The ANNA LIVIA thread

[Radio Mad]

Why is Anna Livia allowed continue as a low budget, badly run, amateur sounding excuse for a radio station.
It has great potential.

[DeargDoom]

Hi Radio Mad, long time no hear!

I agree with you about Anna Livia - they have squandered so many chances again and again. In some ways they remind me of the role that Radio Dublin filled for a number of years - they would get in inexperienced, but talented newcomers and make the most of them. Then, just as those people were reaching top notch quality, they'd be poached by a bigger, better paying station.

Not unlike Radio Dublin, the politics of Anna Livia would drive you
mad! They feud like a wedding in Limerick in that place...and the board of directors couldn't organise a pissup in a brewery. As I already said though - its only natural that they will nearly always lose their best people ... the radio newsrooms of Dublin are full with ex- Anna Livia staff!

Anna Livias latest move is into the IFSC - with funding from the Corporation - it seems that the Corpo will get to do "Travel FM" via Anna Livia during the offpeak hours. Wonder if this counts as commercial airtime?

Newtalk106 has turned out to be a great disappointment to me - so perhaps there is room for Anna Livia still .. maybe even bring back that "infinity Show" that they ran about 2 years ago!

[Radio Mad]

Hi Ya DeargDoom,

It seems we have both come out of hibernation at the same time. I grew out of the habit of coming here every day, something thankfully, I am now attempting to redress. It is a great board, but unfortunately, laziness stops me from voicing my opinion more often. That is probably not a bad thing; I can almost hear you say.

You are spot on in your assessment of Anne Livia. The management are so inept at the job they are there to do, which is running a radio station. I know that people, who give up their precious time in the pursuance of doing a damn good job, get no help whatsoever. The prevailing attitude seems to be: we have given you a slot; now fill it whatever way you see fit. There are no proper editing facilities available. For instance, they don’t see fit to use Cool Edit, the computer edit suite much in-use by other radio stations such as the one barely 100 yards away that houses Griff FM, the college station on-air for a mere two weeks every year. That is a bloody terrible indictment of how unprofessional Anne Livia is. In my view, their licence should be revoked forthwith. But hey, that is not going to happen, is it? The regulatory body entrusted with the job of doing precisely this is itself not up to the job.

I am also disappointed with NewsTalk 106. Their 20/20 news is a shambles and simply does not work. By the time the bulletins and ads are out of the way, it leaves very, very little time for anything else. BBC Five Live, absolved of any responsibility to carry ads, transmits just two news bulletins in any given hour, which is more than adequate. At that, I find if a programme is suitable interesting the bulletins sometimes just serve to get in the way.
In addition, some (not all) of NewsTalk’s newsreaders leave a lot to be desired. A good reader needs clarity; good flow of speech and proper emphasis – something that is sadly lacking.
To be honest, I’m disillusioned, but not entirely surprised at how Newstalk is performing. I really hope it improves. We deserve a lot better.

[Beatcomber]

Hi,
to whom it concerns, which this should be addressed to both "Dearg Doom" and "RADIO MAD."
You obviously have your own grudge with Anna Livia whatever that reason or reasons are.
You even may be involved with the station which is from someone who is, a cheap shot.
So, for arguments sake, lets say your not, ok?
The first thing you do when making a criticism is get your facts right, something both of you have not!
You say there is no help in programming, which is totally untrue, you say we do not have "COOL EDIT" this makes me think you have been involved in Anna Livia, if you were, then you should know that Cash has not always been forth coming because of the restrictions put upon us from the then IRTC, now the BCI.
Again, you did not have the facts.
You also say that we are "unpfoffesional", that to a degree is true, but in contradiction to "DEARG DOOM" you say that most of the radio stations have some of our ex personnell working in news rooms which speaks for itself!
Do these count as proffesionals?
The politics of Anna Liva?
Can you outline the politics please?
That is a sweeping statement with absolute no substance, so that does not even qualify a response!
There is another suggestion that our staff go to a "better paying" station, again, facts, Anna Livia is run by Volunteers, who are not paid, so your remarks are again in accurate.
There is another remark directed at Anna Livia about the amalgamation of Dublin City Council that it will be broadcasting the off peak times, there again incorrect information.
I will conclude by saying if you make allegations or accusations.........please get your facts right then you might attain some credability.
If you want the true facts at least get involved with the station then you might at least attempt to get you information right.
The Beatcomber.

