Radio Wales and Cymru to be reviewed by BBC
RADIO Wales and Radio Cymru is to be reviewed to see if it is providing value for money.
The BBC Trust announced today that it would look at a number of radio services in terms of their quality, distinctiveness and value for money.
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Radio Wales presenter Jamie Owen
Other stations under the spotlight include Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7, Radio Ulster/Foyle, Radio Scotland, Radio nan Gaidheal and English local radio.
The stations are among the last to be looked at as part of ongoing routine reviews.
Last week, the BBC confirmed plans to axe radio stations 6 Music and the Asian Network and slash spending on its website in a wide-ranging review intended to put a sharper focus on areas where audiences feel the BBC should excel.
A statement from the trust said: "The reviews will look at the services' performance including the stations' usage, quality, distinctiveness and value for money, and the BBC's future plans for the services."
The reviews will include a 12-week consultation period.
David Liddiment, BBC trustee and chair of the trust's audience and performance committee, said: "Radios 3, 4 and 7 all offer output which is hard to find elsewhere – and licence fee payers tell us that the BBC's radio stations serving the nations and local regions make an invaluable contribution to their communities.
"As well as the current performance of these services, we'll also be looking at the BBC's future plans for the stations to ensure they are robust and deliverable.
"If change is needed, the trust can alter the stations' service licences or ask the BBC executive to address the issues we raise."
The review of Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7 will begin this spring and will be published in the winter.
The timetable for the review of nations and local radio is being considered, the trust said.
6 Comments
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by Tony, Neath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 1:54PM
“RE. MIKE DAVES,BAGLAN>
Are you trtying to say that there are no Welsh speakers in Wales that watch S4C how can it be a virtually non existent audience what planet are you on some where in England I presume”
by Heather, Mumbles
Thursday, March 11 2010, 8:18PM
“I detest the BBC. Asian Radio has gone so you can be sure that they will think nothing of getting rid of anything with the word "Welsh" in it.”
by Dai Chotomay, Swansea
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:59PM
“I am a BBC Wales fan. I have five radios in the house and one in the car all tuned to Radio Wales. I do admit to listening to Radio Three and Classic FM if I am driving late at night as I can't stand Chris Needs or his flaming garden.”
by Jim, Cardiff, ex Bristol
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:25PM
“I think Radio Wales is fantastic. Most parts of the UK would love to have such a good regional radio station.
I don't think it's Cardiff-centric at all. If anything it goes out of it's way not to be. Aside from Frank Hennessey and perhaps Jason Mohammed, you'll find more west Walian accents on there than Cardiffian ones.
Radio Cymru seems good for music, but I can't understand what they are saying.”
by Paul, Llanelli
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:20PM
“For me BBC Wales is too generic and does not provide enough focus at a regional level. Often programmes are either too Cardiff focused or look at UK topics without focusing on regional issues - there have been enough of them in Swansea & Carmarthenshire. The BBC is really the only forum that the public has to quiz politicians interactively and to make them accountable. Today BBC Wales is failing miserably in this regard.”