article date: 19 April 2000

ref: 22

Oneword Radio, the new digital station devoted wholly to the spoken word, today announced full details of the programme schedule for its launch on May 2nd.

It offers listeners serialised readings of contemporary and classic books and plays -interspersed with comedy, poems and a compelling mix of short programmes to add surprise, colour and effervescence to the schedule.

The launch day schedule sets the tone for the station's output over the next six months, during which period full scale programming plans will be implemented with the addition of hundreds more book and play readings.

Launch day begins at 6.00. At 6.30 The Breakfast Serial, a 30-minute programme consisting of the reading of mainly well established Classic novels by big name voices is followed by Bestsellers – 15 minute readings of a book from the recent book charts – before the station begins the day for younger readers with a 7.15 slot entitled “Listen With Whoever” (apparently, in the 21st century, ‘Listen with Mother’ is no longer appropriate!!) and featuring readings of children's stories.

The day continues to unfold with Oneword Modern Classics (a popular novel from the post-1945 period) followed by Comedy AM, a daily 15 minute segment involving both book extracts and live performances.

This comedy slot will be repeated at lunch and break times and will be aimed at lightening the day both in the workplace and at home.

"Book Club" is Oneword's antidote to daytime TV, aimed primarily at women and those not at work, and featuring a generally romantic theme. The segment will be repeated throughout the day and, at 22.45, will be Oneword’s Book at Bedtime’.

Oneword Core Curriculum is an important innovation in educational broadcasting. First broadcast at 11.00, it will be a twice-daily airing of works and writers who figure in The National Curriculum. The aim is to attract school audiences and to stimulate classroom discussion of the relevant literature.

Evening listening on launch day will feature a one off special "I Have Seen The Future" programme, involving drama, discussion, as-live comedy, and reviews, which will serve to give a flavour of the network as it will appear when the schedule is fully developed.

For further information please contact:
Ian Monk MacLaurin - 0171 471 6806 or 07970 026072

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