I'm not Jason, but I can tell you that a repeat of the 2021 Crowded House guest programming is scheduled for the first weekend of January (1-2 January) 2022.

This year, there would have been 5 weekends had retro month aired during January, and it looks like we're getting a 5-weekend retro month shortened to 4 again in 2022.

Definitely february it would seem. Screenshot off the rage facebook page.

https://ibb.co/GTv9vKp

Why have they decided to move February the last two years, is because of COVID and the effect on ABC and RAGE staffing?

Hello all,

I am not on platforms like Facebook but am on Instagram and I checked the rage website not long ago and saw their post for NYE and it didn't look good at all regarding Saturday - January 1st whilst reading their statement for NYE:

While lockdowns and border restrictions continued to throw us curveballs, we weren’t about to let a New Year’s Eve go by without putting together our annual New Year's special. We’ve managed to round up some of your favourite artists to help ring in 2022.

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

So, I decided to visit my FORUM here as I haven't been on for sometime and read Nathan's reply and I am absolutely FURIOUS that there is a repeat of Crowded House Guest Programming next Saturday! .....

So, in other words, all repeated Guest Programming throughout January, it seems. This makes no sense to me, as playing Countdown Episodes and Rock Arena are repeats as well, so why can't they just play back to back Countdown and Rock Arena Episodes????

So basically, rage can 'manage' a NYE Special where editing was required in between each clip and say 'we weren’t about to let a New Year’s Eve go by without putting together our annual New Year's special'..... BUT ..... they can easily let the long tradition of Countdown repeats go past without any regard for it's January long devoted viewers!

Countdown and Rock Arena, during January needed no editing as they are already edited as full programs from the 80s and no editing is required, minus in between each program. All they needed to do was play the rage promo's in between and each Saturday night would have been sorted.


So, does this mean rage goes retro is in February again???? Or, does this mean no 'rage goes retro' in 2022?

So, a 5 Saturday's in a month of 'rage goes retro' was stolen from us in 2021, with no compensation on the first weekend of March 2021 ..... And now AGAIN, another 5 Saturday's taken away from us in January 2022, and only 4, sooooo not fair :cry:

I don't see how the Covid crap has anything to do with rage goes retro! ..... During Covid, rage have managed to have Ladyhawke, Alice Skye, Miami Horror and RÜFÜS DU SOL with new Guest Program specials over November, which AGAIN would have taken many hours to actually film and edit unlike with repeats of ABC Retro programs from the Vault which they can simply just play!

Can those on Facebook email me at romoelectric@hotmail.com with these screenshots and where it mentions Crowded House???

Also, do rage confirm that 'rage goes retro' will be on in February on Facebook?????

Frankster 30, are you able to email me the February screenshot if you may, please?

This is c r a p.

Yes, COVID makes things difficult, but they have all year to plan for retro month.

January just feels like the right time to air it. Many/most people have at least some time off work in January, which means you can relax/sit up all night if you want to. Plus it's time to look forward to something good happening in the new year.

Retro month being moved to February, if this shift becomes permanent, means we will almost never get a 5-week retro month - this will only happen when February 29 falls on a Saturday. That happens only once every 28 years; the next time it happens is in 2048. I'll be 69 then, if I'm still around. Though they would surely have gone through all of the remaining unrepeated Countdowns long before then (if rage/TV as we know it is still even a thing).

The only positive about this, is that it is 39 degrees this Saturday and that high temperature at night could have caused blackouts.

Otherwise, there is no positive points at all about 'rage goes retro' being moved to February.

It is BULL S H I T !

rage have had months to sort out 'rage goes retro' in January. Just like repeating Crowded House programming, the same could have been done with Countdown and Rock Arena. As again, they are already edited from the 80s, same thing applies. Repeat these archival gems just like they are Crowded House. it's not rocket science. No a huge amount of editing needs to be done when repeating Countdown, Rock Arena e.t.c...

And as far as the 5 Saturday's go, the reason why the 5 Saturday's would have been so good in 2021 and in 2022 is because rage don't fill up the 5 Saturday's with Countdown and Rock Arena, which means if they have to play the hideous GTK and Hitscene and Recovery, it would mean we still get 4 Saturday nights of Countdown and Rock Arena. With the 4 Saturday's, it potentially means we only get 3 Saturday's of decent programming! ..... I think rage purposely move January to February because there are 5 Saturday's, they just want to play less ABC Archival material on purpose.

