Petition against QBS Radio

12 years after this post and Elias is just as bad, and just as old as ever. It's painful to listen to him

12 years after this post and Elias is just as bad, and just as old as ever. It's painful to listen to him

Not to mention the number of Olympic sized swimming pools that all the worlds water would fill!

A long time back and an old thread.

Stan the Man, Chris Thornton, Aunty Lucy and Friday's trivia teasers. Takes me back a bit.

But you are correct, with the Internet, it wouldn't work.

The Mad Dogs Dining Society of Doha wouldn't need to ring Boeing in Seattle to find out the pressure on the front wheel of a 747 when landing.....only to be given the wrong answer.

From ex trivia team member of Three skins + 1, Bishop Bashers and Five Knuckle Shufflers not to mention a darting Tungsten Tosser.

@ Mr.Cain,i do sincerely hope(& i know i speak for a good number of expat residents in Qatar) that what you mentioned does come to pass & there are new independant radio stations on the horizon but quite frankly,knowing the pace @ which things operate in this town,it may not happen in our lifetime...& i say that with all seriousness...

team trivia teaser is all well & good but as you rightly pointed out,technological advances have come a LOOOONG way since then while QBS still seems to be stuck very much there with the same rubbish,senior citizen presenters(not that the young ones are any better,@ times worse than Bernie & co. truth be told) & the same crap content...

Listening to Radio2(UAE) everyday(thanks to the humidity) makes me realize what we miss out everyday in terms of a good radio station & how important it is to daily life...

Is it any wonder people hardly smile in this town?...i wouldn't be a happy camper @ work if i had to listen to Bernie's or Elias' drivel first thing in the morning on the drive to work...

But sadly,the truth is that nothing is going to happen,nothing is going to change...nobody cares here & the people that make the descisions are completely cut off from the realities of everyday life here,they wouldn't know a good radio station if it smacked them in the face 'cos they just don't know any better...

Well, what can I say, having read through all the comments I'm actually quite disappointed that QBS taken a massive downtown since I was on. Spent 3 great years working for the station back in the late 80s and early 90s, had the time of my life and started what has been a very enjoyable career in broadcasting. Most recently I spent 3 years working for Channel 4 in Dubai and took a couple of trips across to Doha and was surprised at how bad QBS had become, especially when you consider it's proximity to Al Jazeerah!

While I won't name any presenters in particular, the output is very poor and it's obvious that it needs a massive shake up, though from what I understand, it's just not a priority for the Ministry of Information and the Qatari government at the moment. Global satellite news obviously takes precedence and I fear that's the way it will stay.

However, if Qatar follows the example set by Dubai and lets new, independent stations set up then I believe that someone could make a heck of a lot of money! A new station catering for an expat market, run professionally with experienced presenters would be a massive hit and finally give listeners a decent alternative. I hope that it's only a matter of time. (And, yes, I'd jump at the chance of being involved!)

Incidentally, someone earlier mentioned Team Trivia Teaser which we ran way back when. Undoubtedly it was a massive hit and saw hoards of people head back home on a Friday afternoon from diving weekends or day trips to the offshore island in order to take part. Community radio it its finest - and I say that not just as one of its presenters, but as a participant in it's early years under the excellent Stan Howard! However, in this internet age I fear it just wouldn't work, information is so readlily available and the format we used just wouldn't be viable any more. That doesn't mean to say that I haven't got other ideas....!

Peace!

How many times do I need to tune in and hear a report from the Chelsea Flower Show, a "local" UK Chilli Festival or an old UK heritage building that is now open for the public....

Wake up QBS.... Your captive audience is in Doha not the UK. We could not care less about a UK regional flower show or a chilli fest that requires a 7hr plane ride followed by a lengthy car journey to attend.

What is wrong with these people.

Do these guys get paid or do they do this because they like the sound of their own voice?

I am shocked at how poor the presenters are. I am more shocked having read this post, that this dreadful excuse for broadcasting has been allowed to continue for so long. Who is in charge of this farce?

It's better to burn out, than fade away.

labda06 I have a QLer in mind who may be able to give her lessons at a discount rate.. I hope Oryx is reading this..:)

-----------------

HE WHO DARES WINS

sad sad radio station for a sad sad town...'nuff said...

hahahah UKEngQatar! I hope you're willing to fork out loads of cash! ;)

--------Do I look like Bambi's sister???-------

I willing to cover the cost for this presenter mentiond above to go and take some spoken English lessons.

The End..

-----------------

HE WHO DARES WINS

I actually like listening to Elias and Rana's my fav DJ on QBS. (Im not a radio person but my CD player is mucked so have no choice and I do indulge while - only while - driving).