[Chatterbox]

Beatcomber - Anna Livia was once worth such passionate support but over the past couple of years they've deservedly lost much of the respect they had in the business.

Yes there are a lot of ex AL people in stations around the country but the vast majority were there when the station still had some standards.

The station has always been rife with politics - and they've invariably had a negative effect on the standard of material.

When you mention the money constraints I presume you are talking about the advertising quota placed on a Special Interest or community station. This might possibly be a factor if it wasn't for the fact that the station can't sell advertising to save it's life and the Board seem to be numerically dyslexic.

You also say the station is run by volunteers and so a "better paying" station is inaccurate. If it hadn't been for the CE scheme keeping the station in techs and administration the station would have folded years ago. There aren't enough volunteers to keep a station like that alive. The people who used to get involved now get their experience in work experience somewhere more professional.

Anna Livia once had a valuable place in Irish radio as a training ground for talent but laterly it seems to be keeping vanity broadcasting alive and well.

[DeargDoom]

Beatcomber, I will try to respond to you. How the Mersey Beat thing btw?



"You obviously have your own grudge with Anna Livia whatever that reason or reasons are.
You even may be involved with the station which is from someone who is, a cheap shot. " Nope - haven't done anything with them for a number of years, am now (almost) gainfully employed elsewhere!




"You say there is no help in programming, which is totally untrue, you say we do not have "COOL EDIT" this makes me think you have been involved in Anna Livia,"

Eh, I didn't say this. Suffice to say that when I Was there, it was a sackable offence to splice edit on quarter inch tape. When I brought in one of my own spare tapes, I witnessed a producer go through the bin digging out the discarded edits to try to splice back together so that they could spool it onto a new reel and re-use. Classy..

" if you were, then you should know that Cash has not always been forth coming because of the restrictions put upon us from the then IRTC, now the BCI. "

Not true - Anna Livia have fairly flexible guidelines about selling air time. Their lack of funding is due to the incompetence of their marketing/sales/pr people, most of whom join the station so that they get free tickets to concerts!



"You also say that we are "unpfoffesional", that to a degree is true, but in contradiction to "DEARG DOOM" you say that most of the radio stations have some of our ex personnell working in news rooms which speaks for itself!

You just mentioned that they are EX staff. Radio Dublin has produced dozens of radio DJs, some of whom are the biggest names in Irish radio today. Does that mean that Radio Dublin is some slick operation? I think not.

"Can you outline the politics please? "

Sorry, don't have two weeks of my life.


"That is a sweeping statement with absolute no substance, so that does not even qualify a response! "

I am not gonna get into the politics of Anna Livia for the simple reason that I would like this message to stay up! I do remember the Dave Tobin days though....


"There is another suggestion that our staff go to a "better paying" station, again, facts, Anna Livia is run by Volunteers, who are not paid, so your remarks are again in accurate. "

No, they're not inaccurate. Staff do indeed go to better paying stations. What the hell point are you trying to make here? Sadly for Anna Livia, and for many smaller stations (including the likes of Phantom FM who have recently lost staff to FM104 and Spin 103) the stations with the bigger cheque books can almost always get the best people. It happens in any industry. Get used to it!

"There is another remark directed at Anna Livia about the amalgamation of Dublin City Council that it will be broadcasting the off peak times, there again incorrect information. "

My apologies - I was just confused after all the moves Anna Livia have made in the past. There was the eviction from Grafton Street - due entirely to the incompetence of the board of directors...theres the fact that Anna Livia can only broadcast live 6 days a week because they have to give Griffith College a day of use in their studios as part of their rent agreement (wonder do the BCI know about that???!!!!) Then again, didn't Anna Livia cut back their hours again recently? Gosh, I'm so confused!

