BBC Radio ? losing that local touch? ? TNR Communications Blog

03.08.2012

This quarter?s Rajar figures (June to August) have revealed that BBC Local Radio has suffered a collective blow whilst commercial radio is on the up.

BBC Local Radio have an overall reach of 6.8million, which is 400,000 less than a year ago and the average hours listened per listener per week was 9.5, compared to 9.76 last year and 10.3 last quarter (Source: Radio Today).

With the BBC looking for an independent production company to produce a new all-local radio show that will go out across 39 stations between 7pm and 10pm from January 2013, I ask the question ? are they losing that local touch?

As the stations currently stand their presenters are popular amongst the local audience and have built up a local following over the many years of broadcasting.? It could be argued that if you remove the local content you lose local radio and the BBC are at risk of deserting the local audiences that they have tried so hard to get on board.

As well as saving money I think the idea is for the BBC to try and increase the ratings across local radio.? Radio Guide claimed the new network show is expected to reach 7.3 million adults, which would be more listeners than the current BBC Radio One Breakfast Show.

With talk of the locals networking with BBC Radio 5 Live earlier this year, the BBC need to be careful they don?t stray too far down this ?network? path as it has similarities to the Global Radio model, who recently bought GMG Radio.

However, the BBC need to do something for local radio in order to boost ratings and cut costs before it has to take drastic action like networking.? I guess the final point to take away is the BBC have, in the past, taken action to save money and when the situation improves have gone back to local output.? For the time being, at least, the BBC will have that key ?7.3 million adults? figure this time next year.

Information

Tags: BBC, BBC Radio One, Chris Moyles, commercial radio, latest figures, local radio, popular, Radio Guide, Radio Today, rajar, suffered a collective blow

This entry was posted on 03.08.2012 at 12:07 pm and is filed under Radio, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.tnrcommunications.co.uk/blog/2012/08/03/bbc-radio-%E2%80%93-losing-that-local-touch/

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