There is one female presenter who SUCKS BIIIIIIGGG time! I realllllly want to mention her name but drats havent got it in me. Her name is beside INCOMPREHENSIVE VERBAL BULLSHIT in the dictionary. I switch the radio off every time she comes on.

--------Do I look like Bambi's sister???-------

i would suggest the same for QTV!!!!!

Pay peanuts & you get Monkeys

But it's so bad it's good, ripping round Decoration Roundabout in the early morning to the strains of Benny Hill's "Ernie, the fastest milk cart in the west"!

***********

"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

Right, lets have some common sense here. I'll avoid slagging individual DJ's where I can. Although firstly and in a nutshell demolition of the transmitter would be a start. Seriously though, I have to admit to now getting addicted to listening to the girl who cant read english, read the news in ENGLISH!!! STOP DISRESPECTING MY LANGUAGE!!! Mind you, I shouldn't pick on her she's that bad its hilarious. If I could understand the language of surrender monkeys i'm sure the DJ's are as bad in french as the english speaking no-hopers. I have to say that the novelty has well and truly worn off after being here for some time, trust me guys and girls 'North Manchester General Hospital FM is by miles a better aural offering, I'd actually rather hope for a medical condition back home in order to listen to slightly better rubbish. QBS isn't anywhere near the top 500,000 when it comes to radio stations on the planet, I would imagine Kazakstan FM at least has phone in's with a little humour. Anyway, I am willing to offer the girl who occasionally does the news when im driving home some advice, when it comes to reading the news in english......1) Learn the language....Errr thats about it really.....anyways you are all hilarious to listen to but unfortunately for you, not for the reasons you think. Every expat in the city is chuckling daily, and lets admit, you must find that embarassing. god bless and keep up the dire (if any of you know what the word 'dire' means) work and i look forward to further bleeding ears soon!!! It must be stated that the Irish guy in the morning HAS to have a sense of humour and it does come through, you have to have a dry wit to listen to QBS or as its known where I come from 'a load of SHITE'

I like the radio station because it is a very good fit with whatever else is going on here.

britmeth said I love QBS ...Hey I love this station. Embrace the mistakes... and my drive to ... work every day would be awful without my friends Bernie and Ilyas interspersed with whoever fills in when they aren't there. WAKE UP YOU'RE IN THE GULF. How comforting was that when I was feeling out of my depth when I first arrived."

Hear hear! :0) I just ignore the mistakes and pay attention only to the good parts. When bored, I flip to the Arabic channel. I can't understand what they're singing about but I like the beats. :0)

I've only got 2 radio channels which work in my car. The 3rd one is Dubai channel but most of the time, no reception. All I hear is static so I stick to the 2 channels. No CD player in my car, only cassette player. Talk about obsolete, huh? I had to dig out my old old (x3)cassettes to play on it early this year.

*****************************************

Don't want no drama,

No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama

Novita77 said Ah ... yes I do have a ...UKEng ... MY IPOD ! :P

Aahh.. but me no choice. No iPod and no time to download music. Sheesh! :0(

Which reminds me, I was looking for a portable CD player when I was back home recently (as mine went kaput last year and looked but none here in Qatar) .. And guess what? Sigh! It's obsolete. Anything I like becomes obsolete :0( Only had those light and cute iPods which would have been good except that it'll take me ages to figure out how to download etc. And I didn't have time to go hunting for a CD player somewhere in less than hip places in KL. Had ideas but couldn't check.

Can't play my CDs anymore, except on my notebook but don't like the quality of sound. :0(

The conclusion to the long tirade above - I'll stick to QBS. Sometimes boring but overall, still great music.

/Did I make any sense? I'm stoned and in dire need of double double shots of espresso... BUT am also sicky so banned from koffeeee :0(

*****************************************

Don't want no drama,

No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama

I think it is public service, and that they use any income to offset the costs (I can't call it profit when they get their budget from the government every year, and I doubt that they cover it from any income)

Government yes, but public service Bleu?

____________________________________________________

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

Amoud, QBS is government Radio, Just like QTV is government TV.

and elias,like you know it pains me to hear them in the morning,but hey would rather listen to them than listen to this new dj girl,who grunts during tuesday evenings.

and if you want input,please play a lot of the costes,cafe del mar,buddha bar mixes.PLEASE!!!!!

Hold on a sec, I dont think QBS is a public service radio station is it? It is a station for profit. You can petition all you want I assume, just because we dont like it means we have the right to ask them to shut it down, just turn off your radio.

