Advertisement
DJ axed in Armistice Day row
Date published: 14 November 2011
The Big E for Big Al
LOCAL radio presenter Alan Nield has been axed from his daytime spot on 96.2 The Revolution after an Armistice Day row.
Big Al, as the presenter is known, was upset when the 11am news on his Friday show on the Oldham-based station was not preceded by the nationally-observed two-minute silence.
And when listeners started to complain via text and Twitter Al was shocked that the anger was aimed at him personally when it was a station decision over which he had no control.
He had urgent talks with station manager John Evington and decided to pre-record links between the records for the rest of the show and left the Sarah Moor studios.
Within hours Alan, who lives in Shaw, received a mobile telephone call from station owner Steve Penk who told him it was unforgivable for him to leave the studio during a show and that he was axed.
‘’I am amazed that they took issue with me leaving the studio when the station often runs prerecorded shows yet they said nothing about the Armistice Day issue,’’ said a stunned Big Al, who first broadcast on the station in 2001 and was brought back to work there when Penk purchased the station in the autumn of 2008.
96.2 The Revolution moved swiftly over the weekend to remove Big Al from its scheduling, with its website dropping any reference to the popular presenter who had a reputation for “telling it like it is”.
Al’s 10am-3pm spot was being covered by a top-ten at 10 and a generic “The Revolution through the day”.
Penk has since posted on Twitter that Big Al will never work for the station again and any reconciliation now seems extremely remote.
“I am just sad that I will not be able to speak to the listeners,’’ said Al. “I wanted to take the heat out of the Armistice Day issue and give us all time to consider a response but that opportunity is not going to arise.’’
Station manager Mr Evington said: “We are absolutely respectful of those who have fought for this country and those who have fallen, and we have taken lots of thought in our production. There are over 500 commercial radio stations in this country and a third went for the two-minute silence.
“Alan abandoned his listeners, which prompted Steve’s decision. I am a big fan of Alan and he has been great for the station — but I am 100 per cent behind Steve’s decision.”
Comments
Take it to the European Court of Human Rights "Big Al". They should back you all the way. Total load of rubbish. All radio stations and media in general should stop for 2 mins irrespective of news bulletins or anything else. Moral values gone out of the window yet again.
"Alan abandoned his listeners" - maybe, but I can see why when the anger was directed at him. Mr Evington & Mr Penk; all stations should respect it, a cheap throwaway comment like "only a third went for the two-minute silence" just shows your ignorance. Time to tune in to a different station methinks. Good luck for the future Al.
I agree with D'Gawby, take it to the court of human rights. Don't bother taking it FIFA though!
That's me finished with them too.
Shame on you, Penk & Revolution, for not observing the two minute silence. It doesn't matter what any of the other 500 commercial radio stations did or didn't do.
Disgraceful treatment of "Big Al"
Is this one of Mr. Penks "wind up?"
Big Alan this story is little bit strange, take it to the court this case.
what do people expect when you have a radio station run by this penk, who seems to think he is funny with his wind up phone calls. funny he is not , if you cant show some respect to to fallen from the world wars and most recent conflicts, well i think its time to close your station down altogether, all the best to big al for standing his ground.
For the record Alan Neild is the most honourable, honest champion of the people. He has been the daytime anchorman of the station, working his socks off while other DJs have also relied on pre-recorded output. Lord Penkethman of Walton has reduced his own live output over the months and relied on pre-recorded shows. The station has been recognised by RAJAR for month on month increase in listeners and this is no small part down to Big AL. I have switched stations now – You Decide
You did right Al,Hope the station realises the error of there way.Steve Penk, who's he?
Station mis-manager Mr Evington said: "...a third [of all commercial radio stations] went for the two-minute silence." So you went along with the Penk and the two thirds who considered it too unimportant." Those being commemorated would recognise the signs: 'LMF'
"...I am 100 per cent behind Steve’s decision.” Of course you are ! he's paying your wages.
Disgusted to hear about Big Al being sacked, if the DJ was getting abuse from members of the public regarding the station's handling of the 2 minute silence the management of the station should have come on air to explain that the decision was made a management level and was not the personal choice of the DJ. All workers should have the right to be supported by their management if they are under unwarranted personal attack!
If the story in the Chronicle was accurate Al didn't leave the radio station without first ensuring that the air time was covered. Big Al has always been an excellent ambassador for the radio station going out and about to bring the station to the attention of the local population! I think it may be time to consider retuning my radios.
Revolution more like revulsion, my grandad fought for this country with his
Fellow men, without them steve penk may not be here, is two minutes of air time a year to much to ask!
