Bayrak International Radio - your thoughts and feedback

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
06/07/2011 22:42

Hello,



I am interested to know listeners' opinions of Bayrak International Radio 87.8/105 FM.



Please share your opinions and constructive criticism.



What music do you want to hear at what times of the day?



What kind of shows would you like to see more or less of?



What do you think of the playlist?



I am a great believer in market research and change is always good.



All the best

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
06/07/2011 22:52

so is this the beginning of next week;s programme? Well, I will try to be hones,t cos I think you are a lovely girl (who still owes me coffee).



sorry but I listen only to Bayrak Classic. I love it, and whenever I am in the car alone I listen to it, signing alone where I know the tunes, whether vocal , symphonic or concerto (what a talented lady I am.



As to shows - are we talking ahout telly

? More human interest. Have more of me with Can, or let me do a progrmame as Denise, you and others do. Yea, I know, I am not a citizen so it is not allowed. Mind you, if one can do DJ for nothing, why not TV. I could complement Can's programme.

Seriously, when you say 'shows' I am not sure what you mean.

And you are right - market research is the way to go to keep the public happy.

Now someone can shoot me down in flames and give you a completely different answer, which will add some colour to your next programme!

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
06/07/2011 23:07

Hi Marion - we have so much to catch up on - I promise a coffee is on the cards!!!

This is purely to find out the listeners' opinions - or perhaps why people don't listen!



In terms of shows I meant on the radio.



You would be great - actually I would love to have you as a co-presenter on the show! Are you free on Saturdays or Wednesday nights? Perhaps we could have a talk show?? : ) A phone-in? We'll talk soon.

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
06/07/2011 23:11

Yes to coffee; yes to co-presenter; yes to possibly both or either night; yes to talkiing soon.



Now someone is going to say I am off thread, but what the heck - perhaps they will give you some comments on your show as listeners. As I said, sorry I don't listen , and don't have a good radio at home. Strictly car, that's me. so it would be REALLY ingteresting to know who DOES listen to the radio.



come on folks - tell Sirin your deepest listening secrets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(extra exclamation marks for a certain contributor to Cyprus 44)

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
06/07/2011 23:28

Yes I want to know who actually does listen!



Plus I have a complaint of my own - I don't like the playlist - all mixed up but we've been instructed not to touch it :(

Gunnamatta


Joined: 18/03/2010
Posts: 48

Message Posted:
06/07/2011 23:46

I'll tell you something weird. I like Bayrak international so much I actually stream it at home in Moscow Russia.

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
06/07/2011 23:54

I once used to listen to it when I had a car and I must be honest and say that I hated it when they would speak over the music, plus sometimes they would cut the music in the middle. Less talking more music I would prefer. I am not being rude or anything, it's just my real opinion.

medoc


Joined: 05/09/2010
Posts: 84

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 00:02

I only listen to Zeki Ali's programs (Sunday night Blues, Monday evening Songwriters, Thursday evening Prog Rock, Friday night Jazz), excellent programs. Always a unique mixture of older and brand new quality music, in nearly all cases presented live in the studio.

Otherwise, I would prefer more good Rock music.

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 00:04

Keep the comments coming for the Sexy Sirin. she is worth it!

silentbutdim


Joined: 07/09/2010
Posts: 121

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 01:21

crap reception since the last two weeks in the ozankoy area

loads of interference from other transmissions

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 01:46

Power radio drowns you out in Ozankoy makes it impossible sometimes to hear as soon as you go up the mountain

CJtill


Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 07:28

I haven't been able to get a reception from Bayrak for the last few weeks. What is happening.

slatnumber7


Joined: 25/08/2010
Posts: 299

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 09:38

I stopped listening to Barak International some months ago, nothing to do with the reception that was fine at home and on the car radio.



The playlist was poor and disrupted and to hear presenters just reading from a prepared script in a monotonous voice beggared belief.



I find my choice of music now on 88.0 FM a good selection of music for 'old people' like wise 97.7 FM also Radyo ODTU 103.1 FM for more modern stuff but sometimes a bit too much chat in the mornings.



Try them, well worth comparing to Bayrak Int.

StevieF


Joined: 11/06/2009
Posts: 153

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 09:44

Like everyone is stating, good quality reception is first, at present it is awful, we hear that changes to the mast are causing it, I think you should speed this up as you are losing listeners.

Playlists, personally I love 70,s and Motown music, but thats just my era, I have ears for all types of music so long as its good, BBC Radio 2 is a good example of how to get it right, something for everyone.



Steve.

PaulW



Joined: 20/07/2009
Posts: 651

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 10:03

I only listen to Max on a Saturday & Mike on a Sunday. Because english is not the first language of most of the presenters (I don't mean Max & Mike although for northerners they don't do to bad) the way they read out the scripted parts become...............a bit .......disjointed, ie; pause's in the wrong place and all read in a monotone. The music is not my choice, but that may reflect my age, although I do like a lot of modern music, just not what they play on Bayrak. I agree with message 14 a radio 2 type playlist would be an improvement.