____________________________________________________

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

Hey I love this station. Embrace the mistakes, I know I couldn't read the news in a foreign language and my drive to school and work every day would be awful without my friends Bernie and Ilyas interspersed with whoever fills in when they aren't there. WAKE UP YOU'RE IN THE GULF. How comforting was that when I was feeling out of my depth when I first arrived. London Line would be better of course if they weren't always in Cornwall!!

Can't believe it...I've left Qatar 2 years ago and QBS still rules ;) Is Bernie still alive?

we were tailgating, I was listening to Quiz question

what is the colour of Qatari Flag....what a dumb question

when entire Qatar was dressed for the occaision

and then RJ declared the correct colour is purple

In all records colour is mentioned MAROON not purple

Well lucky that we do have Ipods imagine if we didn't as i must agree listening to QBS radio is an absolute torture at the best of times, especially when the signal from Dubai cuts outs as you can pick it up on some days ,i read an article yesterday advertising internet car radios with something like 30,0000 internet radio stations available the company blaupunkt is developing one i believe , i often resort to Internet radio while im at the office.

Without imagination their is nothing!

When I was in my late teens/early twenties, I was a pub DJ - I have a huge music collection (66000 mp3s and close to 1000 CDs). In fact, when (ever) I next go back to UK I will ship my vinyl collection back with me to rip to MP3 :o)

Did you Google it first?

Ah ... yes I do have a choice UKEng ... MY IPOD ! :P

PS : For thursday would you like to drop your junior at our house jst before 7.30? same arrangement with last week.

Baldrick, Novita do we have any choice, some days we get the radios from Dubai, depending on the reception, which are nice and proper DJ's.. Baldrick ever thought of taking up a partime job at the QBS, I think you, monkey, Hairy C or Tight Quim could do a much better job.. How come your so good at music in the quiz...lol

-----------------

HE WHO DARES WINS

Baldrick, I stopped listening QBS many years ago :P

3 year old thread, but QBS is still crap! I was driving down a desert track yesterday and switched from CD to radio as the bouncing was affecting the player. There was a nice tune playing (can't remember what) then some bint with a whiney voice came on. Arrgghhh!!! now I remember why I stopped listening to this station!!!

Did you Google it first?

Ah, yes, the 1980s. Steve Smith, Graham Birch, John McCarthy, Greg Ward, Malcolm Taylor... lots of varied talent on QBS in those days. Any chance they might all come back one day?

Is this the same station that has a female news reader in the evening? Man she gives us all a good laugh with her stuff ups!! Im giggling just thinking about it now.

Howard Stern

These people are not pros, nobody even did real on the job-training.

It goes like this: here's a mic, bring some cds or you can use our cds if you want to. We want a nice radio show, thanks. Oh, and see this guy behind the glass window, he's called an "engineer", he didn't study anything but he has experience in this thing called the "mixer". If you want the day off, you can just give him the cds and a list. He can fake a few episodes for you.

Honestly, it wasn't always so bad! Back in the 80's it was very "Western" and we had good characters like Chris Thornton, John Delmont, Matt Side and, of course, the lovely Aunty Lucy.

QBS was at its best when Team Trivia was the best thing that happened every weekend, with teams all over the town getting together on Friday afternoons for a superbly entertaining on-air team quiz. Bring it back!! But, of course, with someone decent to host it.

Back in the day, QBS actually recruited from overseas but by the end of the 80s they were just using local "talent". I use the term loosely because basicall "talent" equated to anyone who was willing to give up their time for a pittance. They worked on the assumption that anyone wanting to be on air was doing it for the ego boost and therefore didn't need to be compensated financially.

Now I only tune in out of total desperation (in the car) when someone has borrowed my CDs. If I'm lucky I catch the news and can amuse myself with all the mispronunciations....sometimes I'm compelled to wind down the window and tell the people in the next car to listen in and enjoy the fun!!!!

People are right, if the country is motivated enough to introduce Al Jazeera as an icon of media excellence in the area, then they need to look at their radio broadcasting very seriously.

Hey, I like QBS. Very much, I might add. Not everything's up my street but the variety's good.

Disagree with frenky-d. It's not "half the time...in french" - it's only an hour in the morning and another (or a few other times during the day,I dunno.. but anyway, definitely not very long), jolly good variety on my drive to and fro work. Music is nice and I think better nowadays, nice upbeat numbers. I don't listen to the radio all day, only on the drive to and from work. Sometimes, the choice of music is a bit boring so I switch channels to the Arabic one. Between the 2, I'm duly entertained.

