. i can't do that during hack. seriously, i think they should make it longer and put songs through it.

[stubbadub]

I listen to the 1st 5 minutes today, but it had been a long day and I just wanted to tune out to some music. Solid Current Affairs is full on at any time of the day