Listening to the listeners: Radio Cymru announces new schedule

It started with a conversation and some hard listening. It was followed by analysis and some tough decisions. Now it’s time to act.

As BBC Radio Cymru’s Programme Editor I’d like to say this.

During the ‘Sgwrs’ – the national conversation we’ve been having with Radio Cymru listeners, which coincided with the biggest ever radio research project in Wales - I heard many key messages that went beyond Radio Cymru’s schedule. To be honest they went beyond views about the voices and names of Radio Cymru. The persistent criticism was there was “too much of the same” on the station. People were saying that something fundamental had been lost in the relationship between the station and its audience and this needed to be addressed.

The hard truth that we at Radio Cymru have to accept is that too many of our listeners feel that they no longer have any ownership of the station. They told us they wanted a station which had a broader appeal, nurtured talent, played good music and spoke Welsh naturally, as they spoke it – and they wanted all of this on a national station which was confident and of the highest quality, not somehow too regionalised or whimsical in its content.

So what next?

Radio Cymrus’ presenters and voices, like all other radio stations, will come and go. The schedule will change now and again, with a different stamp being put on the day’s listening pattern. That’s how it is. But yes, the people will have ownership of the station, all of the people, those who listen now, those who we need to attract back to the station and those who, hopefully, will listen for the first time.

Reflecting the richness of your lives, the range of your opinions and tastes will be the aim of Radio Cymru, and as they are – thankfully – broad, we have to now make a start on broadening the appeal of the station.

In future, this will be Radio Cymru’s message to you: if you want to hear something new about the Wales you live in, and the world it’s part of, turn to Radio Cymru in the morning. Listen to us at lunchtime so we can challenge and enrich what you already know. There’ll be an important place for questioning and probing - another valuable echo from the past – which will be the station’s sound over lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll have some fun with competitions, music, comedy and laughs. After an hour of news – and the best bits of the day’s broadcasting – come and try something new, specialist, appealing, before spending the night with the familiar.

So, we’ll be broadening the appeal and accepting that not every programme will be to everyone’s taste. But every programme will be there for a reason and for someone. There’ll be a range of voices on the station, each one someone’s favourite, and each one speaking someone’s Welsh.

If we can persuade you to stay with us throughout the day, as we broadcast from Bangor, Cardiff, Carmarthen and Aberystwyth – then that’s a bonus! We’ll do our best.”

What about the music on Radio Cymru?

During peak hours Radio Cymru will play the best of Welsh language popular music from the 60s to the present day.

With a helping hand from the Radio Cymru team, I want to see the station nurture a ‘music sound’ that’s consistent not monotonous, varied but not random and uncomfortable to listen to. This was a strong message that came from the Sgwrs. Radio Cymru will continue to be the destination of choice for those who want to hear new music, but only the best – and those songs will be played and celebrated during the daytime hours. Beyond the peak hours we will be specialising, innovating and offering a different musical experience.

The Sgwrs findings agreed that Radio Cymru should play mostly Welsh language music. You said there was room for some English language music but not too much. So that’s how it will be.

The digital future:

I’ve given serious consideration to another question that arose during the Sgwrs – is there a need for a second Welsh language national station?

Personally, I believe that a second Welsh language national station – whether the BBC has a part to play in setting it up and running it or not - would be of benefit to Radio Cymru. But it’s better to be honest and straight about this from the start. BBC Cymru’s budget to broadcast in both Welsh and English has reduced substantially, and even though DAB - digital radio - is gradually reaching more and more communities and offering an opportunity to split the service every now and again, that technology doesn’t offer an easy answer. Most people listen to Radio Cymru on FM and that’s unlikely to change for some time to come. If this offered a solution to the challenge of offering listeners a choice then no one would be happier than me.

So, if the purpose of a second station would be to offer choice to the listeners – well rather than lose heart, is there another way of offering that choice? In a word, yes.

The first step is this: BBC Wales will be launching a brand new Welsh language digital service early in 2014. The hope is that the service, ‘Cymru Fyw’, will bring the best of the BBC’s digital content to you – including news and other stories and that content will be available on computers and mobile devices such as phones and tablets. Radio Cymru will be reflected by Cymru Fyw. Yes, it’s a happy and productive coincidence. We’re working on this now, and alongside the new ‘Cymru Fyw’ team, we’re trying to understand the creative possibilities and potential to strengthen Radio Cymru that will come with the new digital service.

Listening over the web also offers a choice. With this in mind, I’ve started examining whether it would be possible to create a ‘jukebox’ of Welsh language music on the web – a one stop shop for the best of Welsh language music, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

If Radio Cymru listeners feel that they have ownership of the station in the future that to me will be an important measure of success. 