Newsreaders - yes, their pronunciation can be quite bad, like the lady this morning. Dunno her name. But I thought that since English is obviously not her primary language, she did pretty well. And the message was understood. The purpose of any communication is so that the recipients can understand what was communicated. High standards are something they should strive for but not everybody gets there in a short time. And perfection - no one.

There are many things that could be better but as long as you people keep complaining, that should keep them on their toes.

And what's wrong with the prayers on QBS? It's a call to prayer and applicable across the board. We either get used to it or switch off the radio or put on your own cassette or CD.

*****************************************

Don't want no drama,

No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama

You see i keep trying to save up to get myself one BUT im a sucker for clothes... :P

and i just noticed this thread's almost 3 years old... :P

that's why i still prefer my iPod as i get to choose what kind of music i want to listen to... ;)

Id rather listen to monkies pulling on somebodies hair than that dodgey bloke in the morning who cant even remember what day it is and who is singing what

Guyana instead of Guinea, that's nothing! I remember years ago the jaw-dropping remark on QBS news "Chanting slogans and singing hymens"... the unforgettable "We now return you to the second half of the F**k-up Final"... and lastly the diplomatically explosive (at that time) "The U.N. Secretary (pause) General Kurt Waldheim". Newsreaders have always been a scream on QBS.

What a farce.. Made a real hash of thinks (probably, too much Xmas spirit).. Kept saying Guyana instead of Guinea.

Their newsreaders really sucks! Even a 5th grader can read the news more properly than they do. And seriously, they need a total reprogramming and eliminate the unwanted DJs. If not, let them practice first off air or whatsoever just to gain back the station and their reputation.

I suggest they should also buy the latest equipment for their music storage and dispose those freakin' antique CDs!

I'm here :D

(be brave jauntie, don't back off)

i rather listen to radio jatter ( you know that intereference on frequencies where radio channels do not exist)lol....no they're not that bad... set your radio to scan and most of the times ull find a UAE radio channel...or best solution...WorldSpace Radio, international radio channels, great quality and only about $5-10 per month after the initial cost of instrument...

btw wouldn't it be pretty hard for a Radiojockey the size of the length and height of Britain to fit into the recording room?

i found an email of QBS.

please start emailing them so they really get to know our frustration!!

EMAIL: [email protected]

help us! help yourself! start emailing!

Its a bloody disgrace! The music in the morning is enough to make you want to drown in your morning coffee not gear you up for another lovely day! The accents on those people attempting speak English is terrible as for the music......its bloody dreadful!!

QBS is soooo bad, the worst thing is that it is the only english speaking station.

- half the time it is in french, what is that al about?

- this guy in the morning, bernie i believe, is so annoying.

- they give artist totally wrong names (more than ones).

- the news takes forever, and then repeats again.

- cant they do all these prayers on an arabic channel?

- the girl around 5 pm constantly talks through the beginning and ending of songs.. aaargghh!

- the choice of music is horrible.

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TAKE A BROOM THROUGH THAT PLACE???

Edit: do they have a text message number so when can start bombing them with text messages??

Check the date of this post

25/04/2006 TWO YEARS AGO!!! AND YOU STILL KILLING ME SOFTLY EVERY TIME I TUNE YOUR STATION.

Get a job!!!

The Venezuelan Sensation!!!

Super 7 never forget to charge your Ipod, Lesson learned long time ago...

Qatar government have to open their eyes to the radio world, its amazing that they haven't understand that more people play the radio more than TV and newspaper readers together... U can reach more costumers, and the news spread faster...

I wanna new Radio Station... we should call it Radio Ga Ga.

The Venezuelan Sensation!!!

There's RADIO in Qatar!?!?!?

I stopped listening about 6 months ago, and I've only been here a year!

Did you Google it first?

French program is sooooo boring. All they do is talk about politics for what feels like hours on end! Stick me in their place. just listening to me breath down the mic is more soothing lol

well about the French program..It dosent make sence cos there are not many French nationals in Qatar and they play it during times when people go to office and timings mostly when they return.so its annoying.

2nd point I figured was they are not updated 4 real.I was recently listening when this RJ with a dull voice like everyone in QBS said..'Now am gonna play a latest by Linkin Park..its called Numb'..n ended up playing Shadow of the day..man i felt so crappy I had to switch station.. firstly either of the songs as he said wasnt latest and secondly he never apologized.

and evidently the owners QBS are not really interested in the station else there would be atleast 1% improvement after all these talks.Plus being such rich an economy, Qatar government should take initiatives.Well its like a real investment rather than spending on stuff which are prtty useless for people around like they are doin now.lik Qatr have got no good amusement parks or good source of entertainment nor a good radio station...blah..

