Proposed BBC Cuts Threaten Country Music Programmes on the BBC
Last week it announced in the press that The BBC has announced it will axe 2,000 jobs and make widespread cuts to programming to save £670 million a year by 2016/17.
BBC cuts in detail:
Looking at the details as it stands they are looking to axe all specialist shows across the BBC network especially those outside of peak hours and at the weekends. As a result of this it will mean that potentially ALL country music programmes across the BBC regions could face the axe. These specialist country programmes have the biggest FM listener reach than any other UK radio Stations as the country programmes disappeared from commercial radio programmes years ago.
Since the end of December 2010 we have already seen 3 BBC country shows scrapped in a way to make savings so this new BBC consultation could be the final nail in the coffin.
Cuts In Brief Proposals
BBC Radio 2
Safeguard the mainstay of daytime programmes
Replace regular comedy programmes with comedy showcases and ad-hoc comedy series, in order to continue to develop new comedy talent
Reduce the amount of live music broadcast on the station, by a small increase in the number of repeats of Friday Night is Music Night and In Concert re-cast as an occasional event within the weekday evening shows
BBC Local Radio
Focus spend on peak-time programmes - breakfast, mid-morning and drivetime - sport, and faith on Sunday mornings
Increase levels of sharing in off-peak slots: weekday afternoons, Sunday afternoons and evenings
On weekday afternoons most stations would share programming with their neighbouring stations, although a few, which serve a particularly distinct audience, would remain separate
On weekday evenings between 7pm and 10pm, programming would be shared across
At other off-peak periods sharing would occur at a variety of levels. Some would be akin to the regional television areas, and during the late evening in five larger areas: the North; the West Midlands; the
All stations would broadcast Radio 5 Live from 1am until the start of their breakfast programme.
Already we are beginning to see evidence and fears of these proposed cuts and the repercussions they will have for COUNTRY MUSIC in the
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1 ) The Shropshire Star reported: A number of shows on Radio
The station, which has offices in
Today a BBC spokesman said there would be more programme-sharing for local radio outside peak hours, including the creation of an all-evening
He said: “These proposals protect BBC local radio peak-time programmes when the audience is highest and the output is the most distinctive. That is breakfast, mid-morning and drive-time programmes, plus sport and faith on Sunday mornings.
“The shows currently likely to be affected by these proposals are Ian Perry’s Early Morning Show, 5am to 6am; Colin Young’s Lunchtime Show, noon to 3pm; Paul Shuttleworth’s Sunday lunchtime show, 1pm to 3pm; and specialist evening shows such as folk, jazz, country, the Trunk of Funk and the Jim Hawkins Rock Show, on Saturdays 6pm to 9pm.
“The proposals are subject to consultation by the BBC Trust, but the proposal is to implement the changes by April 2013.”
Unfortunately it looks like Marie Crichton’s country show on BBC Radio Shropshire will be one of hundreds of victims of these new cuts. They are looking to axe all specialist shows from
2 ) In an email Joe Fish a former CMA Broadcaster Of The Year who presents “Joe Fish Country” on BBC Radio Lancashire said
“For those who listen to my radio programme on BBC Radio Lancashire I wanted to make you aware that the recently announced BBC cut-backs have resulted in decisions which will mean all Specialist programmes including Joe Fish Country will be removed from the station. If you have strong views on this, or the future of local radio, I would ask that you complete the SHORT survey using the link below, to voice your views “
3) Paul Braithwaite on BBC Radio Cumbria ended his show on Sunday 9 October, 2011 saying:
"It's been an interesting week here at the BBC, were rounding off with Burns And Poe, I NEED A JOB !"
4) On BBC Radio Sheffield on Sunday 16 October, 2011 country artist Mike Lane - (website) who hails from Doncaster was interviewed by current CMA Broadcaster Award recipient Allan Watkiss on the “Your Country” programme.
The subject of the cuts was broached.
Mike Lane - “I heard a whisper that there’s going to be some cuts”
Allan Watkiss – “Yeah its true the BBC is making 20% cuts and it puts programmes like this at risk. Basically in our area they have decided that programming on Sunday afternoons will be shared with other neighbouring stations”
Mike Lane -“What other neighbouring stations”?
Allan Watkiss - “Leeds and
Mike Lane - “I am in this position how sitting in front of this microphone talking to your fans that you have built and I would appeal to all of them to ask the BBC bosses to think twice should they even be thinking of axing this programme. It would be such a sad loss, it really really would and your not costing anybody money because you have no assistant”
Allan Watkiss – “Thank you Mike very much for your support....Its no good saying anything to me I won’t be making any of the decisions. I just turn up till told otherwise. There is a website to have a look at bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/ . The BBC Trust is the organization that makes the full decisions. I also think there is a case to convince the management here at BBC Radio Sheffield who I have to say have always been really supportive of this show, all the way through its 10 years. This show is up against others to be saved so maybe there is a case if you want to save the show to contacting the management here directly”
SOURCE - Listen Back from 1 hour 46mins available till 23 October
List of BBC Programmes who currently broadcast a country music programme
These go out on FM and right around the World on the Internet via the BBC iPlayer with shows archived for Listen Again for 7 Days
BBC Radio 2 – Bob Harris Country Thurs 7 - 8pm – Show Page
Station total Audience - 13,966,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
BBC Radio
Station total Audience - 147,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
BBC Radio Essex – Steve Cherelle “
Station total Audience - 294,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
BBC Radio Kent ‘The Country Hour ‘ Roger Day + Guest presenter (Alan Cackett or Steve Cherelle) – Weds 9 - 10pm - Show Page
Station total Audience - 244,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
BBC Radio Kent - Dave Cash classic years and an hour of country music from Sunday 7pm – 8pm – Show Page
BBC Radio
Station total Audience - 229,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
BBC Radio Merseyside - Kenny Johnson Sunday 6 - 8pm - Show Page
Station total Audience - 338,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
BBC Radio
Station total Audience - 235,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
BBC Radio
Station total Audience - 115,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
BBC Radio
Station total Audience - 242,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011)
PLEASE NOTE
Dates the Consultation is Open - Runs from 6 Oct 2011 to 21 Dec 2011
BBC Statement: - We're also running a consultation about the proposed changes to the BBC's services and content. Some of the proposals made by BBC management as part of Delivering Quality First concern the future strategy of BBC Local Radio. Therefore questions relating to these proposals are asked as part of both consultations.
BBC Trust Consultation: Delivering Quality First
BBC Public Consultation – Tell Us What You Think
Make your protest known regarding BBC Local Radio cuts by completing the BBC Trusts consultation document online:
OR
Please send your response by email to: local.radio.review@bbc.co.uk
or by post to: Local Radio Review BBC Trust |
This is a Country Music News Blog which complimented the former Country Routes Magazine which was based in North and East of England.
C2C
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