[sparkie70]

Originally Posted by Peace100

I think its ludicrous that in the BBCs eyes London cannot sustain a local service 24/7. When you look at the potential number of listeners that London can have compared to elsewhere its a joke. I listen daily (from outside of London via wifi radio) and in my eyes BBC London 94.9 provides a great service that no commercial operator could. Robert Elms is a great listen and so is Jo Good at night...Both programmes are rightly totally London centric and would have to be so watered down if they were made to cover the South East. Its a crazy decision, lets hope people come to their senses.
Living here in Suffolk, there could be far more programme sharing with Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, like in the evenings...it would make total sense and hopefully would get rid of some of the very weak programming that we have on Suffolk

The problem with sharing is that their is a danger one can have a Radio 8 or 2 extra. BBC London does have a good mix of programmes although to be honest I don't think it should broadcast overnight as it does not offer much & there is LBC.

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by sparkie70

The problem with sharing is that their is a danger one can have a Radio 8 or 2 extra. BBC London does have a good mix of programmes although to be honest I don't think it should broadcast overnight as it does not offer much & there is LBC.

The only distinctive thing about the overnight show compared to LBC is one of the three overnight presenters (Bedi, Feraday & Khan) is they play records between calls, otherwise there's nothing to distinguish this show between LBC or even talkSPORT who also offer topical phone-ins in the same timeslot.

On Feltz's show with the head of English Regions, a taxi driver was irate that overnights are for the drop, yet they have a choice of at least two stations in the commercial sector overnight for phone-ins, plus other speech output on 5 Live and the R4 simulcast of the World Service.

[Mapperley Ridge]

Originally Posted by Peace100

I think its ludicrous that in the BBCs eyes London cannot sustain a local service 24/7.

But it's equally ludicrous if BBC London isn't made to bear its fair share of the cuts.

[Peace100]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

But it's equally ludicrous if BBC London isn't made to bear its fair share of the cuts.

Understand that but thats not the case, its proposed that London loses far more than others - Afternoon Shows, Evening Show, Late Evening Show and overnights and thats just Mon - Fri, leaving nothing but Breakky, Morning and Drive. London is far different from the regions.....

[Mapperley Ridge]

Originally Posted by Peace100

Understand that but thats not the case, its proposed that London loses far more than others - Afternoon Shows, Evening Show, Late Evening Show and overnights and thats just Mon - Fri, leaving nothing but Breakky, Morning and Drive. London is far different from the regions.....

A typical London centric view! Every other BBC Local has had regional programmes in the evenings for years and years. London isn't losing "far more" - it's finally being treated as it should!

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

A typical London centric view! Every other BBC Local has had regional programmes in the evenings for years and years. London isn't losing "far more" - it's finally being treated as it should!

Indeed, it was only because money was pumped into 94.9 because of the tri-media project 10 years ago when London gained it's own tv news bulletin which used resources mixing radio, tv and online that it became so big for so little return for it's Rajar.

GLR and Radio London had very little money and resources and still managed to produce some great radio, even if they had some networking with the South East stations and closed early for 5 Live/Radio 2 simulcasts.

BBC London 94.9 can still be distinctive in it's core output and share programming as they've done in the past and be as London as they are now on a smaller budget.

As an aside, Radio Manchester (another cosmopolitan TSA) recently introduced the generic LR imaging and yet still sounds local, thanks to the use of a male Manc VO and Trish Bertram.

[Iworkinradio]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

A typical London centric view! Every other BBC Local has had regional programmes in the evenings for years and years. London isn't losing "far more" - it's finally being treated as it should!

But London's diverse community deserves more resources. with 8 Million people to serve, differentr communties, more stories, its national importance are you suggest it should have the same resoucres as, say, Norwich.

I think anyone who criticises an organisation for being London centric is foolish. Its just the way of the world, to ignore would be stupid

[wirewolf]

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

As an aside, Radio Manchester (another cosmopolitan TSA) recently introduced the generic LR imaging and yet still sounds local, thanks to the use of a male Manc VO and Trish Bertram.

The imaging may make the station sound local, but the actual output has been losing listeners ever since the relaunch from GMR. Radio Manchester seem intent on trying to serve a section of the audience that either don't listen in enough numbers or simply don't want to listen to a BBC local.