With all the S H I T that has been going on over the last two years in the world, January is ALWAYS the perfect time to air 'rage goes retro'. As it starts off the year with FUN, something we ALL need in this modern world.

It seems such a let down for no apparent reason! When all rage had to do was the same process they are doing instead of repeating Guest Programmers, repeat Countdown and Rock Arena which haven't been played since the 80s. It is just silly, no other word for it.

Appropriate that the name of this emoji is 'rage' :rage: :rage: :rage: :rage:

This is some serious BS I totally agree.
There is no month of Rage that takes less effort than Retro Month.
It can be prepared months in advance FFS. And unlike regular weekends it doesn't need to change if they realise it is an anniversary of some important musical milestone or if someone passes away.
Rage staff can prepare a bunch of Countdowns & some Rock Arenas well in advance and then enjoy a break from work during peak festive season.

Really disappointing.

Another kick in the teeth from the ABC, it's what they seem to specialize in these days. While I know we all have different tastes, the ABC's tastes in retro seem to be play the same retro stuff over and over and over with no change.

With a budget of about 1.3 billion dollars a year, the ABC has no excuse whatsoever for no Countdown in January for 2 years running. And I can imagine what will happen in February, they will no doubt run stuff we have already seen and no doubt not much of it.

Jason, can you tell me what the email address is that you use to contact them ? I think if we are all prepared to send a complaint email like you did (only takes 5-10 minutes) then perhaps they might realise that people are getting annoyed and give us the equivalent of a 5 Saturday lot in February. What does everyone think ?

Cheers

Austech

PS - On a separate note, I have been remastering the Split Enz DVD that came out in 2002 and am putting it in to a playlist on Youtube. Most of their clips are already up, with live stuff to come. Some of these clips have come out really well after a bit of work, note some are blocked in Aus and NZ and you will need a VPN or similar to get around the country block. This is the url if you are a Split Enz fan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bodYUVAhUQ&list=PLpgTLHo8cx8O5HszwgXGWHvkWecH9rNAu&ab_channel=Austech

Ever seen "I See Red" looking this good ? :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O1s67RcViA

Edit : Bah, looks like hyperlinks dont work, I am sure everyone knows cut and paste :)

The email is rage@abc.net.au

Please don't share this email with Facebook groups who request Recovery and all that nonsense.

Get emailing and complaining, I can't believe for a 2nd year in a row with 5 Saturday's I am sitting here having to wait another 5 weeks with no Countdown on tonight.

I am so upset.

No problem, I dont use social media anyway Jason.
Yes I agree it's a real kick in the teeth, they surely know that a lot of people wait all year for January and I think if we can mobilize as many as possible to complain, then hopefully we may get something extra next month.

Anyone else prepared to do this ? The more that do it, the better our chances of getting more episodes.

If you dont know what to say in the email, I can make up a few different templates for people to send if that a problem.

Ok, complaint made. I have publicly posted what I sent them, it's in the thread where Jason has posted his complaint email. It would be good to get some more, I am asking for 6 Saturdays worth of Countdown as compensation which would be a ripper if we got it.

The UK play Top Of The Pops regularly and I get copies from the UK, it seems England have not forgotten their history of one of their biggest music programs but in Australia, the ABC don't play Countdown so we count on rage to play Countdown over just a few Saturday's each year, yet for the second year in a row, no Countdown in January again.

Last year, only 6 Episodes played in February, I really hope that rage play triple the amount of Countdown this year over the 4 Saturday's

Very upsetting that rage goes retro is cancelled again this January.

It's actually my Birthday next weekend on Sunday and I was really looking forward to spending my Saturday night with Countdown to celebrate.

In January it's like the current world of such problems everywhere in this universe seem to be much sweeter with Countdown on rage. I don't think rage realise how important January is to so many of us. rage should be celebrating what they do best in January but have turned their back on the ultimate format.

January would have been perfect this year in 2022 with Countdown being played on the first night of 2022, just not very fair at all.