Big Al is revolution radio! He connects with his listners and is totally dedicated to his job. Pity Steve Penk didnt appreciate him. Maybe he realised he was a better DJ and couldnt cope with the competition. I will not be tuning in anymore Smooth Radio here I come. I wonder how many advertisers will pull the plug.
To not observe two minute silence on 11-11-2011 in honour of those who have lost their lifes in order for us all to live in a safe world is beyond contempt.
Maybe an over reaction by Alan Nield, but easily trumped by Penk’s knee jerk response.
I suspect there will be a tidal wave of sympathy and support for Alan concidering the high profile national coverage Remembrance Day now receives.
I wonder what Revolution’s advertising sponsor’s reaction will be, never mind their listeners.
All over a one or two minute silence per annum in honour of our thousands of war dead!!!
Agree with all of the above comments - it is disgusting and I also will never tune in again - that is to say - after I have listened in to catch the names of the advertisers on the station and contacted them to suggest they withdraw their adverts and deprive Mr Penk of his income, just like he has deprived listeners their chance to pay their respects to our fallen heroes,and a very good DJ of his income. I hope other listeners may do the same.
I note that Steve Penk made the phone call to axe Big Al yet he is not man enough to explain the lack of a 2 minute silence himself and has left that to his station manager - and the only reason is that some other stations did not observe it. Penk - just because other stations do things, does it mean you will always do it ? If so, I hope another station's owner resigns !!!
Go on Penk, make my day - and resign !
I switched to either smooth fm or real radio ages ago, cause steve penk (who advertises that he is on the breakfast show) yet it was always someone else who did it.
Cant beleive this Oldham radio station could not be in line with others who did respect the fallen heros.
Shame on you Revelution!!!! besides his wind ups are repeated anyway
You aren't big time anymore Mr Penk, you haven't been on TV for years. Disgraceful that you didn't mark the 11th hour of the 11th day. Revolution has gone from my car stereo.
World war Two was the deadliest conflict in history, over 60 million deaths! That is 2.5% of the world population. Mr Penk decides that two minutes silence is not an option for his station to observe, obviously he doesn't have a clue about his listeners. Maybe he will take notice of his advertisers, who I am sure will want to distance themselves from this disgusting lack of respect shown by The revolution. I wish Big Al all the very best, a lovely bloke, with a huge fan base.
A total disgrace. It comes to something when 2 minutes airtime is more important than all the people who laid down their lives for a common cause. Goodbye 96.2 forever.
Good luck Al for the future, DJ
I am disgusted with Revolution and have already re-tuned. Oldham took a severe battering in the 2nd world war and if Oldham's only radio station can't honour our war heroes shame on them. They should be made to comply with the silence as part of their airwaves licence. Penk should be hanging his head in shame.
what an own goal Penk! Silly Man
'Big Al will never work for the station again' - I will never listen to the Revolution again. The radio station will have more than two minutes silence from me - they will have a permanent silence
Oh - and Penk - you are not funny at all
Will Mr Penk go public and tell us why his station didn't observe the silence I Think Not. Well the people of Oldham have respect mr penk well good ridance to you. 96.2 no longer for me and many others it seems. Good on you Alan for standing your ground
Penk has shown total disregard for what once was a decent station and turned it into pre-recorded pap. 2 minutes silence would have been respectful ...... and also a blessing. I only ever tuned in if I hit the wrong preset on my car radio. Rev 96.2 , you are now deleted!
two words - unfair dismissal - take them to the cleaners. Any business that doesn't observe the two minute silence should be boycotted by everyone. Listen to manchesters No 1 music station instead -you know which one I mean - its miles better anyway.
Disgusting - will definately be retuning all my radio's, and if there is a petition going i'll sign it for definate!
When is penk going to realise, the wind ups are not funny anymore!
Well Steve Penk, we are waiting. Should I start holding my breath now? Or will it be the general excuse of "not being available for comment? How long will Rev go on for now I wonder? Judging from the above, we might be looking at weeks! Bet GMR are quaking in their boots!
Having met & worked with Alan over an extended period I am very disappointed to hear this news.
I appreciate "commercial" radio has to be "commercial" but c'mon you can't afford 2 mins silence? I think we could have done without 1 pop song. There'd be no free press, no "commercial" radio & no freedom to express one's disgust at a commercial decision that ignored sacrifices that a generation gave to secure our rights.
Shame on you Revolution/Steve Penk. Start a revolution boycott Revolution!!
I stopped listening to Revolution the day it became Key 103 'Lite'. It may have had a small audience in those days, but the music and djs were superb and really connected with that audience.
If Mr. Penk thinks that any publicity is good publicity, then the comments on here prove otherwise. Not a single comment in support of Mr. Penk....enough said!