[Iworkinradio]

An interesting comparison between the costs of local radio in England and the "nations" radio stations

http://tradingaswdr.blogspot.com/201...o-comment.html

[Harris Tweed]

I was just about to post that.

Wow!

[SteveBentley]

So if London is to come into line with the rest of the local stations, will it cease to be broadcast via satellite, which is unique within the English regions.

[Banjo String]

Originally Posted by SteveBentley

So if London is to come into line with the rest of the local stations, will it cease to be broadcast via satellite, which is unique within the English regions.

I don't know how much that slot costs, would getting rid of it be a worthy saving?

If not, and there's going to be mostly shared output on the BBC's local stations, a slot on Sky seems ideal for broadcasting shows meant to be heard around the UK. Maybe they'll rename the channel "BBC Local Radio" or something.

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by Banjo String

I don't know how much that slot costs, would getting rid of it be a worthy saving?

If not, and there's going to be mostly shared output on the BBC's local stations, a slot on Sky seems ideal for broadcasting shows meant to be heard around the UK. Maybe they'll rename the channel "BBC Local Radio" or something.

The EPG slos on Sky and Freesat is only allocated to postcodes within BBC London's TSA, so unless they use an existing slot to put BBC London on nationally, I can't see that happening.

I think the reason London is on the EPG as it was the only Londonwide FM'er that wasn't on Sky at the time. Also the digital take-up of the station is higher than FM which is a rarity for any station.

[stevehotspur]

London is STILL this country's Capital City. It attracts more tourists than any other city or town. It hosts the Government, and many other major events, eg Olympics.
London Centric?
Sorry, how pathetic is it that when overseas visitors visit and want a London local station they get a South England " Generic " radio station.
Bear the brunt of the cuts? Excuse me, Television Centre is being sold, and the White City complex will be redeveloped as flats.
1500 people will be redeployed to Salford.
All this to redress the balance, and placate the multitudinous chips n shoulders,
So let's bash London to show we believe in equality?
NO, I repeat NO. We will keep our friendly presenters, and our wonderful shows.
HANDS OFF.
Protest, write, call, we will fight to keep what is precious and ours.

[habby]

Originally Posted by stevehotspur

London is STILL this country's Capital City. It attracts more tourists than any other city or town. It hosts the Government, and many other major events, eg Olympics.
London Centric?
Sorry, how pathetic is it that when overseas visitors visit and want a London local station they get a South England " Generic " radio station.
Bear the brunt of the cuts? Excuse me, Television Centre is being sold, and the White City complex will be redeveloped as flats.
1500 people will be redeployed to Salford.
All this to redress the balance, and placate the multitudinous chips n shoulders,
So let's bash London to show we believe in equality?
NO, I repeat NO. We will keep our friendly presenters, and our wonderful shows.
HANDS OFF.
Protest, write, call, we will fight to keep what is precious and ours.

Well said & people need to contact the BBC Trust to tell them all this as well.

[Mapperley Ridge]

Originally Posted by stevehotspur

Sorry, how pathetic is it that when overseas visitors visit and want a London local station they get a South England " Generic " radio station.

Sorry but why should BBC Local Radio be targeting tourists - and moreover, how many tourists would generally tune into local radio when they visit the UK?

[Mapperley Ridge]

Originally Posted by Iworkinradio

But London's diverse community deserves more resources. with 8 Million people to serve, differentr communties, more stories, its national importance are you suggest it should have the same resoucres as, say, Norwich.

I think anyone who criticises an organisation for being London centric is foolish. Its just the way of the world, to ignore would be stupid

And to cl;aim special pleading because it's BBC London would be equally foolish. Why should a station in Leeds, for example, lose it's dedicated afternoon show whilst London is allowed to continue with theirs? Why should a station in Birmingham opt to an England wide evening show whilst London retains its own output? What real justification is there for BBC London having its own overnight show when a commercial station is providing much the same product?

[Iworkinradio]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

And to cl;aim special pleading because it's BBC London would be equally foolish. Why should a station in Leeds, for example, lose it's dedicated afternoon show whilst London is allowed to continue with theirs? ?

