I like British radio, I really do. We have some top-class broadcasters, like Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, Russel Brand and Wogan (can you see the link yet?). But since I got into podcasting when iTunes introduced them a few years ago, I have been exposed to the sheer depth of American hosting talent available to me and I don't think things will ever be the same again.
Radio broadcast in the UK has become complacent, because we seem to view it as a kind of playground for TV personalities to dabble in while their other work is in post-edit. The connection between all the British broadcasters mentioned above (other than that they are largely all on Radio 2) is that they are all more successful and famous for their TV work and radio is, or has been a secondary career for them. I know that Wogan rarely appears on telly any more, and that the rest all probably cut their teeth on radio in the early days of their career, but what I'm getting at is that we don't seem to generate people like Leo Laporte.
This guy is absolute class. I can't think of a more natural, silky smooth operator in broadcast media today. But he is by no means alone in this: John Dvorak (so completely at odds with his gentle Czech classical namesake!), Dave Hamilton, Paul Therrott....the list goes on and on. They appear to have a conveyor belt in the States to churn out quality in this area and it really is something for them to be proud of. If these people were in the UK, they would be huge stars on national radio, given the right content, but they seem to be taken a little for granted in their homeland. Even the independent 'garage' podcasters like Lloyd Hannemann et al seem to understand that skill in speech is only a part of the communication to an audience and that personality and a willingness to be approachable in topic is essential. Too much of even the better presenters in the UK have fallen into the self-referential laziness that can eventually isolate listeners (Brand's drug consumption, Ross' now-tedious smutty obsessions). The US alternative is extremely seductive.
How did this happen? We Brits pride ourselves on our refinement in language and sophisticated communication. We occasionally deride our American counterparts for their lack of them (and we all secretly feel superior to them in these things don't we? We can't help it.) I think it is something to do with the business side of things. For some reason, it always surprises me that even the most modest of US podcasters can find a sponsor that is willing to at least partially fund their work. They certainly have a much freer minded market economy over there, with more people willing to risk more money on more burgeoning projects. We in the UK never really had the proliferation of local FM stations(partly a geographical by-product) that has created a widespread culture of excellent production in the US. UK investment in small to medium media enterprise is far less enthusiastic, with the result that there is now an echelon of ultra-successful talent at the top, with only their TV collegues bringing up the rear. Oh, and Chris Moyles, for our sins.
I hope that the UK uptake in podcasts can change this. Perhaps in five or ten years the freedom that is inherent with internet distribution will mean that a new generation of UK talent can match those in the US. But for now, ouvrir La Porte any day. (Sorry about that).
P.S. Having said all that, Fry is brilliant in his tech blog, so can we please have him as a guest on TWiT. Please?
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