Topic: BBC 6 Music and Asian Network face closure

[Simon]

Digital radio stations BBC 6 Music and Asian Network are facing closure as part of a shake-up of the corporation, the director general has announced.

Mark Thompson also said that half of its websites would close by 2013, along with teen services Switch and Blast.  He expected an extra £600m ($893m) to be diverted into programme-making as a result of the changes, but union Bectu feared up to 600 jobs could go.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8544150.stm

Personally, I have never listened to either of them, but I can't see this being a popular move.

[Clive]

Thompson knows that the Tories plan to slash the Beeb's budget when they win the election so he is pre-empting them.  Those radio stations will probably be sold off to a commercial enterprise so the listeners won't lose them. Shame about the inane adverts.  I can't say I'm sorry about losing half of the BBC website because it's far too big as it is.  It's impossible to find your way around it and much of it is very badly written. 

[sam]

Lizzie sent me this earlier... says it all really - http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/mar/01/information-beautiful-bbc-o-gram-spending#zoomed-picture

given the other waste they really can afford to keep these... especially now they gotten rid of Ross.

They can't get rid of the Asian Network - its the only national radio station that would let me talk on! :-D

[Clive]

Yes, I remember that!   

[Simon]

I'm actually very surprised they are even considering getting rid of the Asian network, given the need for adherence to political correctness and equality these days.  Is there not a requirement for the BBC to provide a service for the Asian population? 

[Rik]

Why, they don't for the Turkish, Polish, Greek etc.

[Simon]

True.  I'm just surprised the BBC hasn't been accused of racism.

[Rik]

It's a point I raised with them when they launched the Asian Network, but they felt these audiences were adequately catered for by local radio stations.

[Simon]

Their own, or commercial stations?

[Rik]

The combination.

[sam]

I think the Asian network has a place... and its a bad radio station at all. Indeed they should be supplying what the populace want... if that is a station that plays slightly different music and discusses issues that are related to the "Asian" population then great! Nowt wrong with that. Though I guess the BBC could just include sections on other stations...  still though I don't see the point in all the effort to get it going to just can it.

[Rik]

OTOH, what other racial or cultural group has a radio station devoted to them, Sam?

[Simon]

Well, there's Kerrang!   

[sam]

OTOH, what other racial or cultural group has a radio station devoted to them, Sam?

Bound to be some Scottish / Welsh stations.... ? You could sort of argue that.

Also the Asian network isn't so much about on group though - its spans loads and also shows how popular asian culture is in the UK - from food to music and films... I dunno really. I just don't see the point in dropping it.

.. and hey Kerrang is great! Well not so much these days.. was great when it was a test station.

Incidentally both Kerrang and the Asian network broadcast from Brum.

[Rik]

Bound to be some Scottish / Welsh stations.... ? You could sort of argue that.

There are, but if you think about it, they are the original Brits.