"at least get involved with the station then you might at least attempt to get you information right. " I was involved pal, for quite a long time...as for Anna Livia, go back in there and turn the palce around. As the thread name suggests "IT could be a great station". Try working on that instead of moaning about valid criticism - or are you trying to get onto the AnnaLivia board of directors?!!!!

DD

[Beatcomber]

Dear Noisy MW,
I am pretty sure you are an ex member of A.L. so let's presume you are.
I have no idea when you you were there, but let me tell you there are no politics there presently unless,you regard people who act positively in getting the best for the station.
What I would say is, there are people in there who do not know how radio works.Thats in the marketing sense, in other words, they just don't know how to get the profile of the station composed in a saleable way.
Thats abut to all change!!
Anna Liva will become much more obvious and much more in the public eye and ear.
All I'll say about that is, you will be very surprised at whats about to happen.
What annoys me about the messages posted here is inaccurate information!
If the info is accurate and true I will accept it but I have no time for people who think they have the right info and give an uneducated opinion.
If anybody asks, Anna Liva is not, repeat NOT moving in to the Financial Services Center.
I am not at Liberty to say where but I do know and have seen where they are about to move to!
There will be an announcement over the next few weeks, maybe even sooner.
Anna Livia will be different, so will the structures!
Thanks for your comments, I hope this makes things a little clearer. The Future is bright for Anna Liva and it will be noticed.
Kind regards, Beatcomber.

[DeargDoom]

It continues.....


"let me tell you there are no politics there presently "

A workplace/radio station without politics? Book me a corner seat, I am there!!


"unless,you regard people who act positively in getting the best for the station. " That'll be a first time for many people in Anna Livia, some of whom have actually applied for licences up against 103.2!!!


"What I would say is, there are people in there who do not know how radio works.Thats in the marketing sense, in other words, they just don't know how to get the profile of the station composed in a saleable way. " Really? You blamed the BCI in your last post!!


"Thats abut to all change!! Anna Liva will become much more obvious and much more in the public eye and ear. " Yeah, I've heard that every 18 months for the last 10 years. maybe this time will be the one though...





"All I'll say about that is, you will be very surprised at whats about to happen." No, I won't be. Nothing about anna Livia can surprise me anymore. Depress me yes, but surprise me? Nope.




"If anybody asks, Anna Liva is not, repeat NOT moving in to the Financial Services Center. " I didn;t think so. If they couldn't afford the 400 quid a month in Grafton Street, they could barely afford the IFSC.


"I am not at Liberty to say where but I do know and have seen where they are about to move to! " Ooooooh, you are important. I would presume that the other 40 volunteers also know this!


"There will be an announcement over the next few weeks, maybe even sooner. " Its not Ballyfermot Library is it? God the mind boggles.



"Thanks for your comments, I hope this makes things a little clearer. " No, it didn't make things clearer at all.


"The Future is bright for Anna Liva and it will be noticed". Whens the licence up for renewal? And isn't a car crash noticeable as well?!!


DD..

p.s...I did like the Infinity show!!!

[Beatcomber]

Originally posted by DeargDoom
Beatcomber, I will try to respond to you. How the Mersey Beat thing btw?

Hi, thanks for the reply, but I am a little perplexed at the Mersey Beat remark?
Regards.

