Oneword Radio listeners finally know what's going on, but remain in a cloud of mystery...

1. Current events - the loss of Oneword as we knew it

Thanks to two articles by John Plunkett in last week's mediaguardian (here and here), digital radio station Oneword's loyal but deprived listeners now have an inkling of what is happening to the station.

In December, with no warning, Oneword suddenly went into an ongoing streaming of repeats "The best of", with the schedule unknown.  The website was reduced to one page, with a message saying that Oneword was undergoing a strategic review.  (Surely a bit late in the day to be claiming that, given what happened in the months before; but I'll come back to that topic later).

Oneword, a digital radio station available through DAB, Freeview, Sky and via the net was unique in that it was almost totally devoted to books.  It carried serialisations; author interviews; food programmes; film reviews and more.

2. A little history on Oneword's ownership and strategy

Back in 2005, Channel 4 (C4) paid UBC Media £1m for a 51% stake in Oneword, with UBC retaining a 49% shareholding.  By November 2007, UBC announced it had written off its own investment in Oneword and wanted to extricate itself from the venture.  Later, C4 decided it too wanted to withdraw, resulting in the sale of its shareholding back to UBC for the nominal sum of £1.  The earlier report in mediaguardian carried some comments from a "spokeswoman at C4".  Apparently, because UBC had run the station, C4 had little option other than to withdraw.  The spokeswoman added "We have made strenuous efforts to look at ways of finding a substitute and reassigning the capacity [on Digital One].  This has not worked out within the time frame but we hope it might be an option for others to explore in the future".  (Another topic I'll come back to later.)

Later that day, the 100% owner UBC had been available for comment through its CEO.  mediaguardian informed us that, in a nutshell, a strategic review is indeed ongoing with UBC "...exploring all the options available to us in an open dialogue with [national digital radio multiplex operator] Digital One who are being very supportive..."  Simon Cole, Chief Executive of UBC rejected reports that the station had closed down.  However, mediaguardian also noted that the staff have been offered voluntary redundancy.

All a bit confusing.

This is also a bit contrary to what you can find here (a link now removed from Oneword's holding homepage) - scroll down a little to see the Programme Manager, Paul Kent's words in "The End", plus lots of devoted listener comments.  Where UBC is now held on the hook, C4 is not unworthy of a spotlight where it appears that more than a touch of irony and hypocrisy come into play...

3. The set of ironies in how we perceive the value of books

During 2007, C4, through one of its subsidiaries (working as lead in a consortium) was successfully awarded the licence for the second national commercial digital radio multiplex.  Their pack of 10 channels plus podcasts did not include Oneword.  Indeed, not one of the 10 channels proposed includes any reference to books, literature or the written word (unless you include the partnership with Closer Magazine to create a radio channel of the same mindless celebrity fodder - God forbid - and with no encouragement to actually read - why bother, if you can just listen?).  Given UBC's declaration on ownership in 2007 and C4's application that excluded Oneword, it is a little off colour to suggest a strategic review was ongoing for Oneword at the eleventh hour.  (Another topic I'll come back to shortly.)

Later in 2007, Virgin announced that it was dropping out of its planned launch of Virgin Radio Viva (aimed at young women and mainly music) - another one of the ten proposed channels.  Surely this created a space for Oneword?  At least some of its programmes to continue to support books and reading could find a home in that set of ten channels for that second multiplex?  If not, why not?

In September 2007, Luke Johnson, Chairman of C4, through his other business interests "Risk Capital Partners" bought out Borders UK.  At the time, The Bookseller made note of his comments, which included these two gems:

• Johnson said he believed "...passionately in the future of books and think [sic] Borders has a great formula".
• Also, "... As a published writer from a family of writers, I understand the cultural importance of books and have seen through Richard & Judy's book club at Channel 4 how people can be stimulated to buy and read books..."

With those thoughts, I think it's time he questioned his operational directors on the Board at C4 on why C4's subsidiaries have made the decisions they have in respect of Oneword.

This all comes to a head just we enter 2008 which has been designated "The National Year of Reading".  (A timely move following the literacy petition submitted to 10 Downing Street by Amanda Ross - producer of the "Richard & Judy" show - in December 2007.)

