No Disco axed

An online petition has been launched to save No Disco, which is to be axed after its present run ends on April 2.
While the official line is, "No Disco is currently resting and under review under the context of RTE’s overall music policy," a well-placed source insists that, "It’s definitely been cancelled for good. The Donneybrook suits were okay with the show when somebody they could understand like David Gray was on it, but now that it’s gone a bit more left-of-centre they’re not so keen."
Within 48 hours of going up, www.petitiononline.com/thumped/petition.html had been signed by a thousand people including such prominent industry figures as Tom Dunne, Jay Ahearn, David Kitt manager Oliver Walsh, BBC Northern Ireland’s Stan Ferguson and the staff at Domino Records.
The news also brought a swift response from The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon.
"The decision to ditch No Disco is one more nail in the coffin for credible music television," he told hotpress inbetween recording sessions for his new album. "No Disco was open-minded enough to give me TV space when nobody else would, and when I lived in London I was always envious of the folks back home who had a show of such a varied and leftfield nature. I hope that a show will come along that is equally committed to new music, but I can’t imagine one that could ever replace No Disco in my affections."
The passing of the programme will also be mourned by independent film and video makers like Del-9 who were the subject of a recent No Disco special.
"It's a really shitty decision," says collective member Eoin Kidney bluntly. "We wouldn't be doing what we're doing now if it wasn't for No Disco. The prospect of losing the only outlet open to us is very depressing. I hope RTE have the good sense to put on a proper replacement, otherwise a lot of creative people in this country are going to be stifled."
Asked whether there are plans for a similar style show to No Disco, the RTE spokesman responded, "The station is planning to develop and expand its music programmes in the years ahead. Philip King’s Other Voices, Songs From A Room would be one indication of new shows and directions."