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Home arrow All Discussions arrow Riviera Radio in poor taste?
Opinions and subjects of interest to Riviera expats as well as letters sent to the paper magazine. You can comment any entry without registering but you must register on the right in order to post your own subject by using the "Talking Points Dashboard" link.

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Riviera Radio in poor taste? Print
Written by Mike Preston   

I am no admirer of Riviera Radio's Elizabeth Lewis' presentation style or idea of humour, but her comments on Wednesday morning, 28th November, plumbed new depths of bad taste and poor judgement.

I refer to a piece about twins being born from different fathers. This type of discussion, referring to intercourse and semen, has no place on a morning programme to which children are likely to be listening, particularly when accompanied by crude, inane, and infantile comments about 'pussies' and 'hussies'. This might be more appropriate for a late evening programme although personally I found the comments totally unamusing.

I am not a prude or old fogey but I do not think children should be subjected to this type of material. The “off” button is there to be used but when kids are in the car on the way to school this is not really an option. Turning off the station permanently is an option.
I hope other people have taken the trouble to express their disapproval of this and similar drivel in the station's programme content.

My email concerning this, sent to Riviera Radio in November,  did not even get the courtesy of a response, something I find irritating to say the least and which makes me wonder why they elicit input from listeners and then only respond when it is positive. Any complaint to Riviera Radio is usually ignored while I am always pleased to see that the Reporter is mature enough to acknowledge and often publish critical feedback, sometimes with an appropriate response.

On 10th January, 7 weeks after my original complaint, I emailed Morris Communications, the owners of Riviera Radio, and by an "amazing coincidence", on 14th January I had a rather defensive email from Riviera Radio's managing director in which he commented that no-one else has shared the same opinion as myself on this matter. Perhaps the whole world is out of step with me, or too apathetic to comment. 

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written by Derek da Costa , 11 March 2008
Further to your contact with Riviera Radio regarding some of the pathetic humour. I also wrote to them last November, in which I pointed out that although I had a broad sense of humour, I felt that a lot of their morning broadcasts were over-larding the 'schoolboy smut'.

I too, received no reply.

So much for their MD stating 'no one else shared your opinion'!

Derek da Costa
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written by James Clement , 30 March 2008
I am a regular listener to Rivera Radio. The music that is played is excellent and the News breaks are informative. However I also find Elizabeth Lewis a bore. Her presentation techniques are non-existant and her constant inane giggles at her colleagues remarks drive me mad. I suggest she sticks to voice-overs for Ads where she can read what is put in front of her. Her opinions are lacking in substance. James Clement
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written by Carla Warrent , 30 March 2008
I find the music not to my taste by my parents (who are both in their 70's) like it. No station can please everyone for music. But the presenters are terrible, especially Elizabeth and that incult Nugent who can't pronounce French properly and comes across as an arrogant twit. I'm told that in person he's even worse. The local news is rehashed NIce Matin and not at all informative enough on real issues. The traffic and weather reports are very good but if you speak French you can get just as good elsewhere, like 107,7 FM.
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written by Claire H , 31 March 2008
HOnestly, you really are getting your knickers in a twist about nothing Mike! Elizabeth Lewis' comments are not harmful to anyone and make me smile - it's nice to hear something other than flat comments throughout the morning - if you're so terrified of your children hearing a few double entendres then yes, maybe you would be better switchign the radio off but mine just sing along to the music - there's far more harmful things to children's delicate ears than a few comments about pussies from Miss Lewis!!! Keep up the good work Riviera Radio and give Elizabeth the thumbs up from me!
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written by Silly Me , 01 April 2008
I think a lot of pople compare the station with what it used to be. People who have been here a long time remember Riviera Radio as a really good community radio station with speech content of real interest to people living here. There were informative call-ins and discussion shows and daily interviews with experts on all sorts of subjects like relocation and banking and jobs and insurance etc.
Do we really want as much music as they play now? Everyone I know has a CD player or MP3 player so they can choose the kind of music they like instead of having it chosen for them. When I want music I put a CD on, not Riviera Radio.
I agree with Carla that we all have different tastes in music so the station can't get the music right for all of us no matter what they do. But we need more useful speech content and there used to be a lot more of that.
I think the station would be more popular if it was a local Radio 4 equivalent instead of Radio 3.
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written by C Planer , 01 April 2008
What is wrong with a bit of fun? I think it's great to hear presenters joking in real time -if you're not happy Mike P,go and listen to some boring recorded stuff, but don't put other people off.
Elizabeth Lewis is the only female presenter on the radio, maybe Mike P would prefer an all male line-up? Personally I think that would be terrible - I think Ms Lewis adds a very much needed feminine touch to the Breakfast show and complements the men well.
Long live freedom!
C Planer
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written by Carla Warrent , 01 April 2008
No one is objecting to fun. It's smut at hours when children are listening that Mike Preston is specifically objecting to. He has a point and has made it. He also has a choice about whether or not to listen. He seems to have made that choice too.

