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News Item: 5 new radio stations from BBC


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Old 28-09-2000, 18:17
Neil Wilkes
Former DS Editor: 1999-2011
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1,941
BBC Radio today announced plans for five new national radio services which, alongside BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Live and the World Service, will comprise the BBC’s national public service radio portfolio.

All of the new and existing services, which will be part of the licence fee package, will be available via digital satellite and cable, the internet and digital radio sets. By extending the range of BBC Radio and taking advantage of the different digital platforms, the new services will offer an attractive proposition to audience groups like young families and the ethnic minorities which are presently under-served by BBC Network Radio. As well as commissioning new, quality programming, they will allow licence fee payers access to material from the BBC’s unique speech and music archives. They will enable wider exposure to events, such as sports, where the BBC already owns the rights.

Each of the new services will be distinctive, public service radio stations. They are:

Three completely new digital services:

* A black music and news-based station aimed at young people;
* A station that draws on the BBC’s unique archive of musical performances, concerts and interviews focussing on the music that shaped popular culture over the last thirty years;
* A speech service built on BBC Radio’s tradition of offering stimulating drama, comedy and readings for all the family, including children’s programming. It will mix original programming with classics from the BBC’s archive;

Two enhancements of existing services:

* 5 Live Sports +, a service bringing more live sport to radio by extending the coverage currently offered on Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live;
* A national BBC Asian Network serving Asian communities throughout the UK with speech and music.
The inclusion of the BBC World Service as part of BBC Radio’s digital portfolio will be welcomed by the many listeners who have requested that it be made available in the UK.

Jenny Abramsky, Director of BBC Radio and Music, said: "The digital future is as vital for radio as it is for television. This announcement recognises the importance of radio to the BBC and gives us the opportunity to reach as many of our licence fee payers as we can. All five services will build on the BBC’s commitment to live performance, original programming and the championing of talent."

Licence fee payers will be invited to give their views on the proposed new services in a public consultation to be conducted by the BBC. If the result of the consultation exercise is positive the BBC will then seek approval from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to go ahead with the new services.

If approval is granted, the first new service could start broadcasting as early as Spring 2001.
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