I am totally DISGUSTED! I have followed Penky from his days at Piccadilly radio. Then when i heard u had the Rev, i permanently tuned in and of cors became a huge fan of Big Al`s. After what has happend with Al`s axing, i defo WONT be tuning in again!! What is the matter with you Steve?ARMITICE=RESPECT! Big Al was a HUGE part of the Rev. How UNPROFESSIONAL is John Evington?!! After loads of phone calls to him, he STILL owes me part of a prize i won over 2 years ago! VERY UNPROFESSIONAL STATION
These comments are so unfair. Everyone on here has spoken only knowing half the story. People are too quick to have a go these days. Bottom line is the guy took it upon himself to go awol and paid the (deserved) consequences. The rev is a wonderful, refreshing radio station and should be championed not vilified. Penky, we love ya man.
So the guy walked out of his job because he didn't like something that happened. He got sacked. And all the blubbers and whingers have come on here to cry about it.
Sums up everything wrong with this country. You all complain about there being no responsibility or consequences to peoples actions leading to lawlessness yet when someone is rightly held to account, you all complain to high heaven!
HYPOCRITES.
I'd listen to the station if only I could in Saddleworth!
When the commentators here complain about "the war dead" they actually mean, OUR war dead, not theirs, they don't count.
It's exactly the sick "us" and "them" attitudes which allow wars to be carried out.
Remember ALL or Remember NONE.
Obviously "The Noise" is Steve Penk himself, the whole of Oldham would be behind Big Al because he was the revelution and not Steve Penk.
And how can he have the nerve to criticise anyone for playing pre-recorded links when all Penky plays are pre-recorded wind ups that have got so boring and out dated, i'm another listener that will be tuning into another station.
the revolution has only one star working for it and he happens to be the owner, Big Al as got a big following and maybe the powers that be and reading this section could be 'the noise' didn't like somebody being more popular than themselves. therefore any excuse to get rid. so come on penky, man up and release a proper statement not just a one line babble on twitter
The full story, with input from each side has been printed above.
People here have read the story, and made their minds up. Nuff said.
Methinks the only clear action to be taken is a general switch over from this radio station, this will certainly raise the eyebrows of the advertising companies. Not difficult and one way of showing that the general public still has a voice that needs to be considered. Big Al your decision was 100% correct and if we cannot at least respect all the fallen heroes for two minutes we should be ashamed of ourselves and go and live in caves.
It seems to me that the most support is on bi Al's side over the way this has been handled. I wasn't listening to the rev on Armistice day (Majority rule at work) and had no idea until this morning 15/11/11 when steve penk started droning on and on and on.......
The rev failed their duty to provide a safe place of work for Al by allowing him to be threatened over the phone etc by members of the general public. They should have sent him home and issued a statement taking the blame themselves
As OldhamWatcher said--Remember ALL or Remember NONE--unfortunately Revolution radio couldnt be bothered to remember anybody--I have to agree with the Hypocrite bit though, only for the fact that here we have a radio station making money out of its listeners yet doesnt have any respect for them or there past relatives --shame on Revolution Radio.
If you believe in something so strongly that you have to do at the time what you feel is right, and as Big Al did let your feet do the walking, however as Mr Penk said he walked out on the listeners but Big Al used common sense here and prerecorded the rest of the session so really Mr Penk you argument falls short at this point , because you do this quite alot (prerecord that is. Do you not think now is the time to show some common sense and go with your listener and reinstate Big Al as soon as.
Having not heard the show on friday i live in huddersfield but listen when iam on my way to work in lancashire..this morning 15/11/2011 just caught the back end of Mr Penk this morning going on about his side of the events well Mr penk you talk a good talk but thats why you are a radio presenter...its a good man who can own up and say he is wrong..but that wont happen from you another listner you have lost from Yorkshire.
Mr Penk is now tweeting that it is just a few people with the IQ's of hamsters spewing their venom.What a lovely man he is.@oldhamwatcher.He performed his duties,albeit pre-recorded due to him being blamed for the company causing offence.Penk would have been better saying nothing than what he has on twitter.Self publicising has been.
Sorry big Al, i used to be a big fan of the show. Started only listening to elliot on thur , fri. And Al in the afternoons. I think the real reason behind penks decision is purely money related. No one texting in at rip off prices, no adverts,it was only 2 mins penky!!!. Al im sure the other radio stations will snap u up. Turn off the rev and show Al support.
Been wanting to put Absolute radio into my car stereo for a while now but did not know wich of my 5 favourite stations to get rid, i do now Pretty sure someone will snap up Al, this great talent pretty soon.
Have Your Say
Well I for one will never listen to the Revolution again ... disgusting attitude from the station. And who made the decision not to precede the news with a 2 minute silence? Big Al is a lovely, respectful man. I wish him luck for the future. Petition anyone?
By kazza699 @ 14/11/2011 15:51:41