The big pity is that there is no competition with Riviera Radio here. The fact that there are several publications (although some don't seem to last long) means that they all have to watch themselves and compete for the better good of the "consumer".
Why isn't there a competitor to Riviera Radio? Has there ever been?
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written by Mike Preston , 01 April 2008

I'm pleased to see this has generated some discussion, although whether or not discussion will bear any results is another story as Riviera Radio management don't seem to react to suggestions for change. Paul Kavanagh did email me and asked for my input which I gave but I don't feel that there will be any result.

I have made no comment on the music, that was not the issue here. As an aside, a lot of it is to my liking, although it would not be my first choice, but the repertoire is too small and often repeated.

Regarding Claire H's comment, I'm not ?'terrified of my children hearing a few double entendres? and that is not the issue here. My son hears my bad language at home all the time, and knows what to say and when. It is all about what is appropriate and when, and smutty and innuendo laden comments about semen, intercourse, pussies, and hussies do not, in my view, have their place on a morning radio show in the context where they were made.

I fail to understand the comment by C Planer "maybe Mike P would prefer an all male line-up?" Is this is an implication of misogyny on my part? If so I can assure you I have nothing against women, as radio announcers or anywhere else, I just happen to find Elizabeth Lewis' style and attempts at humour intensely irritating. I've never met the lady and have nothing personal against her, but I have to say that she, or rather her inane comments and cackling, are the main reason I no longer listen to RR, or reach for the off button the moment the BBC news is over.

Perhaps it's me that's out of tune, but it does seem I am not in a complete minority.

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written by Dora Bond , 02 April 2008
Surely this is a question of context as Mr Preston says, and of where each of us draws our personal limit. What might be acceptable in the context of a late night show is not for the morning. That is why UK television has a "watershed" time for films rated for 15 and over.

It is totally subjective as to whether or not lewd remarks are "smut" or merely "fun" but on the whole one would expect a community radio station which benefits from a monopoly in it's "niche" to err on the side of caution out of respect for the listeners, and especially families and young children. Talk of semen and pussies at breakfast time is certainly well beyond that limit for any "normal" person.

That being said, many of us stopped listening years ago when the station switched from being an essential presence to a boring one.
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written by E and J , 03 April 2008
Just a quick message to say that we find Elizabeth Lewis charming, vivacious and intelligent. She has a masterly command of French and an endearing sense of humour. Surely during a period of real moral corruption, when an inane world leader has embarked on an evil war in which thousands are being slaughtered, we should not object to a bit of mild innuendo on the radio? We are living in France, after all, where sex is not regarded as a sin, and the erotic is not considered 'inappropriate'. Mike P should cultivate a bit more joie de vivre. As for Elizabeth, she should keep up the good work and continue to be a little naughty now and again.
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written by Mike Preston , 03 April 2008
E and J :

Believe it or not MikeP has plenty of 'joie de vivre', it's just deeply hidden under a miserable exterior!