8 times the population, and the fact that the afternoon show in London is one of the best shows in British broadcasting is good place to start.

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

Why should a station in Birmingham opt to an England wide evening show whilst London retains its own output? What real justification is there for BBC London having its own overnight show when a commercial station is providing much the same product?

I'm saying there shouldn't be some cuts, but the fact that London listeners probably pays twenty percent of the license fee means it should expect a slightly better service than, say, Lincolnshre?

[Robert Williams]

As the DQF documents state: "On weekday afternoons most stations would share programming with their neighbouring stations, although a few, which serve a particularly distinct audience,would remain separate", I think BBC London should be able to argue that they do serve a distinct audience and should be able to retain their own output continously from 6am to 7pm - after all, if London doesn't constitute a 'distinct audience' I don't know where else does.

The style of output on BBC London is still very different to other local radio stations, and a standard local radio afternoon show would sound hugely at odds with the rest of its output; alternatively putting Robert Elms and/or Danny Baker out on surrounding stations would sound jarring on those stations. And a regional programme that involves London would undoubtably prove to be very unsatisfactory to listeners to the surrounding stations as London would no doubt dominate the programme, just as it does on BBC London News on television which is also supposed to serve a large chunk of the South East but is almost entirely dedicated to items about the capital.

On the other hand I don't think the idea of taking regional evening and weekend output is so outrageous, and indeed there was a time some 20 years ago when the South & East late show came from GLR.

[wandsworthwill]

Originally Posted by Robert Williams

On the other hand I don't think the idea of taking regional evening and weekend output is so outrageous, and indeed there was a time some 20 years ago when the South & East late show came from GLR.

Yes, Robert. I remember that. I'm sure LBC icon Brian Hayes used to do a phone-in at that time. I recall BBC Radio Sussex listeners (on a 'call the programme editor' type of show) found his style rather 'jarring'.


.

[Obadia]

Originally Posted by stevehotspur

London is STILL this country's Capital City. It attracts more tourists than any other city or town. It hosts the Government, and many other major events, eg Olympics.
London Centric?
Sorry, how pathetic is it that when overseas visitors visit and want a London local station they get a South England " Generic " radio station.
Bear the brunt of the cuts? Excuse me, Television Centre is being sold, and the White City complex will be redeveloped as flats.
1500 people will be redeployed to Salford.
All this to redress the balance, and placate the multitudinous chips n shoulders,
So let's bash London to show we believe in equality?
NO, I repeat NO. We will keep our friendly presenters, and our wonderful shows.
HANDS OFF.
Protest, write, call, we will fight to keep what is precious and ours.

Great post. I am sick of people wanting London to apologise for existing. People forget that BBC London also seems to serve listeners in the South East, there are loads of callers from Essex, Kent, Surrey etc.

[Richard O'Hagan]

Besides, how much does it cost to sit one DJ in a room with a mic and a computer?

[Robert Williams]

Originally Posted by wandsworthwill

Yes, Robert. I remember that. I'm sure LBC icon Brian Hayes used to do a phone-in at that time..

Yes, that's right. When he left to take over the Radio 2 breakfast show in 1992, he was replaced by Mike Carson who still presented the show from London, but the show was no longer broadcast to London, as at that point GLR split away to do its own late show. I don't think GLR/BBC London has taken any regional shows since.

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by Robert Williams

. I don't think GLR/BBC London has taken any regional shows since.

BBC London was the network hub for last year's Children in Need show with Vanessa Feltz which was also aired on most of LR.

GLR also used to network the First Sight phone-in, which was the debate following the BBC2 regional documentary.

As a suggestion for a late night regional phone-in, Jo Good would be an excellent presenter for the network which would include BBC London. She's worked on BBC Sussex & Surrey and I think could bridge the gap between 94.9 and the provincial stations.

[StrictlyRed]

Originally Posted by Iworkinradio

I'm saying there shouldn't be some cuts, but the fact that London listeners probably pays twenty percent of the license fee means it should expect a slightly better service than, say, Lincolnshre?

The license fee is the same wherever you live, isn't it?

Surely each individual person pays the same and is therefore no more deserving of "better service" than any other individual.