Mezz^unltd

I leave my day @ 7.4o ish... or so in the morning and reach office by 08.00 AM. And thatz the time when u have morning french program.

I am not against french but i dont understand the language. Also, whatz D big deal for having it for only 15 min when u have the entire program for full 3 hrs (1PM - 4 PM)

As for the topic in this thread. All the (I mean ALL) RJ's should either be replaced or sent to crash course ASAP.

[img_assist|nid=60386|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

www.dustinsenger.com/?p=98 hi came across this interview with bernie lyons qbs what a load of trash done some research most of his claims untrue wrote hit etc worth reading for a laugh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate_radio

who's in?

I signed up only because of this ...

I like listening to music, I actually listen to a pretty wide range of music, whatever I like, regardless of the "age" or the band ...

At one point in time I thought I might be out of sync because of this. Then I heard QBS: fue ... I am saved, I now know I am not out of sync, QBS IS!

Inspite of me usually listening to whatever I find good this did not happen with QBS ... nothing seemed good!

Besides, they have this top 50 show, well, top 50 what? are they really TOP? TOP of what? Who elects those? I don't believe the audience here is so tone deaf ...

Just a note on one comment that was posted earlier:

Someone suggested to eliminate the morning religious discussions and prayer calls. Well it didn't happen that I heard the morning discussions, but it is nice to have some discussions of important matters. Unless they recognize QBS only as a music station, then put in some REAL music ...

As for prayer time, it is a couple of minutes 5 times a day, doesn't hurt, besides it shows respect for traditions in Qatar.

Happily I don't listen to the DJs u were discussing :D

cheers

and I only signed up just for this.

People from QBS better listen to what a real radio station should sound like, say Radio 1 from Dubai and from the UK. The radio here is horrible! People driving around doha could crash into other cars listening to them! They are a hazzard!

A lot of the DJs here play whatever they want to listen. Sure they have people to requests songs and all, but they usually pick the ones THEY want to listen to. Ive tried requesting songs on the radio several times, but they either don't have the song i want to hear or they don't play it at all.

I think all of them should be sacked. The french show is complete utter pointless, about less than 15% of qatar are French speakers perhaps? Am not.

I don't really know their names so I'll try my best to describe them. The girl that does the Thursday night shows and sometimes has the woman newspresenter co-hosting it. I don't know where to begin with this... Firstly, the girl sounds too young to be on the radio, she sounds like she's only 13 and to have a newspresenter who should be seen a serious figure co-hosting seems like they are mother and child having a sad attempt to make the show sound more lively.

jo mitri. god. seen his site? he thinks his brilliant! i hate the way he slurs his words. infact a lot of them do!! it sounds like they had a bit of tea or coffee before going on air spiked with a bit of alcohol. he sounds a bit intoxicated to me! pisses me off everytime i have to listen to him speak.

the new girl, who likes to listen to a lot of punk rock alternative music. she has a nice cool voice but she can hardly say a single sentence without having to stutter. She's also a victim of slurring her words. But not as much as as the King of Slur, Jo Mitri. bleh, hes crap.

The arabic DJ's: None of them are great english speakers. Some can't pronounce band names right (Jo Mitri is the absolute culprit for this having done it several times), they use the same sentences over and over again, i can't remember what but if you listen to them, they say things repetitively, like 'up next is bladiblah... up next iisss... up next, weve got this band for youuu....) We need DJ's who can be a little more create to what they have to say!

As for the couple of oldies... sorry but you've got to go too. infact you all have to go. the only positive thing i can say about one of them is that they can engage with the listeners quite well, other than that the music they play would be much appreciated by my grandmother.

Lastly, DJ jojo must be the campest name i have ever had the misfortune to hear on live radio. E-Nough-said.

thnx for having a read of what i have to say. I know it's pretty long Ive been wanting to get tht off my chest. cheers

QBS had a good selection of DJs 20 or 25 years ago... Bernie the Lion and Elias whatchamacallit had far better competition in those days. I guess they're stuck in a time warp!

believe half ofd what you see and nothing of what you hear

You actually like QBS??? It so sucks. I guess Riyadh must really be hell for QBS to sound good.

You don't mind Bernie, Elias and DJ Jo Jo? You are either a very nice person or you have been in the Gulf too long.

Dvargas: Sounds like a plan. No you can go ahead and do it :)

I actually like QBS. But I like older music (60s, 70s, 80s) and don't really mind the DJs. I lived in Riyadh for a year and only got this weird station that played only country music all day.