I think you are missing my point, or it's simply a matter of having different standards of what is acceptable and there is no point arguing further about this, in my view what she said in that context is unacceptable and nobody will convince me otherwise.

If you find Elizabeth Lewis "charming, vivacious and intelligent with an endearing sense of humour" then you're entitled to that view, it differs totally from mine, but when you say "She has a masterly command of French" you must have your tongue very firmly in your cheek.
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written by Carla Warrent , 03 April 2008
Most of what is said in this discussion is a matter of personal opinion about what is acceptable or not. But whether or not you like Elizabeth's radio manner or sense of humour, no one can objectively say that her French is good. It is, quite honestly, atrocious.
In all fairness to Riviera Radio, some of their presenters do have good French, but she is not one of them.
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written by arthur.B , 04 April 2008
Bunkum !
Elizabeth speaks perfect french so I don't know what you base that statement on.
She used to work on the french language stations MCM and Kiss and they don't employ people who's french is not up to scratch.
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written by Mike Preston , 04 April 2008
My French is far from perfect but then I don't claim to be able to speak the language. I can tell whether someone's prounciation is good or not and hers, at least when she mangles, sorry reads, the news bulletins is atrocious, at least insofar as her pronounciation of names is concerned.

To her credit, when she tries to pronounce names in other languages she apologises for her accent .... but that excruciating 'funny' German accent she does sometimes is like nails scraping on a blackboard.

I would be interested to see if anyone from Riviera Radio would post a comment under their real name.
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written by Carla Warrent , 07 April 2008
My fiancé is French and he finds Elizabeth's attempts at speaking his mother tongue painful to say the least. She makes many a mistake in translating into English and her pronunciation is lamentable.
But I suppose we shouldn't be too hard on her for that. She is presenting in English after all. But to pretend she speaks good French is just inaccurate.
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written by Carla Warrent , 07 April 2008
"I would be interested to see if anyone from Riviera Radio would post a comment under their real name. ": Mike Preston.

You are suggesting that someone commenting here is in fact a Riviera Radio employee posing as general public. I don't know if that is the case but what makes you think that?
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written by BaronMuchausen , 07 April 2008
Its a terrible world we live in when Radio presenters start joking on their breakfast programmes....I, for one am going to wrap my child up in a ball of cotton wool to protect her from lives evils.

who is with me?
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written by BaronMuchausen , 07 April 2008
by the way....What did Elizabeth say? or is it too steamy to put on a website?
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written by Mike Preston , 07 April 2008
To Carla :
"You are suggesting that someone commenting here is in fact a Riviera Radio employee posing as general public. I don't know if that is the case but what makes you think that?"

I'm not suggesting that, although people may interpret it that way. I just have a suspicion, which I feel I'm entitled to express, that's all.

To BaronMuchausen :
Perhaps if you'd taken the time to read my original letter properly instead of making sarcastic remarks, you'd have picked up the gist of what my complaint was about. It's not too 'steamy' to put on a website, it's just pointless to do so. May I suggest that you read my original letter above.


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written by Iain , 09 April 2008
Hi Mike,

I took the time to read your letter and in my opinion, you are making a drone about nothing. Everyone has a right to exercise their opinion but it seems like you are taking the moral high ground for no reason.

Who are you to class what is appropriate and inappropriate? Its down to personal perception of what you believe is acceptable. Yours are unfortunately higher than other peoples.

In short, if you don't like it, don't listen and don't assume that everyone lives in the same stratosphere as yourself.

Iain
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written by arthur.B , 09 April 2008
Hear,Hear.

The all pervading Mike Preston or Mike P as angloinfo users would know him.
What are you Mike-a wanabee D.J,failed media person or just unemployed with too much time on your hands ?
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written by Riviera Reporter , 09 April 2008
Vigorously expressed opinions on all subjects are welcome on this site but please restrain from making gratuitous or aggressive personal insults. They debase the writer, contribute nothing to the debate and will eventually result in posts being deleted.