4. The financial element

mediaguardian informs us that Oneword was losing around £1m a year (so heard), because of the competition from BBC spoken word digital station BBC7 - thus making it a candidate for straight matter of fact dumping and closure by both previous owners, surely?  (Although, it's good to read UBC's Chief Executive's comments that they are still trying to find a solution.  There is some hope; little as it may be.)

Yep, Oneword lost nearly £1m in its financial statement for the year ended 31.12.05.  (The report and accounts for 31.12.06 to be filed by the end of October 2007 are noted as late at Companies House.)  But even for the year ended 31.12.05, Oneword exhibits a history of not really being a "commercial" radio station, but a "funded" one.  Since its inception, it appears to be loss-making with its losses being funded through "capital contribution - debt waiver" from its shareholders.

For 2005, it's hard to see any true commercial element in turnover from sales (related to sponsorship and advertising) coming in at £89k versus cost of sales at £866k with admin expenses of £139k on top.  No surprise that the bottom line loss was £916k, with £850k the year before.

Again from mediaguardian, UBC Chief Executive, Simon Cole "...admitted the digital station's current business model, which has suffered from competition from the BBC's own spoken word digital station BBC7, was unsustainable."  2005's accounts suggest that the same business model has been in place from inception, so why no apparent strategic review to enable changing the model and the potential for some financial success?

Why didn't they increase advertising on the station and thus income derived from it?

Where publishers have slowly entered into the world of video based advertising for books, did they not think about an audio format to be placed on a radio station devoted to books?

5. Publicity & knowing Oneword is/was there for the benefits it delivered...

Knowing it was there, having greater publicity for the station, knowing how to listen to it through a wider range of publicity would have helped increase listeners.  It was only in early 2007 that I became aware of how to listen without a DAB radio (no point as no reception).  I've never been a BBC7 listener, so the competition argument does not wash with me.  I was a complete newbie and I think there was the potential for many others like me too, if only, like me, they'd been aware of the station and how to access it (without a DAB radio) sooner.

After two days I was hooked.  I believe that Oneword had the potential for far more listeners - if only they'd known about it.  And that needed publicity.

6. What Oneword delivered that we have now lost

I've been strutting along in the past tense because I understand corporate speak, having had to learn variations of a few of those "languages" along the way.  Oneword is gone unless a company decides it is time to invest in the future of a digital radio station with an emphasis on books and reading.  That is probably now too late.

Oneword delivered vivacious, thoughtful, intelligent, educational and informative entertainment.  It never patronised, as other listeners have stated on the "unofficial forum" for listeners here.  It brought a wider and more real "reader targeted" diverse mix of books to readers than most of the newspaper review sections (who seem out of touch with their own readers' desires these days, certainly mine).  It was also immense fun when it could be!

In 2007, it introduced me to books that would have escaped my attention otherwise.  Essentially a crime fiction reader, I read more of the other things on offer, because I'd been listening.

It was also an award winning station, with its talent recognised from the earlier stages of its seven years of life.

Above all, for me, it was good to listen to a station of intelligence, of intelligent discussion.  Frank Stirling was always thoughtfully and gently probing with his interviewees.  Paul Kent was always probing, displaying a keen and knowledge-based interest in food.  Paul Blezard ran the gamut of everything from an admitted "gigglefest" with one author, to a bubble of deference when it came to interviewing Germaine Greer, to considered and informed seriousness when discussing more tragic matters.  All the programmes these guys presented had me feeling I'd been invited to sit in on a conversation in progress.  Formality was not the order of the day and that's what made books and reading via Oneword's programmes so accessible.  What a loss!

7. Can anything be done from the listeners' point of view?

Personally, I'm tempted to write to Luke Johnson, Chairman of C4, to ask why Oneword, or at least some of its programmes cannot find a home in the second digital multiplex.  This is man who says he values books and, as Chairman he is perfectly placed to question the operational decisions that are made within C4.

Let's not be naive here.  Both UBC and C4 will have made strategic reviews at group level that included their loss-making interests in Oneword.  That's where it would have happened.  Ditch and dump appears to have been the order of the day, but I have more than one word to say to sign off:

You overlooked Oneword's loyal listeners and its potential.  Is not time for a rethink and a salvage operation?

Finally, my heartfelt thanks to Oneword and its crew.  In 2007, you entertained, educated, distracted me, and brought a smile to my face (including through the duration of some very dark hours in my life).  But then, this is more evidence of "dumbing-down" Britain, of which, more in a later post, coming shortly.