The French show is annoying and it must stop. I'd petition for that! I've heard that the reason QBS wastes airtime with French is political. The French ambassador or embassy plays an important part in Qatar politics.

I listen to Radio Bahrain at 96.5 when the French is on or when QBS plays too much dance music in the evening.

I'll hold off in my offer. LOL

1- We need to find out, who owns the radio station.

2- Find out the phone number and call him and make him feel important(DJ) and give him a ton of musical petitions, then hit him with critical points of improvement. Hopefully that will work.

3- Visit the radio station or ask for an appointment.

4- Contact his manager, hopefully is not some 13 year old boy with a bad attitude because of his money and social status.

Respectfully

David

David, man, there is no way to give it to them. I have more than 150 GB of first class south american music here too. You know what music he put on today? "Comprei um quilo de farinha pra fazer farofa.." It is as if some DJ will put on "Mamas and Papas" or "Beach boys" and present it as the "anglo sound"

I'm willing to record some my music EN Espanol, To help out this guy on Momento Latino. If you need some Salsa of many styles, beats and lyrics, example of that is: latin Reggaeton (the good one, not the ugly one) Merengue, merengueton, cumbia, Bachata, and better yet some good modern latin Jazz and real reggae or Zouk from the Antilles. Let me know. Is my precious original collection. Lots of music from Spain, Mejico, South America, Africa etc, etc. I willing to help you improve the quality of music in your segment of latin music.

@ Nehneh

> Jojo has to say "ah" after every word

> ie "Good-ah Afternoon-ah" and ...

LOL!

Thats a point ;-)

Me and my wife are dying from laughter when we hear Brazilian music they put in their "latin hours". Most of them are really obscure songs from 60-s, absolutely unknown to any native portuguese speaker. In what dustbin they dig out these ridiculous "hits"?

On the same topic - there are good radio stations in Dubai, why can't Qatar have 2-3 for a change? Who actually owns QBS?

This radio station, like everything else is sourced out the the lowest bidder. The on air talent probably came in at the lowest price. They don't sound hireable by anyone else.

My husband and I particulary like to listen just for a good laugh. Jojo has to say "ah" after every word ie "Good-ah Afternoon-ah" and that idiot on a stick who does the alternative show. She plays heavy metal but sounds like a school marm. She has to say "Hope you like it" when announcing the next song. "This is Metallica...hope you like it"....and if I don't? What then?

Totally un-professional and poorly trained.

QBS doesn't even have a website. They could be so much more, but cheap and poorly run is the signature of the Middle East.

butterfly ... i dont speak french :-(

what's wrong with you? the french broadcast actually makes QBS worth it....

...is bashing QBS.

Seems to be easy doesn't it?

But are there any other good(!) radiostations that play european styled music in this City?

I've nerver come across one. Maybe thats why some guys have 10m antennas on their cars.

Regarding the qulity of QBS:

I must say that I'm quite happy to have some kind of music that I can

- understand

- is familiar and

- sounds good (to me).

Beeing in Doha for over 1 year now I wouldn't really have expected anything better in quality. This radiostation reflects some states that this city is presenting (at present).

A city where more immigrants live than real homegrown, a city which is (temporarily) a complete buildingsite .. what do you expect?

Full bandwith of superb radiostations??

Don't get me wrong! I like Doha and I like the people that live here.

The only thing I don't like, is the french broudcasting time on QBS :-P

first of all HI to all and peace,

i have been here for a year now and trying to avoide QBS as much as possible, but the other day i wasnt in my car so i had to listen what the person driving was listening to, i only wanna comment ON THE MOMENTO LATINO, i mean is that guy seriouse? he talks as if he is spelling the words, i like latino music but not the way he introduces it and makes it boring, MOMENTO LATINOOOO .... (in a slow motion tho ..) lol.

PS: i am lebanese and pretty much ashamed of the LEBANESE DJ JOJO the ULtimate DJ, for GOD SAKE JOJO.. when u go to ur vacation to lebanon dont tell anyone that ur a DJ, because u give a bad name to the good DJ's in lebanon.

PEACE

QBS us radio is not designed for the arabic speaking people. Having a staion in the various languages is just not a thought. Laugi7 maybe i miss understood you.

The comment on the fact that QBS does not have a web-page is superb, i mean a radio station without a web-page, must be the only one in the world that does not. Again that is down to the people in Bernie and Elias. Too much control over there radio station of the past. I mean they actually think its good? And they are actually being paid for doing what they do.

Lets just boot the entire staff of QBS, revamp a little, provide various channels - English, French, religion etc......

