Is local radio worth saving?

[Gromit]

To save money the BBC plan to replace its 40 local radio stations with Radio Five Live (apart from a breakfast programme).

There is already a campaign to save them, but are they worth saving? They originated 40 years ago, but the world has changed. We now have 24 hour rolling news channels, the internet and many community radio stations which are targetted more specifically to smaller areas.

Is there a need for BBC Local Radio anymore?

http://www.telegraph....h-of-local-radio.html

[mightyWBA]

Yes.
Everybody North of Watford is already largely ignored..I want to hear about West Brom not West Ham.

[Davethedog]

In years to come I think we will come to regret the centralisation of a lot of things in Britain. Part of our cultural identity is diversification of certain areas.

Get rid of the BBC digital channels, stop the move to Manchester if its not to late, use that money to save local radio.

[AB Editor]

[Non-editorial comment]

I've always found local radio to be quite poor. Certainly in the area I was born in.

However, this may be because the area I was born is is mainly white, middle class and Conservative and the desires of those from my area might easily be covered by Radio 4 & 5.

I could imagine that you feel a bit left out if you're a northerner from a working-class background - as such regional radio may play a role worth keeping?

Rather than move half the BBC "up there" that is. Devolution of radio into 6 regions might work better?

I think local radio also provides a good stepping point for provincial talent between grassroots & mainstream.

All the best,

Spare Ed

[editorial transmission will resume shortly.]

[Bobbisox]

a lot will use this service when driving Gromit, personally Radio Newcastle has some of the best Easy Listening music around, as well as Radio 2 of cause

[TTG]

mighty WBA...try listening to Talksport it's all about Man Ure, Chelski and Assanal. Also it's the GoCompare ad every 5 mins. Only listen for Ian Collins at 10pm.

[mightyWBA]

TTG I usually have Talksport on in the morning because enjoy Alan Brazils show.
West Ham are always featured as well!
That Autoglass advert gets on my nerves!

[andy-hughes]

Our local radio station - Radio Stoke - was one of the first, and it remains a bastion for up-themselves BBC types who can't get into London-based stations, topped up with local numpties employed for their 'local colour' which means they are strongly accented, and talk nonsense for the hard of thinking.

Their breathless hypocracy was evidenced by the recent death of one of their most popular presenters - 'Sam Plank' whom they eulogised and remmenicsed about for an entire day - conveniently forgetting that they actually sacked him years ago for having an affair with his producer!

i doubt there are three figures of regular listeners under thirty, so by definition, the listenership is declining, and will eventually die out completely.

As Gromit says, times have moved on, and the opening of a new oatcake shop is really not enough to justify liscence-payers' money in these cash-strapped times.

I will rejoice loud and long if rRdio Stoke is axed - but I can only speak personally - maybe other local stations really do serve a decent purpose and make a contribution to their community - and not just say that they do, and expect us all to believe it.

[joggerjayne]

I enjoy local radio. It's quirky and relevant.

Juice FM here.

[andy-hughes]

Hang on jj - are you talking about local 'commercial' radio? That's a whole different animal.

They have to provide listening figures to attract advertising which pays for them to broadcast, so they have to have some kind of finger on the pulse.

BBC local radio stations are funded by the liscence fee, so they can spend hours debating whether traffic cones should be a different colour, and privately mourning the fact that Lord Reith is longer running things.

[joggerjayne]

Oh, right.

Sorry.

[woofgang]

I agree Andy...NOBA I am a long time R2 fan but now listen to local commercial instead in the mornings because the usual crowd have been replaced by Vanessa Feltz...bring back Aled, Lynn Parsons et al...and I bet they'd cost less.

[woofgang]

AND I see BBC TV going the same way.

[anotheoldgit]

/// However, this may be because the area I was born is is mainly white, middle class and Conservative and the desires of those from my area might easily be covered by Radio 4 & 5. ///

So the Ed thinks that just because an area is mainly white, middle-class and Conservative, they are not interested in Local Radio????????

I had no idea that listening to local radio was a race issue, a class issue or even had anything to do with one's politics.

Asian Radio, mainly for Asians.

Talk Sport Radio mainly Left-Wing.

Can't find a Radio station just for the working classes, but then one could say all British Radio stations cater mainly for the Middle to Upper Classes.

Or am I being rather cynical once again?

[andy-hughes]

Yes you are AOG.

Any commercial station anywhere in the world is looking for the biggest widest deomgraphic it can get - so nice broadcasting is of no interest to them at all.

Tey are looking for people who spend money - because that's who advertisers wish to reach through their airwaves, and as anyone knows, in this country at least, Middle and Upper Classses are as tight as a gnat's chuff!

[rov1100]

Will the closing also affect local traffic information? Many people find this is the only way to avoid local holdups. Radio 5 is too general and mostly covers motorways.

[rojash]

"So the Ed thinks that just because an area is mainly white, middle-class and Conservative, they are not interested in Local Radio???????? "

I see you pasted the quote from the Ed. Perhaps you should also have read it. The point was that the interests were already covered by covered by Radio 4 & 5.

[237SJ]

I`ve no interest in BBC local radio at all. The BBC have the monopoly with nationwide radio. They should withdraw from the regions and let independent radio hold the fort (who are much better in my opinion)

[The-Toff-]

andy, radio Stoke did not sack Sam Plank, he left the station for the money that signal radio offered, he was a greedy man, i knew Planky very well.

[welshlibranr]

I love listening to Radio Wales, especially from 2pm till 5pm!.....Roy Noble is class, would miss him greatly!...............

[saxy_jag]

Ours was the very first local BBC station and I've pretty much grown up with it. It means we get live local football coverage no matter how low the club sinks in the leagues. I can get local news and traffic reports of a morning that are relevant to me. It's also very active in the community and it's the first place people turn to when they want publicity for events.

The station's also been very helpful in generating public interest in local museums and cultural venues, many of which the council would like to close. They've been coming along and broadcasting live from them and inviting staff into the studio to take part in phone-ins.

I for one would hate to see the station go. We lost the Asian Network last year and I know a lot of city people really miss it. Our only other 'local' station is one that's East Midlands based rather than being specific to Leicester, and it's just not the same.