Originally posted by DeargDoom
"There is another suggestion that our staff go to a "better paying" station, again, facts, Anna Livia is run by Volunteers, who are not paid, so your remarks are again in accurate. "
The point is, the CE Schemes are gone and Dave Tobin and the period in which you refer are long long time ago, even Anna Livia has moved on.Hopefully you see a pretty dramitic change in the next few weeks.
By the way, Anna Livia is not FM 104, or SPIN, or 98FM, most if not 98% are all volunteers thats a fact, so we are not paid like the personalties in the above stations!
The people on the schemes are the last people to be enlisted to that scheme.
If you are involved in Radio you will no doubt know that Mary Harney has put an end to them!
Originally posted by DeargDoom
My apologies - I was just confused after all the moves Anna Livia have made in the past. There was the eviction from Grafton Street - due entirely to the incompetence of the board of directors...theres the fact that Anna Livia can only broadcast live 6 days a week because they have to give Griffith College a day of use in their studios as part of their rent agreement (wonder do the BCI know about that???!!!!) Then again, didn't Anna Livia cut back their hours again recently? Gosh, I'm so confused!
That remark sounds like someone with a grudge or indeed a threat which is a little ominous.
If you feel that there is something illegal in what you have suggested then I suggest you take it to the BCI, or forever hold your piece!!!!!
Originally posted by DeargDoom
"at least get involved with the station then you might at least attempt to get you information right. " I was involved pal, for quite a long time...as for Anna Livia, go back in there and turn the palce around. As the thread name suggests "IT could be a great station". Try working on that instead of moaning about valid criticism - or are you trying to get onto the AnnaLivia board of directors?!!!!!"

I can state categorically I am no "pal" of yours, futhermore even if I was going for the board I would get my facts right before I did anything.
But you sound bitter, maybe you did not get your own way, or you are a person who behaves in a negative to everyone else when you don't get your own way?
Anna Livia will give it's best shot at trying to be a great station, greater for the loss of people such as you and the negative attitude you profess!
Shame really!
PS. Where I come from"PAL" is not a word of endearment!

[DeargDoom]

!I am a little perplexed at he Mersey Beat remark?" Sorry, its an early 60s liverpudlian beatles-ey injoke. Anywhoo...


Anyway, I'll cut out most of your message mainly 'cos you just reprinted everything I had already said. I will address some points though....

"
The point is, the CE Schemes are gone "


I hadn't mentioned the CE schemes, I always regarded them as useless. Mentioning them is simply a red herring ... besides which there must be 15 FM pirate stations who manage to broadcast 24 hours a day with unpaid staff.


"Dave Tobin and the period in which you refer are long long time ago, even Anna Livia has moved on.". It is a long time ago, however I remain unconviced about your comment that Anna Livia have moved on. I seem to remember the day when Anna Livia went off the air due to TX failure - they stayed off for several WEEKS, eventually returning using a rig that a pirate radio operator had loaned them out of sympathy.

"Hopefully you see a pretty dramitic change in the next few weeks.". I'll be nasty here and say that 103.3 could hardly get worse ... its not going through one of its glory periods.

"By the way, Anna Livia is not FM 104, or SPIN, or 98FM, most if not 98% are all volunteers thats a fact, so we are not paid like the personalties in the above stations! " Yeah, we know. I worked there. I'll also once more refer to the comment that I made about all the pirate station managing under similar circumstances (not to mention other community stations!).


"The people on the schemes are the last people to be enlisted to that scheme.
If you are involved in Radio you will no doubt know that Mary Harney has put an end to them! " You're repeating yourself now, and this has absolutely NO relevance to the arguement. Anna Livia was a disaster before the CE Schemed ever went into the place!



incorrect information. "

"If you feel that there is something illegal in what you have suggested then I suggest you take it to the BCI, or forever hold your piece!!!!! " Ahem, I'm hoping that was a misspelling, but I can tell you I keep a firm grip on my Piece at all times..


"I can state categorically I am no "pal" of yours, futhermore even if I was going for the board I would get my facts right before I did anything. " - oooh, put the handbag away.




"Anna Livia will give it's best shot at trying to be a great station" - I doubt it after 10 years of broadcasting.

"Where I come from"PAL" is not a word of endearment! " - ok then, its also a dog food, but sorry to offend you.

I suspect Beatcomber, that you are a newcomber to radio , and especially Anna Livia. That might explain you flying the flag for the station. Sorry to sound like such a nasty cynical old lag, but I've witnessed 10 years of mismanagement and gombeenism in Anna Livia. Once more you've totally ignored the point that myself and Radio Mad were making which is that Anna Livia COULD be a good station - but you've chosen to ignore that. I promise you that in 3 years from now, you will look back at these posts and realise that your PAL(!) Dearg Doom was right.

Now, anyone else like to come in on this one?