Rebut if you wish but please respect the rights of others to have their say without being insulted for not agreeing with your own point of view.

There are logical limits and some of you are very close to overstepping them.

Admin
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written by Mike Preston , 09 April 2008
Iain and Arthur .... you are quite entitled to your personal opinions, but please bear in my mind that they are just that, unvalidated opinions, therefore try to keep your comments impersonal and related to the issue rather than to the personality you imagine to be behind the comments.

I don't really think that what I do is germane to the topic here, nor is it any concern of yours.
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written by Iain , 16 April 2008
Mike,

Really, the same applies to your letter. Its an unvalidated opinion of what you perceive to be deemed inappropriate.

I'm happy you agree with me.
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written by Mike Preston , 18 April 2008
Iain, it's not the same at all. Your comment, and Arthur's to a greater and more offensive degree, were snide and personal attacks on me. My original complaint related more to content, than to a person, granted of course that there is a person behind the comments.

Really though we're splitting hairs here and it's not worth further discussion. We've made our points and we'll just have to accept that we disagree.
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written by Iain , 28 April 2008
I disagree Mike - I made no snide personal attack on yourself. I merely suggested that you have an opinion on whats acceptable and other people also have opinions on whats acceptable. Yours conflict with a vast majority of other people. It dosent make you wrong though.

You should try channeling your time on other things than worrying about a risque comment on the radio - Why don't you open a bank that stays open at lunchtime...or a shop that stays open on a Sunday.
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written by Ghost Girl , 29 April 2008
Well, call me a prude (which I ain't), but I agree with MikeP (altho not to the point where I could be bothered to contact RR and complain). I was doing the school run with kids in car when EL made the pussy/brazen hussey remarks and I thought they were pretty tasteless. Perhaps wouldn't have minded so much if they'd actually been funny but I think most of us stopped laughing at that kind of stuff when we were 8 or 9 and it probably wasn't even funny then!
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written by who has the time , 02 May 2008
i would like to object to the word pussy as one of the subjects on this website, it am sure Mike P would agree
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written by Mrs Slowcom , 02 May 2008
78% of people now listening to Riviera Radio, could it be all the promotion they get here. is it all the money they give away or is it really good station?
Please vote here
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written by HappyInFrance , 02 May 2008
78% listening? 78% of which "people"? I don't believe that for an instant. Most people I know don't listen (or very rarely) and I bet BVP stats which measure audience figures would show nothing like that figure. If they did, Riviera Radio wouldn't have to give things away to get listeners and they wouldn't have to give away advertising at cut-rate prices either.
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written by arthurB , 03 May 2008
' Riviera Radio wouldn't have to give things away to get listeners and they wouldn't have to give away advertising at cut-rate prices either.'

On what facts do you base this statement ?
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written by Iain , 04 May 2008
yeah but you forget that 64.8% of people tend to make up statistics on the spot.
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written by Mike Preston , 05 May 2008
What is the French expression? Plus ca change? Just after 0830 this morning a friend of mine rang me.

"Were you listening to Riviera Radio a few minutes ago?"

"No, I don't listen to it any more, why?"

"Well, they're back on the smutty schoolboy humour."

There's no hope really is there, they clearly don't care. The 'joke' that was told was the one that ends : "Did you prick his boil, nurse?"

It wasn't a joke 'phoned in, but one read out by one of the studio staff. I'll leave you to guess which one.

Whilst this type of humour is certainly not as offensive, other than to the intelligence of the audience, as the type that gave rise to my original complaint, it clearly shows that there is little or no hope for improvement if they continue to dredge the bottom of the barrel with comments of that nature.
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written by jenny dumont , 06 May 2008
What a sad man you are Mike.

Obsession is a dangerous thing and you are clearly obsessed(even if you don't listen).
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written by Hugh , 06 May 2008
It is not my habit to voice an opinion on forums and such but I have been following this discussion since the beginning and feel I should comment this once at least.