Paul

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 11:07

I like to listen what going on and where, however, it is a bit monotone when they read out the scripts(but its better than my Turkish)..the music should be played right through, not cut out midstream...

I tend to agree with some of the above statements, a new format is needed for the English speaking channel.

Snaefell



Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 266

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 12:47

Cannot get it on the car radio anymore and get interferance from other channels at home in Tatlisu. I listen online at home in Britain though. I think there is a good mix of different music.

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 21:31

Great feedback! Many thanks. I will put these issues forward to BRT.



The reception seems to be a common problem. However, work is being done to improve the transmission from Sevilitepe.



Any more thoughts?

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 23:52

Hope you are happier now Olivetree! Maybe you and I can give the new format asked for, and I am sure we are not monotone. so come on you guys, would you listen in more to Sirin and li'l ol' me if we inject a bit of spontaneity? In my opinion, you turn on the radio because you want to listen and be 'entertained and informed' with a bit of life and enthusiasm. Knowing sirin, she is very enthusiastic and vital with great English, and I am sure she wants to give what people want.

True, Sirin????

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
08/07/2011 12:16

Thanks Marion - I think we would make a great team for a talk show and get listeners to share their thoughts about life in the TRNC.



Perhaps we could discuss the latest news and have people phoning in



Talk soon. xx

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
08/07/2011 14:32

Agree OT. Phone ins are great if you can get people to do it. Let's rival/complement Fevzi and his programme on a Tuesday night on Turkish Radio in London!!!! Or a sort of Cyprus 44 LIVE.



so come on those of you who have read this. would you make this a part of your Saturday evening? Sirin and me?

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
08/07/2011 14:46

My car radio's are permanently stuck on Bayrak Classic as are bedroom radios (I doubt if the knobs will move anywhere else now)



I used to try the normal day to day programmes, but presentation is stuck in the far distant past. (music being played between news items - that went out with the ark) The readers have boring, voices and if its supposed to be English then why do the readers and some presenters have such strong TC accents)



Hardly anything is original. Once I actually listened to a presentation on the radio whilst reading it all in an earlier edition of Cyprus Today. (and they probably lifted it from the Daily Mail or similar!!) Other segments were direct quotations and articles from English newspapers. That's a lazy cop out .



Bayrak have a long way to go before I listen to them again (other than Classic) One amusing thing happend last year though - the announcer said Johann Sebastian Beethoven!!



Tango1

MoonageDaydre


Joined: 09/07/2011
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
09/07/2011 07:20

I like Bayrak International for the news, the press reviews, and the specialist music programmes, but the music mix is often a bit odd, and is far too 'club music' oriented for my tastes.



I've always found reception clear in the TRNC, and 87.7 MHz can also be heard in large parts of the south. They advertise a shortwave frequency of 6150 kHz, but I've never heard that in the TRNC or England, do they still transmit on that frequency?

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 14:26

Interesting point MoonageDaydre - I will ask about the short wave frequency.



Thank you to everyone for your feedback.

stilluvithere



Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 765

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 17:11

I often wonder who their audience is. Is it geared to expats as it is in some sort of English. If this is the case their choice of music is completely, most of the time wrong in my opinion. There are some programs worth listening to, like the soul program on Saturday morning. What infuriates me most is when the so called diva on the mike and others, read out articles in English but most of the time I have no idea of what they are talking about as punctuation is ignored. I can't speak Turkish but I don't try to things I can't do as these so called dj's do

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 17:27

Good points all round.



Many thanks

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 18:26

who the hell listens to radio these days ?



about as interesting as an evening round DC's house.....

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 18:43

Now there IS some interesting feedback and a nice challenge. I listen to Classic only, but I gave up watching the news years ago for the same reasons as others gave up radio. English read as she should not be spoke!



So, here is a proper challenge. Many people have said what they DON'T want, so here is the question "What would make you turn on and listen?"

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 18:47

Would listen if there were really interesting, topical, original discussions and not copied from other sources. I'd listen if some of the presenters did not have such strong TC accents. Until then I'll stick to Classic radio.

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 18:47

mess 28 - if my missus left me, my tv broke, the internet was kaput, my phone was on the blink, and all my mates went on holiday.......

cyprusgiant


Joined: 08/07/2009
Posts: 467

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 19:38

Marion



I personally would like more ex-pats broadcasting on Bayrak International, especially if the objective is to provide an English speaking radio service for ex-pats. The problem as I understand is that Bayrak cannot employ & pay ex-pats so it would be on a volunteer basis as Mike & I provide at the weekend. Also, it is also part of Bayrak's policy not to allow non Cypriots to broadcast 'live', so I do feel that the shows that Mike & I provide are slightly diminished as they are pre-recorded. I for instance are going back to the UK so I have produced the next 12 shows all pre-recorded. Unfortunately it prevents me the opportunity to include meaningful topics on whats happening when the show is broadcasted. However, on a positive note I am impressed with the professional way of the producer (Jan) & his staff produce my radio show.