Comments

[Claire]

I actually went out and purchased DAB radio to listen to ONEWORD. I am bereft and angry! What is wrong with these capitalist controllers! Oneword wasn't perfect but it allowed a daily insight into new and old books and authors. I too also listened to bbc7 but ONEWORD was my first port of call when turning on the radio. I find myself surrounded by silence when i don't have ONEWORD to turn to, espicially when bb7 cbeebies is aired.....screammmmmm!!!!!

[cfr]

Thanks for the comment Richie. I'm amazed that people are still googling oneword in late Feb and finding this post. There is certainly strength of feeling amongst it lotal listeners.

[Richie Conway]

I too miss Oneword. There is simply no other radio channel that does what it did.

Some of its output I found rather irritating, but then that's just down to personal taste. Where it shone, for me, was in its broadcasts of wonderful books, drama and author interviews.

It's sad that it couldn't find a bigger audience. A combination, I think, of poor promotion of the station and an unwillingness on the part of many people to view anything thought- provoking as entertainment.

A further move down the slide to a lowest common denominator culture. The barbarians are at the gates and they've just burned down our radio station.

[crimeficreader]

Thanks for your comments, Jill. Every week since I made this post, searches have continued for Oneword. The number far outweighs those who have left comments. It's sad that it is missed by so many.

[Jill Tattersall]

I am so glad to find this series of comments, and to know the protests are still heartfelt. There has been so little about Oneword in the press. I posted various comments on the unofficial forum mentioned above, and e-mailed newspaper arts and media correspondents and everyone I could think of about Oneword and the kiss of death Channel 4 gave it in using it cynically, it would seem, to get a toehold in digital broadcasting.
Of course it wasn't perfect but was basically run by a man and a dog (or two) and did marvels to create new audiences and promote books. With a will, it could have been made to work - its day is surely here what with the bookclub and audiobook explosions. I miss it acutely.

[crimeficreader]

Thanks for your comments. Since writing this and a subsequent post, I have discovered the following article in Publishing News, written by Paul Blezard:
http://www.publishingnews.co.uk/pn/pno-news-display.asp?K=e2008011713525977&TAG=&CID=&PGE=&sg9t=.

[brendan sparks]

I agree with most of the comments made on the loss of oneword. However oneword was not without its faults. I remember the annoyance I felt with the interruptions to a story every fifteen minutes that I was listening to oneword. Still, whatever onewords imperfections were, its departure from the airwaves is a great loss leaving those of us who want to listen to something other than rock music, jazz or classical with few places to go.

[Lynnette Wilson]

I discovered Oneword Radio on digital in 2004, since then I've been a regular listener and feel bereft that it is no longer available. Surely there is an audience for a radio station of this type. Please will somebody listen to the general consensus of opinion.

[crimeficreader]

Thanks for your comments, both.

[Carol Spero]

Having discovered at last a radio station that educates, intrigues,and leaves me longing for more, whether it's straight reading, a beautifully dramatized read or first rate radio drama I am desolated! oneword has brought back for me many of the classics I neglected as a teenager,books I loved as na child and a wealth of excellent crime fiction, contemporary novels and presentation of classics.BBC7 doesn't come anywhere near it! (I discovered Thomas Hardy via oneword)

[Richard]

I switched on oneword yesterday as usual and got nothing but birdsong. This was the first I had known that Oneword was in trouble. I am most disappoing. I listened to BBC7 as well, the stations were omplementary in their content, BBC7 was largely classic old radio and Oneword more literary. I will miss Oneword greatly and urge the owners to reconsider closure.

[crimeficreader]

We share a gaping hole, Shirley, and many thanks for your comment.

I love books too, always have, and with this station I found my home for listening to satisfy my interest in books. I found it late, but made the most of it in 2007, the year in which I lost both my parents. I say this because Oneword provided a major distraction and a focus in my days in 2007 when my father and mother passed away. I believe, given time, both of them would have loved the station as much as I did. But time was not on their or my side, as it happened.

To lose Oneword right now is like losing a rib in my own body.

The history of the channel begs more explanation as to its demise.

There are many unanswered questions remaining!

[shirley stephens]

I am so upset that Oneword has stopped broadcasting. I listened to it so much and loved the multitude of books, reviews and just about everything. There is a huge hole left now that no existing radio station can fill.