We all have the right to have our opinion respected. In my experience, those who do not respect the opinions of others, seldom merit to be respected themselves. They are often insecure people with chips on their shoulders. If Mr Preston's detractors can find nothing more than clumsily expressed insults to bolster their case, they can't have much of one.

It's ludicrous to call anyone "obsessed" because he is of the opinion that a community radio station would be wise to temper its language at a time of day when children are likely to be listening. That is a perfectly normal and defendable opinion which, as a father of 2 children, happens to coincide with my own (and that of a few others here).

Those who express their opinion through insults merely humiliate themselves and lessen their case..
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written by Mike Preston , 06 May 2008
Thanks, Jenny Dumont, for your meaningful comment. I'm not quite sure how you can arrive at such a conclusion without even knowing me but no doubt you have your own reasoning and I respect that.

As the subsequent poster pointed out, it might have been more helpful if you'd expressed an opinion related to the topic, but I'm sure you enjoyed letting off steam and please feel free to continue to do so.
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written by mrs slowcom , 07 May 2008
how else would you describe someone who is on about the same thing for over a year.i see his mike p comments on other websites too. does he have nothing else to do? if not obssesed what would you call it.
quiet sad?
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written by Mike Preston , 07 May 2008
Quiet?

You see my comments on other websites but you accuse me of being 'quiet'. I would say the opposite, I'm outspoken which is the opposite of quiet. At least I post consistently under the same name and not under different pseudos as do many.

Sad?
I find it strange that you can describe someone whom you do not know of being sad.

Please have it your way though, and maybe you could express an opinion about the topic rather than making rather poorly expressed jibes at the poster.

Also, could you perhaps explain what you are trying to say in your previous posting (below) as the meaning is somewhat unclear to me, but then I'm an obsessed quiet sad person so perhaps my mental capacities are diminished.

"written by Mrs Slowcom , 02 May 2008
78% of people now listening to Riviera Radio, could it be all the promotion they get here. is it all the money they give away or is it really good station?
Please vote here"








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written by arthurB , 07 May 2008
Mike-In a previous post on this subject you said 'it was not worth further discussion'
Since then you have posted several more times.

Hugh-what is this 'community based station' that you talk about.
It's my understanding that Riviera Radio is a commercial entity in the business of making money.
A community based station is one that operates under a free licence with volunteer staff.

Also-while some might find the occasional risque joke or comment offensive-maybe you would like your children to listen to one of the french stations in the morning such as Skyrock where a string of english language expletives are heard on a regular basis(you see as english is not their language it is totally meaningless and unoffensive to say words which would shock and offend the vast majority of native english speakers)
By the same token-are you going to rush into the local newsagents when your children are walking past and demand that he removes his advertisments for x rated top shelf publications from his outside display ?
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written by Mike Preston , 07 May 2008
Arthur : I did indeed say it was not worth further discussion, and I was referring to discussion as the suitability or otherwise of the comments which gave rise to the original complaint. That is down to personal standards and therefore does not merit further discussion.

I have posted subsequently in order to defend myself against personal attacks, although why I bother I don't know, and I probably should not have done so.

I also made a subsequent posting when it was drawn to my attention that RR are still disseminating childish and inappropriate (in my opinion but of course I live on another planet) 'jokes' on the morning programme.

It is probably best now if I simply rise above all the various insults which have been levelled at me by some people and I will do so. So from now on you can accuse me of being a misogynist, lacking in joie de vivre, living in another stratosphere, all-pervading, a wanabee D.J, failed media person, unemployed with too much time on my hands, obsessed, quiet, sad, and any other insults you may deem fit, and I will simply ignore them. I wish I had the time and versatility of character it takes to be all those things!