Details of the new Radio Cymru weekday schedule to be a launched in the spring:

• 5am – 6am: Various programmes
• 6am – 8am: Post Cyntaf with Kate Crockett and Dylan Jones
• 8am – 10am: Dylan Jones
• 10am – 12pm: Bore Cothi with Shân Cothi
• 12pm – 12.30pm: Programmes that question and debate
• 12.30pm – 1pm: Features/Drama
• 1pm – 2pm: Taro’r Post with Garry Owen
• 2pm – 5pm: Tommo (Monday to Friday) and Tudur Owen (Fridays)
• 5pm – 6pm: Post Prynhawn with Dewi Llwyd
• 6pm – 6.15pm: Pigion
• 6.15pm – 7.15pm: Documentaries/Features
• 7pm – 10pm: C2
• 10pm – 12am: Geraint Lloyd
  
  
  
  

Betsan Powys is Programme Editor, BBC Radio Cymru

Welsh language version:

Gynta'r Sgwrs a’r gwrando. Wedyn y dadansoddi a'r penderfynu. Nawr y gweithredu.

Fel Golygydd Radio Cymru, ga i bwysleisio un peth felly?

Yn ystod y Sgwrs fe glywes i sawl neges allweddol oedd yn mynd y tu hwnt i amserlen Radio Cymru. Roedden nhw mewn gwirionedd yn mynd y tu hwnt i leisiau a rhaglenni Radio Cymru hefyd, a’r feirniadaeth gyson bod ‘gormod o’r un peth’ ar yr orsaf. Roedd pobl yn awgrymu bod rhywbeth mwy sylfaenol wedi mynd ar goll yn y berthynas rhwng yr orsaf genedlaethol a'i chynulleidfa, a bod angen adfer y peth hwnnw.

Ond y gwir caled i ni, y criw sy’n gweithio i Radio Cymru, ei dderbyn yw bod yna ormod o bobol Radio Cymru yn teimlo nad nhw oedd piau'r cyfrwng erbyn hyn. Roedden nhw am i’r orsaf apelio’n ehangach, magu personoliaethau, cynnig cerddoriaeth dda a Chymraeg naturiol, y cwbwl ar orsaf genedlaethol, safonol, hyderus, nid un ranbarthol, fympwyol rywust.

Beth am ddweud hyn felly? 

Fe fydd lleisiau Radio Cymru, fel pob gorsaf radio arall, yn mynd a dod. Fe fydd yr amserlen yn newid o bryd i'w gilydd, stamp gwahanol yn cael ei roi ar batrwm y dydd. Felly mae hi. Ond ie, y bobol biau’r cyfrwng, y bobol i gyd, y rheiny sy’n gwrando nawr, y rheiny sydd angen eu denu nôl, a’r rheiny ddaw, gobeithio, aton ni o’r newydd.  Adlewyrchu cyfoeth eich bywydau chi, ystod eich barn a'ch chwaeth chi fydd nod Radio Cymru, a chan fod hwnnw - diolch byth - yn ystod eang, mae’n rhaid mynd ati nawr i ehangu apêl Radio Cymru

Yn y dyfodol, dyma fydd neges Radio Cymru i chi o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener: os y'ch chi am glywed rhywbeth newydd am y Gymru ry'ch chi'n byw ynddi, a'r byd mae'n rhan ohono, dewch at Radio Cymru yn y bore. Dewch aton ni amser cinio i herio, neu gyfoethogi'r hyn ry'ch chi'n gwybod yn barod. Fe fydd lle pwysig i holi, a phrocio - adlais arall gwerthfawr o'r gorffennol - yn sŵn yr orsaf dros ginio. Yn y prynhawn, joiwch gyda ni. Dewch i gael dipyn bach o sbort, cystadlu, canu, dychan a chwerthin yng nghwmni Radio Cymru. Ar ôl awr o newyddion - a phigion y gorau o ddarlledu'r dydd - dewch i drio rhywbeth newydd, arbenigol, apelgar, cyn noswylio gyda'r cyfarwydd.

Ehangu’r apêl amdani felly, a derbyn na fydd pob rhaglen yn apelio at bawb. Ond fe fydd pob un yno i bwrpas, i apelio at rywun. Fe fydd pob math o leisiau ar yr orsaf, pob un yn hoff lais i rywun, a phob un yn siarad Cymraeg rhywun.   

Os gallwn ni'ch darbwyllo chi i aros gyda ni drwy'r dydd, wrth i ni ddarlledu o Fangor, Caerdydd, Caerfyrddin ac Aberystwyth - Bonws! Fe wnewn ni’n gorau.

Beth am y gerddoriaeth ar Radio Cymru?

Yn ystod yr oriau brig fydd Radio Cymru’n chwarae'r gorau o gerddoriaeth Gymraeg boblogaidd o’r 60au hyd at heddiw.

Gyda help llaw tîm Radio Cymru, dwi am weld yr orsaf yn magu 'sain gerddorol' sy'n gyson, heb fod yn undonog, yn amrywiol heb fod yn fratiog ac anesmwyth i chi sy'n gwrando. Roedd honno’n neges gref ddaeth o’r Sgwrs hefyd. Fe fydd barn gan gyflwynwyr am gerddoriaeth ac apêl eang i'r hyn sy’n cael ei chwarae. Fe fydd Radio Cymru'n parhau i fod yn gyrchfan i'r rheiny sydd am glywed cerddoriaeth newydd, a'r gorau - a dim ond y gorau - o'r caneuon hynny’n cael eu cyflwyno i chi, a’u dathlu yn ystod y dydd. 

