Local radio hit hardest by BBC cuts?

The widely reported cuts at the BBC could have a hugely detrimental impact on local radio, with programmes syndicated and an emphasis on shows becoming ‘regional’ as opposed to ‘local’.

As previously reported, the BBC Trust announced a 25% cut to online budgets as part of its ‘Delivering Quality First’ Initiative, aimed at finding 20% cuts across the corporation following a license fee settlement with the government last year. One way in which they are expected to do this is to expand syndicated programming shared by regions and there is even talk of a centralised evening programme that would broadcast to all of its 40 local stations apart from those broadcasting live sports events.

Caroline Diehl, Chief Executive of Media Trust has spoken out against the rumoured cuts, saying: "With the loss of BBC local radio our communities would be irrevocably weakened. We have already seen growing concern among communities at the ongoing demise of truly local newspapers and commercial local radio”.

BBC's 40 local radio stations have a combined weekly audience of 7.22 million listeners, according to official figures for the second quarter of this year, up from 6.84 million a year ago but down from 8.29 million a decade ago.

Although the Trust met last week to discuss the cuts, the BBC issued a statement saying: "We are not going to get drawn into a running commentary – no decisions have been taken and therefore this is speculation. Any decisions coming out of the process would be subject to approval by the BBC Trust and we expect to announce more within the next month."