I mean is it really that hard for mangement to see the pathetic excuse of a radio station that they run, reason for not having a web-page = complaints, complaints and more complaints which they could not deal with.

Someone is giving it to someone in that place....

The girl DJ they have for the "hard rock" show sounds like she should be introducing Yanni and Kenny G.

"Hope you like it..." (cringe)

is on vacation. Lets hope it is permanent. Bernie is excreable. The station sucks. Even the English woman who reads the news is appalling. Thnere is not a single good DJ or radio show on QBS

This is a city with a population of half a million. We need to start a campaign to get a decent radio station. Who do we petition?

is on vacation. Lets hope it is permanent. Bernie is excreable. The station sucks. Even the English woman who reads the news is appalling. Thnere is not a single good DJ or radio show on QBS

This is a city with a population of half a million. We need to start a campaign to get a decent radio station. Who do we petition?

I have to comment, i just have to comment.........................

Today was my final day for QBS radio station, Elias or whatever his name is, has finally bored me to tears, i actually get stressed listening to his poor accent which he claims as English. His boring newspaper reads about complete shite....excuse the language, how he has been at for so long is beyond me.

As for Mr Bernie the lion. Another person who has just got old with the radio station, his music is the same and his lines are poor. Get a grip Bernie the gay lion. Have to say the station needs a complete change. I do not have time for any of the Disk Jockies on the the station, none are to a level of what Dubai are.

The station needs to have various channels, one which is for the English speaking community which is basically the charts all day with some hours dedicated to R&B, house etc. The morning talks on religion etc need to go. The french can get there own channel in the afternoon.

The day Mr Bernie the lion and his friends leave is the day the radio station gets better, they have to much hold on it.

ive just registered and has bumped into this site in the net while looking for the official website of qbs and found none to my dismay.

is this ads regarding qbs' scout for on and off air talents still on? actually i havent been listening to this station much as i dont like the djs' music segues. but am just wondering if they have any site of their own or sumthin'...

it is based in muslim bastion area, of Pentagon, Virgina USA

does it have doha news or middle east news for our arabic speakers

althoughi think it isa also based in dubai

Where is Sawa based? The reception is clear so i think it is in Qatar. Interestingly though Sawa doesn't have the call to prayer but QBS does!!

CDs don't work for me because I am too disorganised to bring them to the car and take them back in so I end up with one that I listen to for about 10 weeks until I hate the band

iPod was the secret but I lost my recharge cable

The western songs on Sawa are mostly from the '92+... not really that much recent stuff on there... though good arabic tracks.

Otherwise mp3 players/ipods rock!

"All Heads Turn... With The NoX Walk'in The Door!"

Dohagirl, I got an iTrip for my iPod - and never ever switched QBS on again.

By the way, there is a neat station, Sawa, 92.6 - plays one Arabic song, one Western, mostly recent hits, short news issues once or twice an hour, I like it. It has good days and bad days just like any other station, though :)

I have solved the QBS problem by buying a car with a CD player. #1 survival tip in Qatar.

no you can get online music ... we are talking about being in the car and listening to it ... as you will find is a national sport in doha although there is dubai fm etc that are not bad but we are talking about a local english radio station.

by the way broadband is 200 for 512kb, 300 for 1mb, 400 for 2mb so 29, 43, 58 pounds approx. and i think they are having promo for the next month where free substciption and 2months but will be tool ate for that 4 you i think

i guess i'm starting to paint a picture of me sitting in a bombed out car with no aircon when someone pulls up nexy to me in a black, windows tinted 4 wheel drive, car body rocking to the sound of QBS!!!! please i fearing for my life here!

Yes you can but you can't get broadband in your car so QBS still gets to you.

And with increasing traffic every day you hear more of it

Sorry, could be completely out of it here as not living in doha yet, but when living OS before, i have used my computer to listen to music from home etc.....

can you not do this in doha? Please dont tell me broadband is soooo expensive or something...

cheers,

Just yesterday, and while i was hardly trying to enjoy QBS music and ignore the crowded traffic surrounding me, there was this program where all of a sudden the CD they were playing is too old and scratched to be played again, i said to myself, what the heck, sh*t happens, and i prayed that they replace it with one that is playable.

I was still stuck in traffic and this program continues to play bad music, then they said they will play the #1 hit .. i was so excited :)

5 minutes, helllooooo, anybody's home ?? no music, it seems that the presenter fell asleep while people were waiting for the #1 hit.

I reached home before the silence came to an end, so i don't actually know if they played the damn #1 hit or not.