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written by Ian , 29 July 2008
Perhaps Internet radios will be the death of Riviera Radio. You can listen to whatever you want from anywhere in the world, so the English language monopoly of RR is dead. Don't bother worrying about how good or bad the presenters on RR - go and listen to some proper radio stations.
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written by Hollander , 30 July 2008
Internet radio is great but it needs internet! So listening in the car is impossible and that's where I listen most. I think others do too.
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written by Burty1 , 14 August 2008
Her style of English accent is very irritating to me (an Australian).
I liked it when Rob and Peter were doing morning by themselves. An Aussie making an Englishman sound good.
I think their rotation of music could be more diverse but I think it comes down to what they can afford to play, as they are obviously not on a big budget.
I used to hear Jessie by Joshua Kadison on a daily basis at least 4 times - like nails down a blackboard.
Henk Potts with the finance report is entertaining.
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written by Burty1 , 14 August 2008
And another thing.
Lighten up a bit will ya Mike??!!!!
Grumpy Old Men called to get you on yet?
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written by paulyP , 07 October 2008
I hadn't listened to RR for a long time, and it must now rank as one of the worst stations going around. Years ago it was one of the very best, great music, plenty of smart chat, a delight to listen to. [Edited by Website Admin - sentence removed for being inaccurate and unduly offensive] Rob Harrison is good, the music is shiite, as someone says you can get any station now anywhere, and life's too short to waste listening to inane dross.
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written by Walgren , 07 October 2008
[Comment edited] But RR does seem to have quite a few listeners. How to explain that?
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written by Josephine , 28 October 2008
I have just read all the comments here and must admit to being absolutely amazed at the nastiness of many of them.

I understand why one might object to inappropriate language at certain times of day, but the manner in which the minority of people on this site have put nasty personal comments about Elizabeth Lewis is really disturbing.

She is even attacked for the standard of her French, which for a non bilingual English speaker is excellent; anyone who can't hear that must have never heard the average anglophone speak French; and one Australian attacks her for her 'type of English accent'!!! I have to say I find this really disturbing.

Someone has even said she couldn't get a job years ago on air, which is simply not true, as well as really unpleasant. I remember listening to her in French on Kiss FM, based in the south of France, for several years; and I'm sure she was on TV too, on MCM presenting videos.

I would like to ask people to keep their comments to issues, rather than posting spiteful nastiness of a personal nature.
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written by Sylvie , 29 October 2008
I too have just read these comments and am very surprised that the people who are in charge of this web site have allowed some of these comments to be posted.

I think they should check with their legal department, as surely it is defamation of character for someone to write unsubstantiated hearsay which directly slurrs another person's character?

I am referring to the comments of 'paulyp' [precise reference removed by Admin].

I think if you read this again, you will agree that as well as being personally offensive and factually inaccurate [the words] are an attempt to defame Ms Lewis' character.

I would hope Ms Lewis does not read these comments, as I would presume she is too busy doing her job, but if she or anyone from Riviera Radio does read them, then they might well decide to start legal proceedings, as there is a line that has been crossed.

It would seem to me that the best course of action for Riviera Reporter's administration at this point would be to replace this correspondance with something far more worhwhile; rather than to leave it open, inviting comments from people such as 'paulyp', who clearly have no concept of what is acceptable to say about another individual when what you say is in the public domain.

I doubt whether even Mr Mike Preston would think it was acceptable for those posting comments to slurr Ms Lewis' character as 'paulyp' has done. Surely it is time to move on and close this down.

Sadly the internet era in which we live offers a myriad of opportunities to those intent on circulating abusive material; please don't allow your website to become a forum for such people.
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written by Website Administrator , 29 October 2008
The terms and conditions of this site make it clear that those who post here do so on their own responsibility. That being said, factual inaccuracies (as opposed to opinion) are NOT acceptable, especially if they denigrate the person concerned. We've therefore removed the offensive part of paulyp's comment referred to, as it had escaped our vigilance and as it made a claim which apparently is untrue.

On the question of legality, French law (which governs this site) allows for factual rectification (known as "droit de réponse"). Only if this is refused can charges be brought.

