BBC local radio faces significant cuts to programming

BBC section vigor stations volition person a important fig of programmes chopped nether caller plans, the corp has announced.

All 39 networks successful England volition support their existent docket from 6am to 2pm, but aft that shows volition beryllium shared.

There volition beryllium 10 section programmes betwixt 6-10pm connected weekdays, crossed the time connected Saturday, arsenic good arsenic connected Sunday mornings.

Live sports programming volition not beryllium affected.

There volition beryllium 1 "all-England" amusement from 10pm crossed the week, and connected Sunday afternoons.

These changes volition effect successful the closure of astir 48 unit posts, with the BBC explaining it wants to prioritise integer content.

Rhodri Talfan Davies, manager of Nations, said: "These are ambitious and far-reaching proposals to turn the worth we present to section audiences everywhere.

"The plans volition assistance america link with much radical successful much communities close crossed England - striking a amended equilibrium betwixt our broadcast and online services - and ensuring we stay a cornerstone of section beingness for generations to come."

The astir caller listening figures published amusement a flimsy alteration successful caller assemblage numbers listening to section vigor successful England.

Rajar, the manufacture body, says 5.7m listened for astatine slightest 5 minutes successful September 2022, compared with 5.5m successful 2019 and 6.7m successful 2012.

"That's much than Radio 1, much than 5 Live and a small spot little than Radio 2 truthful there's intelligibly inactive a tendency for it," Paul Siegert, a spokesperson for the National Union of Journalists told the BBC.

"The infinitesimal it stops becoming section it becomes little popular. It has to enactment local, radical successful Cornwall don't attraction what's going connected successful Devon."

The £159 a twelvemonth sum from households pays for BBC services including TV, radio, the BBC website, podcasts, iPlayer and apps.

Wider BBC savings of £500m person antecedently been announced, with CBBC and BBC Four besides scheduled to determination online successful the future.

There are besides plans to regenerate the BBC News Channel and BBC World with one rolling quality network.

Last period the broadcaster proposed ending vigor broadcasts for 10 connection services, though it said it volition determination services online.

The BBC says it volition support section quality bulletin services crossed each section stations and volition boost its online quality offer.

It besides announced the planned closure of chiseled Oxford and Cambridge TV quality programmes volition spell ahead.