[Slicklink]

DD "Now, anyone else like to come in on this one?"

Are you Mad ? I was quite enjoying this actually, I especiially enjoyed the "or forever hold your piece" but I'm surprised at you Dearg.

I can see the frustration this poor gentleman is going through by the postings above and after all it must be a thankless job with negative criticsm when you are still optismistic and on top of this they dont get paid either.

"By the way, Anna Livia is not FM 104, or SPIN, or 98FM, most if not 98% are all volunteers thats a fact, so we are not paid like the personalties in the above stations!"

Dearg, would you not trell him.... no better not, might be seen as a rub, but the percentage seeems very very very close.

ohhhhh now, always thought 103.2 sounded better between 1995 and 99 but that'll all be discussed on Monday night!

byeeeeeeeeee

[Radio Mad]

FACT: Anna Livia edits certain shows together using walkman-type mini-disc machines.

FACT: Some weeks ago, after a gap of some weeks, Anna Livia decided to re-start using INN for news at certain times during the day. On one occasion, the guy manning the desk didn’t know from what source he was to take the feed – Anna Livia don’t have a direct link to INN. Someone told him to use East Coast FM/Radio, which he did. What happened next was truly embarrassing. Unbeknownst to him, East Coast was using its own reader for the bulletin. At precisely 6pm he faded in East Coast – jingle and all. Naturally the words East Coast Radio were used right the way through the bulletin. Our special-interest station for Dublin even got to re-broadcast the local Wicklow news part at the end of bulletin.

FACT: One of Anna Livia’s pre-recorded programmes – 30 minutes in length – was in danger of overrunning its designated time slot. This was not as a result of a mistake on the part of the programme makers, but because the powers-that-be in their infinite wisdom decided that day to put out a 6 minute new bulletins at the top of the show. This meant the show had to be cut. The programme just happened to be recorded over 7/8 mini-disc tracks, so the desk operator just bounced through the tracks live on air in order to ensure there was no over-run. As you can appreciate it sounded absolutely bloody awful.

The above is just a flavour of what goes on inside Anna Livia.

Anyone who is old enough to remember radio in the 70s will know that a lot of its output was just very amateurish. That was over 20 years ago. Surely, the lessons should have been learned at this stage – the year 2,002.

[DeargDoom]

Radio Mad, I can only thank you (and slick link, very funny wiseguy!!lol) for coming in on this topic.

Once again, we can only say how good Anna Livia COULD be but isn't. One of my favourite stations was BBC GLR from 1988 till last year ... a mix of great music and talk (with presenters such as Chris Evans and the media terrorist that is Chris Morris in their early days). Of course, over here we just got self indulgent waffle from Anna Livia.

I worked there for a while, and am still recovering from the experience. As I said, its not unlike the Radio Dublin of talk radio...it gives these talented people an outlet to express themselves, they do, they get better at it, and they get poached. Such is life in a volunteer run station.

Very few other stations would tolerate technical standards as bad as 103.2 (transmission is fine due to their use of the BTS 3 Rock Mast), but by god the audio on the station stinks ... and wasn't it false economy for a mainly talk station (which they were back then!) to buy the cheapest mics money could buy?

Another quick point, I was given out for getting my facts wrong about the new Anna Livia studios which I mentioned were beside the IFSC. They're not. They're in Sherriff Street. Sorry for that major geographical blunder, what can I say apart from the fact that I never wish to set foot inside the place again?!

[Radio Mad]

Dearg.

The old adage of ‘anything will do’ springs to mind. Quality, it seems, is not a concern of Anna Livia’s, even though, by fluke perhaps; the output can be quite good occasionally. And therein lies the point I was making from the start: it’s management – the type that couldn’t manage a good…yeah, you know the rest – is top heavy with people who know very, very little about broadcasting. It’s a terrible shame that these incompetent ego trippers are allowed continue with their wasteful use of a licensed radio station. There are plenty of enthusiastic and talented people working their arses off for the station. However, with little or no talent, cohesive planning, guidance or proper organisation from the top, these poor souls will continue to plug away helplessly and aimlessly.