Because of similar excesses, this topic was once closed to comments and has since been reopened. We had hoped for less extreme views. We will again close comments to this topic if posters cannot be more reasonable.

In the meantime, Ms Lewis or Riviera Radio are welcome to post their "droit de réponse" if they so wish.
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written by Elgan , 29 October 2008
Riviera radio isn't wonderful but it's not as bad as some people say it is around here. If you don't like it, just shut up and listen to something else!
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written by Sylvie , 29 October 2008
To the Administration team

I'm sure you mean well, but editing the offensive sentence out of 'paulyP''s comment, but leaving them in my comment in which I was obliged quote the offensive part in order to draw your attention to it, is rather illogical.

Please delete as much of my comment as you wish in order to delete my quotes of his words, or there really isn't much point in removing it from his entry.

The comment that started all this was made almost a year ago, I see.

Surely you have items of more interest to run?




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written by Walgren , 30 October 2008
With all due respect Sylvie, what makes "items of interest" is very subjective and a matter of personal taste. Judging by the length and number of comments, this subject interests quite a few people. You may prefer other subjects (I believe you can start one yourself according to the home page).
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written by MikeP , 30 October 2008
"I think if you read this again, you will agree that as well as being personally offensive and factually inaccurate [the words] are an attempt to defame Ms Lewis' character. "

I can't speak for others, but my comments are not an attempt to defame Ms. Lewis' character, something of which I habe no knowledge. Her public persona is another matter and I maintain my opinions about her radio personality and presentation skills (or lack of ...) but this is only an opinion, although it does seems to be on shared by others.

"I would hope Ms Lewis does not read these comments.."

I couldn't care less whether she reads them or not, I'd gladly make them to her face given the opportunity, but I would certainly like to think that her management do and that they would consider the opinions of their listeners (or ex-listeners in my case!)

However as RR's Managing Director has not deigned to reply to an email from me on another (but related) matter, nor has he returned my 'phone calls, I suspect that they do not care to even observe the basic courtesy of responding.
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written by Mick Long , 02 November 2008
The best thing to do with this radio show is sack all the presenters, this is the worst radio station around, sack the presneters, sack the management and employ professional people from the industry.

Listen to any British local radio and you can hear the difference in thir professional aproach.

Rivera Radio is a sham run by idiots
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written by Harry Prince , 02 November 2008
I think that Mick Long is too critical. I like Rob in the morning and some of the shows are mostly music so there isn't anything to crticise (unless you don't like the music). It's the only way I can get BBC News in the car. That makes it an OK radio station for me.

Anyway it can't "the worst radio around" because it is the ONLY radio and it gets plenty of advertising so why should they change anything? They have a monopoly.
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written by MikeP , 03 November 2008
Harry : Monopolies are unhealthy except for themselves, and then that is usually only in the short term. Riviera Radio is living proof of that.
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written by Fergus , 18 November 2008
I'd love to comment on RadioRiviera and join in the debate but find the reception poor. I have an appt in Cannes and have tried 2 different Grundig units but both are the same, also there is no FM aerial in the block. What do the contributors use that I might consider?
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written by Mike Meade , 29 November 2008
@Fergus: I'm no technician but I do know one person with similarly bad reception and he clipped a 6 foot long piece of electric cord to the antenna of his radio and got a lot better reception after that.
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written by Keith Balson , 22 December 2008
Thanks Mike, I'm next in Cannes in Feb and will give it a try. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
I have just read, with much amusement, all the correspondence concerning Riviera Radio, Elizabeth Lewis and semen. I cannot comment directly on that topic, as I did not witness her 'emission'. However, I feel I must defend Riviera Radio, they do provide a valuable service, maybe not to their listeners, but certainly to the stars of yesteryear by providing them with a regular royalties income in their twilight years.