I have to laugh about the fact that Channel 9 play 'You Can't Stop The Music' without fail every New Years Eve, one doesn't even have to look at the TV Guide as it is common knowledge that Chanel 9 have played the film for decades on NYE.

'rage' was always the same in January over decades now and they even have said many times that January is the most popular time of the year on 'rage'..... yet they mess with formula now 2 years in a row.

It is so very RARE to have 5 Saturday's over January 2 years in a row and not only were we not given that special privilege last year in 2021 but now again in 2022. I feel like this is some practical joke but yet again in 2022 the lack of 'rage goes retro' is repeated again.

Yes ..... rage are playing 'rage goes retro' in February and I am sure we all here are thankful for that, I sincerely am and I commend 'rage' for sticking to at least that commitment as they did last February.

But rage was SO very unique in repeating Countdown's e.t.c... over January in the first place and what a truly CLEVER idea it was to start this tradition back in the Early 90s. It set 'rage' apart from every other Australian channel, as such a fantastic long going celebration of the most ICONIN Australian music program COUNTDOWN which 'rage' has so much access to.

Why 'rage' would want to let go of their truly superb January identity is really puzzling, it sets them apart from anything else on Australian TV in January each year.

Go figure .....

I HOPE 'rage' could consider playing some more COUNTDOWN episodes on their Monday VAULT Specials over February, that could be a really good solution :relieved: How about some of you suggest that to 'rage' if you are on Facebook?

I guess all we can do is be happy with what is hopefully a FANTASTIC February with lots of COUNTDOWN galore. Till then, see you all on here in February.

I am really ****** off. 2 years in a row they’ve jerked us around 😡

Is it too late to put in requests?

February is not ideal but it could be worse

not sure about requests but you’re right, they could have canceled it all together.

At Gary,

I ALWAYS put my fabulous request list in on October, November and December, I would think now is far too late. I always email 'rage' my request list in October so they have months to locate the episodes I wish for :heart_eyes:

I am VERY pleased to read the part of the message from the person at rage saying:

"I spent half my holidays in iso but i'll spend some time at the beach to be nice and fresh and ready to delve into the archives and dust off lots of Countdown for you“.

Sounds like they are making up for only 6 Episodes last year which is GREAT! *** YAY ***

The person at rage sounds like they at least give a D A M N about 'rage goes retro' in February, so I am pleased they made the statement and are returning in late January to make sure lots of Countdown gets played in January. After reading their statement, I think we may receive a STACK of Countdown Episodes!!!!!! I really, realllllllly hope so!!!!!!!! :heart_eyes:


Thank You Matt for posting their message on my Forum, I gladly appreciate it! :sunglasses:

Hi all, I'm back! Well that was a c@#t of a read....

I was very optomistic about it returning in January this year, keeping tabs on rage posts on instagram. I knew we weren't going to get rage retro on 1st January as they have to play all the new years party ****.

I did DM them on Instagram about a month ago and didn't get a reply. I was hoping the next post after Crowded House was 'rage retro' (which I still prefer to call it Countdown) on 8 January...not to be.

Retro/Countdown in January was an institution. It was when we relived another era sat back and staying up in the wee hours of a hot January while most of us (including the record companies) were on hiatus as there were no new record releases. Oh well, I guess now everything never stops and is constant 24/7.

See you in February!!!

Hello Michael,

As you know, we speak on Instagram and though I haven't been on Instagram for over a month due to being sick of Social Media. We both prefer January being called Countdown month as that what is was for many years throughout the 90s etc.

As soon as they called it 'rage goes retro' the focus on Countdown got smaller and smaller.

I am not surprised rage didn't get back to you on Instagram, always best to email them. Though, I got no response this time around, seems they respond on Twitter at the moment.

See you all in February 2022 as well, now I have read messages that those on social media have posted here which I thank for. I now know what is going on in February. I can't wait till January is over as Countdown repeats are my reason for living in the twisted world.

Hi Jason, I was concerned that you hadn't posted on Instagram for over a month and was hoping everything was okay. I knew you have breaks from social media every now and then. I did email rage as well as DM them. I'm still waiting for a post on Instagram to say its been moved to February!

Praying for More Countdown and maybe The Factory to Compensate for Last Year’s Woeful Selections?