By the way, what's wrong with Brain's voice, it is so annoying, it reminds me with the blue colored annoying creature and the young lady who's her voice is similar to one 12 years old girl ,,,

For god's sake QBS management, get some real presenters.

I won movie tickets off QBS once and when I went to pick them up at Landmark mall they had no idea who I was or what contest I was talking about. That's professionalism :). I really wanted to see Munich to.

since we seem to be bringing past threads into life, i thoought we shud do this one too; as mentioned in the title 'Petition vs QBS Radio' where did it go ... there are sights to do that and didnt through a petition force or at influence influence the government to reverse the Voip ban.

I think it is an ideal time as they are having an international radion confenrece in Dubai on this, and honestly this cannot go on any more ... they need to get a jolt that this is bulox, some is ok but a lot is not; (the 3 hrs of french in the middle of the day, c'mon and they should have the radio 24X7, how hard is it to put recorded music to play rather than static?)

anyway just a thought

if anybody knows of petition sites to do pls assist if you want.

Get an IPod and download some podcasts (diggnation.com rocks!)

They've been advertising for "on air and off air talent" lately.

Maybe they're reading these forums!

for some unfathomable reason, on those rare occasions i tune into QBS, (each time hoping against hope I'll hear some decent music) I always seem to get Jojo. Aargh. Anyone know the reason why he takes forever to finish a full sentence??

I'm guessing he needs the time to read the next word!..

Giasi I have always wondered that. As a non french speaker they sound pretty slick. There definitely seem to be less ummmms and urrrrrs but perhaps they are hidden beneath all the hoheehons and ohlalas.

I´m not a "proper" french speaker, but yes, pretty much as idiotic as the english. Although once, few weeks ago, they run interviews and a report about "Mano Negra" which was fantastic.

id be interested to know from the french speakers if the french broadcast is as innane and idotic as the english one (term "english"used loosely here)

Respect

GIASI

Dentist I think that the french invest heavily in the station. Otherwise there is no reason for so much of it.

What really amazes me is thaat about 30% of their broadcast is in french whilst i don't think the french speakers in Qatar are more than 0.5% , correct me please if I'm wrong.

How do they pick the DJ's, wonder if they would let me have a hour per week to try something different?

I heard about a famous guy in dubai radio call Chris Fisher, do we not have somebody like that in Doha? To be honest ... i dont listen much radio in Doha ... because it is boring ... :(

Bring back Aunty Lucy. QBS has never been the same since she left.

She actually got two darts team names wrong apologised and then suggested that the names be changed.

The team names were Chucking Farmers and Pheasant Pluckers.

No one else could have got away with it.

Jojo that is the most ridiculous show I have ever heard. Listen to the start of his show if you can he has about a ren mnute recorded intro with a guy with a deep voice going "JOJO the best DJ in the world EVER!!!" (something like that.

Stuart ok just has a boring voice.

None of them seem to have ever been on the radio before

there is another DJ call Jojo (he is lebanese guy) ... and another guy who used to read the news in the morning, and sometimes on air on Saturday. I think something with 'Stuart'. What do u think about them?

QBS is the best reason to own an iPod in the world. Especially when it is humid and you can't pick up Dubai

I don't think I have ever heard that station play a song made after 1983.

Admittedly, I have listened to it only about twice though - it doesn't take long to realise how appallingly bad it is. I have no idea on who "DJs" (to use the term loosely here) when, but the few times I've turned the station on, it has totally sucked.

I am now quite content with my iPod.

News reading used to be funny (i.e. when you first heard it) but then it begins to grate on you. Did you realise that Bernie Lyons has been a "professional" dj for over 20 years. He is a native English speaker and he still cannot read.

I hope that he isn't paid for his work at QBS but I assume he is.

No Elias is better than Bernie but he is still bloody useless. What are those ridiculous anecdotes he talks about? Why don't they all just be quiet and play music (less than 20 years old) all the time.

I used to love the news reading. Made me laugh so much

Listen to QBS on friday, most of the time the let a CD play on and on for hours. I guess no one working on Friday.

I agree about Bernie, but i think Elias not too bad.

Hi All ,

They need to do a whole revamp of the studio and it's DJ's. Bringing in young " Experienced DJ's" would actually change the scene. These guys need to tune into Dubai FM which is so up to date and plays new numbers all the time. For starters they can atleast copy their style..!! Good luck and happy listening...

For ONCE I agree with u super 7!!

I was actually going to fall asleep listening to that station

.lili.

I agree, if we can't change it, at least offer another programing choice.

I would like to have a local radio station, but in some way hooked up to what 106FM play.

Angelo