Capital Summertime Ball 2024

[James R]

BBC 6 Music and Asian Network are facing closure, Mark Thompson, director general of the corporation, has said.

Speaking to staff, Mr Thompson also announced that there will be 25% less spent on BBC online by 2013.

Among the closures will be teen services Switch and Blast, with Mr Thompson admitting Channel 4 should lead the way with these audiences.

He pledged that in the future 90p of every licence fee £1 will be spent on programming.

<!-- E SF -->The strategy review has now been submitted to the BBC Trust and a wider consultation period will take place.

Mr Thompson also said that Radio 2 needed to "sharpen its distinctiveness in its range of music and speech".

While the quality of local radio should be increased, he proposed sharing more programmes across outlets during off-peak periods.

During the briefing he said the earliest 6 Music and Asian Network would close would be by the end of 2011.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8544150.stm

[Jono]

Channel 4 shouldn't be the ones to pick up the youth orientated strands, but they do because of the BBC's failures.

[the_grove]

Shame, shame, and what a shame.

What makes me hope is more than 80000 people in the facebook group, loads on twitter and a very, very, very slow BBC Trust survey page. I think they will get loads of mail from people disagreeing with the proposed changes.

Does everyone know now which party (not) to vote for?

[yorkieboy]

The BBC should increase advertising, make cuts on local radio and continue with salary cuts imo. Would be nice if Radio One starts putting more '6 music' style tracks onto the playlist but I won't hold my breath...

[The Stig]

I like the idea of BBC 6 Music but to be honest only ever listen to Adam & Joe podcasts. Aisan Network doesn't effect me at all and as for BBC Switch going I'm over the moon. Let's hope Sunday evenings on Radio 1 become bearable again.

[MrDoovdeHaxorz]

You'd think they'd axe something like 1extra really rather than 6music. Interesting debate on 5live now about this by the way, for those able to listen.

[yorkieboy]

I like the idea of BBC 6 Music but to be honest only ever listen to Adam & Joe podcasts. Aisan Network doesn't effect me at all and as for BBC Switch going I'm over the moon. Let's hope Sunday evenings on Radio 1 become bearable again.

People talk about them alot...are they radio one potential?

[MrDoovdeHaxorz]

People talk about them alot...are they radio one potential?

I think they used to be, but they are probably too well-established from things like their old Channel4 shows (mid-late 90s) to really fit in with the apparent new image of Radio 1... sadly.

[eleanor]

Online petition to save 6Music and Asian Network

http://www.petition.fm/petitions/6musicasiannet/1000/

[the_grove]

Okay people, can I ask everyone to either fill in the online survey at http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consultations/departments/bbc/bbc-strategy-review/consultation/consult_view, or send an email to either [email protected] or [email protected]. Just a few lines, everyone. Thx, much appreciated

[Jono]

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[The Stig]

People talk about them alot...are they radio one potential?

I'd put them on Radio 1, but the station is now so young I don't think the bosses would even consider it sadly. They are too much of a talent for the been to let go when 6 Music ceases though.

[Guest inxces4308]

To be honest, this is what the public deserve.

When the whole DJ/Presenter salary row kicked off, the Daily Mail, press and public started really kicking it out of the BBC.

Well now it time for the public to get what it deserves and the BBC to scale back, then they'll realise what the BBC really offers to them for such a little price.

Shame.

PS - I don't work for the BBC.

[Lucie]

I am one of the few who is all up for this idea.

The current amount of BBC radio stations is a little too big; I know they cater for a wider audience's needs, but there is a few too many. I think 1Xtra is a weak station and maybe should have gone instead of 6music, but at the end of the day I'm not really that bothered that it's going.

I'm also glad about the BBC Switch / Blast fazing out too. If there should be anything solely for the younger generation on the BBC, it should be focused on real issues instead of putting some X Factor reject's face in a bowl of crap. This is why I think The Surgery with Aled is such a great idea!

[kyle_y]

People talk about them alot...are they radio one potential?

Come to think of it, they'd be good on the Lie-In.

[MrDoovdeHaxorz]

Come to think of it, they'd be good on the Lie-In.

ooh there's an idea.

I mean if Dick & Dom and JK n Joke can get Radio 1 airtime...

[Emma]

My friend Dave started the petition and has had endless phone calls from The Guardian, The Independent, The BBC, Sky etc. and today when we went down to BBC Leeds he was actually grabbed for an interview about it! It was on Steve Bailey's show (it was on around 18:20) so I'll get the clip if anyone wants to hear what the petition-creator himself has to say.

[E*F*4L]

My friend Dave started the petition and has had endless phone calls from The Guardian, The Independent, The BBC, Sky etc. and today when we went down to BBC Leeds he was actually grabbed for an interview about it! It was on Steve Bailey's show (it was on around 18:20) so I'll get the clip if anyone wants to hear what the petition-creator himself has to say.

if you could please

[Chippy]

Come to think of it, they'd be good on the Lie-In.

They are the best (Adam and Joe), maybe not Radio 1 but they could go to Radio2, just as long as they keep up the podcast!

Nice fansite for them - www.adamandjoe.com

[Emma]

if you could please

Sure! Here it is: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006r4qr/Steve_Bailey_02_03_2010/

Scroll to about 2hrs 21mins and you should get it! I was there

[hobbs]

Can't help but think that if everyone who's signing this petition actually listened to 6 music, then it wouldn't be getting shut down. Nobody listens to 6 music, and now that it's getting shut down - everyone's falling in love with it. Too little, too late.

[Robbie Keane]

In fairness, it has more listeners than campaigners. So there's no reason to believe they're not mostly the same people.

[me_54m]

I listen to 6music especially for the mid morning time slot. 6 Music is extremely badly advertised so doesn't have as many listeners as say 1xtra which we have forced down our necks. If anything should they not be closing that as thats closer to commercial output.

I've started listening on the BBC website and leaving it on when I'm out with the speakers off. At least then they can tell I'm listening, because as i understand it the listening figures are worked out by a sample, so if your listening on DAB they only guess who's listening??

[Jugalug]

Anyone want to see my response to the 'strategic review'?

[MrDoovdeHaxorz]

Anyone want to see my response to the 'strategic review'?

I'd imagine it's the same as many other... responses... screwing it up and using it as bogroll?