My suggestion is if you have any radio experience and feel that you have something to offer please contact Bayrak as I'm certain that they would be in

cyprusgiant


Joined: 08/07/2009
Posts: 467

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 19:44

interested in what you have to offer.



Max...

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 00:30

Thanks Max. I know Can well and many others at BRT, and know wha t you are talking about, but hope that sirin can sort something out. I hope that she can use all the comments that you have given for I know she is ver keen on BRT and what she and others do within it.

I have loads of experience but what matters is that BRT can produce radio stuff that people want to hear, and I am pretty certain that is what sirin wants to do.

So, any other comments from anyone else will be very helpful to her. I hope I can play a bigger role, but of course I am an ex pat and all that Max has said applies to me. But, looking to the future, and recognising that BRT is government and does not want discussions of politics, nor any gaffs from contributors, change can always happen if it is seen as an acceptable improvement to what is. So...... let's see what Sirin can do!

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 09:53

Great people - thank you!



It is important that ex-pats are properly represented and catered for.



I will print this thread and give it to BRT as a little bit of market research.



xxxx

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 12:24

Thanks , Sirin for being a missionary for BRT. They need you. And if I can get to see the Boss Man I will reiterate it, just in case he thinks we are are 'nutters'. Most of us would like to feel that we can support Cypriot ventures and so any updating/modernising etc etc will be of benefit. After all, 'how can they know if they do not have a preacher?' a biblical quote, but as I said, you are a bit of a missionary!



What a good girl you are !

JohnDownes


Joined: 03/12/2010
Posts: 123

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 13:17

Like others here I ony ever listen to the Bayrak Classic. And I have a lot of suggestions for improvements.

1. Dead Air. Why are you so frightened of it? Why does movement number 2 of a symphony (for example)come crashing in before the final chord of the 1st movement has died away? What is the matter with having a proper pause between movements?

2. The station identifier jingles. For the most part they are quite simply ghastly, and when not tasteless you hear them too often. I am second to nobody on the planet in my admiration of JS Bach but do we need to hear the Badinerie from the b-minor flute suite at the top of every hour?

3. Repertoire. For Goodness' sake, go out and buy some more records. Do you realise that this last ten days you have been playing the same 6 Haydn symphonies in the same order at around the same time in the morning? Ridiculous.

4. Performances. A lot of the records played are quite simply bad old performances. (Being old does not make them bad.) Replace the

JohnDownes


Joined: 03/12/2010
Posts: 123

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 13:26

4. Performances. A lot of the records played are quite simply bad, old performances. (Being old does not of itself make them bad.) For example, there's a recording you keep playing of Bach's harpsichord concerto in d-minor played on the piano. People don't do that any more. By the sound of it (studio-bound and boxy) it was recorded in the 1950s. Throw it away! Worst of the lot is the recording of the Elgar suite for strings which is played at about half the proper pace. Appalling. There are other examples, but I've gone on long enough.

stilluvithere



Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 765

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 18:13

Might I suggest that the music played relates to the age of most expats here and have middle of the road, some blues, rock and a selection from the 60's,70's and 80's as performed by most singers in the restaurants and bars.

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 23:20

Agree john with your comments on the classics, but I am inclined to accept that half a loaf is better than none, for as you can see from message 38, most people are of the same mind as the writer of this message. You and I (and a handful of others) have to make do with one Classics programme. Maybe some of us could donate up to date recordings or copies of what we think are the best of v arious works for BRT to use. I don't know how up to date their archives are, nor indeed who actually puts the programmes together.



More suggestions for Sirin to put forward.



selfishly, my car raido is on classics and c lassics alone because I am not interested in the music as suggested in message 38, but then at home I have a huge collection of CD's - hence no radio at home! Given time maybe BRT will hgave the resources to keep us all happy, but at the moment it is all drops in the bucket.

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 13:46

Any more ideas that could be considered to be put into practice to give YOU, the listeners what you want. Of course one of the problems is that there are as many ideas as listeners (or potential listeners) and it would not be a viable option. But come on, give more answers.

olivetree


Joined: 19/09/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 21:06

Thanks Marion.

Good suggestions for music.



How do you listen to Bayrak International?

In the car?

At home?



What kind of time?

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 10:37

Given that most ex-pats here are British, what are the chances of retransmitting BFBS for a few hours in the morning to catch up with UK news? Whilst I appreciate that BFBS might not be too happy about it, what are they going to do to a country that they don't recognise to make them stop?