Here are some extracts from the BBC Trust Strategy Review that relate to local radio. Many are bullet points, and are consequently ungrammatical. If in doubt, consult the original.
Increasing the quality of local radio: boosting investment in local news at breakfast, mid-morning and drivetime using resources released by sharing content at other times.
Never more local: undertaking not to launch services more local than at present in England
The BBC therefore proposes that the Trust considers closing the Asian Network as a national service, exploring a number of options for redeploying its investment and meeting the needs of Asian audiences more effectively. One option is to replace it with a network of five part-time local services with some syndicated national Asian programmes. These would be available on local DAB and local Medium Wave, serving areas with the largest British Asian communities.
BBC local radio is of great value and importance to audiences up and down the country. It provides a vital space for debate and a key source of reliable, independent news. The BBC’s public purpose to serve communities could not be fulfilled without it. However, it can nonetheless improve in its quality and originality, and this strategy therefore proposes reforming local radio in England to achieve just that. Continue reading “BBC Strategy for local radio and local online”