Consider, for example, how much The Eagles could earn, the playing of 'Hotel California' four times a day, seven days a week must generate a sizeable income, enough surely to allow these, and their like, the comparative luxury of seeing out their time in Private Nursing Homes, rather than suffering the undignified fate that awaits them if they were laid bare at the hands of Social Services, with the likelihood of spending their last days in the company of thirty or so other unfortunate souls, huddled together in an oversized 'Anglian Windows' UPVC conservatory sitting in the clammy discomfort of their own urine soaked underwear!

For this charitable contribution to the welfare of the stars of a bygone age, Riviera Radio must be applauded.

Finally, and assuming that the RR management do take note of their listeners wishes, a request to the 'home of the classic hit'. I am an avid fan of music from the 1970?s, but the numerous hits from one of my (and many others) favorite artists of this era seem to have been overlooked, could you please, please, please play some Gary Glitter records.

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written by PammyK , 30 December 2008
What a bunch of whingers. You'd think there wasn't a frequency knob on your radios.
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written by neville.scott , 10 February 2009
"Elizabeth speaks perfect french."

The French who I know find her ludicrous over-pronunciation more cringworthy than Allo Allo.

I find the incessant giggling way out of proportion to the actual humour of the comments.

The station is little more than a comfort blanket for homesick expats in my view.
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written by GrahamD , 19 November 2009
Morris Communications paid over $15 million to purchase this station several years ago. The owner of the Morris Communications is a Christian and if he had been personally made aware of this sort of content, heads would most certainly 'roll'.

Riviera FM have had no real competition to their English language service for far too long - time for a professional competitor to enter the market .....


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written by Mike Meade , 19 November 2009
GrahamD, I'm not sure where you get your facts but I don't think they're accurate. Even Morris wouldn't have paid $15m for that station (they are professional radio people, after all). The most credible rumour is that they paid a little less than $5m but the truth is that no one except them (and the previous owner, Per Mortensen) really knows.

This story is getting old now (look at the dates of the posts) and heads did not roll at the time it surfaced, Christians or not Christians. Some listeners claim to have written to Morris in Augusta Georgia where they are based so it is likely that the Morris family was indeed aware of these allegations of sleazy language.

As for competition, that is technically unlikely. Riviera Radio is unique in that they can cover much of the Riviera with only 2 frequencies thanks to a very powerful transmitter which they lease. The frequencies are owned and licenced from Monaco, not France.

France has a habit and tradition of not licencing foreign language stations so it is unlikely that competition will come along any time soon. It's been tried many times but France has always refused licencing of an English-language station here.

The nearest Riviera Radio has to competition is Radio International which broadcasts from Italy. RI's content seems to suit many people but the big problem is the station's frequency footprint. In most areas on the French side of the border it can't be heard at all well. Riviera Radio beats them hands down on that even though there are a few holes in their footprint also.

While driving, Riviera Radio usually stays tuned in but Radio International often fades in and out along the coast and disappears completely in many areas. Some places have local French stations on the RI frequencies so these are heard instead. Places like Menton, much closer to Italy, receive Radio International just fine.

Content-wise, Radio International could give Riviera Radio some much-needed competition. But the footprint problem would have to be solved first.

By the way, the name of the station is Riviera Radio, not "Riviera FM".
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written by MG , 23 November 2009
I used to work in BBC Radio. I think the only reason RR repeats the songs so much is because they do not have a very sophisticated piece of software selecting the songs, nor a very large or often updated playlist to select from by the sounds of it. I do find the music incredibly dull, but certainly better than when I arrived 10 years ago when all I remember is music from the 50s.
I think RR does provide a good community radio station, it talks about what is on, it talks about local news, it has local jobs, and local advertisers.
Hank Potts is excellent, Rob and Pete are entertaining, Elizabeth I find dull but I am glad there is a female voice on the Radio. I could live without the smuttiness at ANY time..personally I think it cheapens the station's image.
Considering the audience RR has to try to please, and the budget it probably has, I think it does a good job.
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