Today BBC Radio Four Gets Viral
March 11th, 2009 by Rob BrownThe Today Programme on Radio Four has released a viral video which is actually very funny in a wry fashion rather than a ROFL way (…that’s ‘roll on the floor laughing’, please note Jim & John). Given that Today is a radio programme they unsurprisingly focus on the presenters’ wardrobe requirements, but there are some good lines, not least when the head of hair, make-up and wardrobe refers to Jim “Nokkertie”.
The experiment points out a couple of things. Viral can spread very fast…if I type quick enough this post will be up on PR Media Blog before the programme in which it was mentioned has finished (I’ve got 22 minutes). Secondly, in the excitement about new media and new marketing we must not underestimate the power of mainstream media brands. What makes this viral interesting and what is promoting its spread is the Today programme itself. Now there are few greater bastions of mainstream media than that.
Jon Says:
There’s no denying it’s funny. But there’s a discomforting wrongness about it too: Naughtie wearing a thong (and sometimes not); The Today programme agreeing to look zany? It might suit Evan Davies, but I can hear Humphreys harrumphing from here.
Peter Says:
Nothing to do with Children in Need, I suppose?
The Radio Today video is nice - but is it truly viral? « Brendan Cooper, your friendly neighbourhood social media strategist Says:
[...] that viral is an effect, not a strategy. So, simply because I’m blogging about it now, as has PR Media Blog, and Tweeted about it a bit, and included it below, you could say it’s [...]
Rob Brown Says:
Jon – I agree about the thong and the mispronunciation of Naughtie’s surname was a better gag in any case.
Peter – I think you are on the right track. I rather think it might be tied up with Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day which is about to be unleashed upon us.
Brendan – You are totally wrong! Actually as you will see from this post and the comments on your blog I half agree with you.
peter wood Says:
Friday 13th (an appropriate date) broadcast Radio Four’s funniest ever. Who can ever supplant that wonderful commedienne who called your lady interviewer a shop lifter then a drunk. I collapsed. What was even better followed later when another announcer referred to our new national hero as a British citizen rather than a British resident.
Laugh? I nearly died.
Get the Speaker on your next show for some real humour.