Y tu hwnt i’r oriau brig fe fyddwn ni'n arbenigo, yn arloesi ac yn cynnig rhywbeth cerddorol gwahanol

Gyda llaw, byrdwn y 'Sgwrs' oedd y dylai Radio Cymru fod yn orsaf sy'n chwarae cerddoriaeth Gymraeg yn bennaf. Mae lle, meddech chi, i beth cerddoriaeth Saesneg ond ddim gormod. Felly y bydd hi.

Y dyfodol digidol

Dyma un cwestiwn mawr arall i’w daclo: i ba raddau all technoleg newydd roi cyfle i Radio Cymru gynnig mwy o ddewis i gynulleidfa sy'n crefu amrywiaeth?

Byrdwn gynnar gen i fel Golygydd Radio Cymru oedd nad penllanw'r 'Sgwrs' fyddai sefydlu ail orsaf genedlaethol, Radio Cymru 2. Yn bersonol, dwi o'r farn y byddai cael ail orsaf genedlaethol Gymraeg - o ba gyfeiriad bynnag y dele honno, boed y BBC â rhan yn ei sefydlu a’i rhedeg hi ai peidio - yn llesol i Radio Cymru. Ond waeth bod yn onest a chlir o'r dechrau. Mae cyllideb BBC Cymru i ddarlledu yn Gymraeg a Saesneg wedi crebachu'n sylweddol, ac er bod DAB, sef radio digidol, yn raddol gyrraedd mwy a mwy o gymunedau ac yn rhoi cyfle i ni rannu’r gwasanaeth bob hyn a hyn, dyw’r dechnoleg honno ddim yn cynnig ateb hawdd. Drwy donfedd FM mae trwch gwrando Radio Cymru yn digwydd, a’r tebyg yw mai fel hyn y bydd hi am beth amser i ddod. Pe bae e’n ateb yr her o gynnig dewis i wrandawyr yn y dyfodol fyddai neb yn hapusach eu byd na fi. 

Os mai pwrpas ail orsaf fyddai cynnig dewis i'r gynulleidfa - wel yn hytrach na digalonni, oes yna ffyrdd eraill o gynnig y dewis hwnnw? Mewn gair, oes.

Y cam cyntaf yw hyn: sef y bydd BBC Cymru yn lansio gwasanaeth digidol Cymraeg newydd sbon yn gynnar yn 2014. Y gobaith yw y bydd y gwasanaeth hwnnw, ‘Cymru Fyw’ yn dod â‘r gorau o gynnwys digidol BBC Cymru i chi – yn gynnwys newyddion a straeon cyffredinol a’r cynnwys hwnnw ar gael ar  gyfrifiaduron, ffonau symudol a thabledi. Bydd gweithgarwch Radio Cymru yn cael ei adlewyrchu gan Cymru Fyw. Ydi, mae’n gyd-ddigwyddiad hapus a chynhyrchiol. Ry'n ni wrthi nawr, ar y cyd a thîm newydd sbon Cymru Fyw, yn trio deall y posibiliadau creadigol, a'r potensial i gryfhau y Radio Cymru ddaw'n sgil y gwasanaeth digidol newydd. 

Yn olaf, ond nid yn lleiaf, mae gwrando dros y we yn cynnig dewis. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, mi rydw i wedi dechrau archwilio a oes modd creu ‘jiwc-bocs’ cerddoriaeth Gymraeg ar y we – un porth i’r gerddoriaeth Gymraeg orau, bedair awr ar hugain y dydd, saith diwrnod yr wythnos.   

Os bydd pobol Radio Cymru’n teimlo mai nhw piau’r cyfrwng yn y dyfodol, dyna i fi fydd mesur pwysig iawn o lwyddiant.

Manylion amserlen newydd BBC Radio Cymru, o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener, s’yn dechrau yn y gwanwyn:

• 5am – 6am: Rhaglenni amrywiol
• 6am – 8am: Post Cyntaf gyda Kate Crockett a Dylan Jones
• 8am – 10am: Dylan Jones
• 10am – 12pm: Bore Cothi gyda Shân Cothi
• 12pm – 12.30pm: Rhaglenni sy’n holi a phrocio
• 12.30pm – 1pm: Rhaglenni Nodwedd/Drama
• 1pm – 2pm: Taro’r Post gyda Garry Owen
• 2pm – 5pm: Tommo (o ddydd Llun i ddydd Iau) a Tudur Owen (dydd Gwener)
• 5pm – 6pm: Post Prynhawn gyda Dewi Llwyd
• 6pm – 6.15pm: Pigion
• 6.15pm – 7pm: Rhaglenni Dogfen/Nodwedd
• 7pm – 10pm: C2
• 10pm – 12am: Geraint Lloyd