Further details revealed on BBC Local Radio 2013 ‘revamp’

From January the beeb’s regional radio stations across England and the Channel Islands will launch new evening and weekend schedules as part of the BBC’s cost-cutting program.

 “These schedule changes reflect the ambition of BBC Local Radio to serve communities with the best local journalism, and reflecting the lives and interests of our listeners.” Trying to put a positive spin on things was David Holdsworth, Controller, English Regions.

As previously announced the changes will see a networked, evening programme across the 39 stations as well as dedicated time slots for BBC Introducing and English language African Caribbean and Asian programmes.

Details issued by the corporation today state that from January the 5^th every BBC regional station will broadcast their ‘Introducing’ programme from 8pm on Saturday evenings.

BBC Introducing is according to a spokesperson the one element of the changes not to be part of the money-saving exercise.

‘BBC Radio 1 has its own BBC Introducing programme which the individual local radio programmes feed into. BBC Introducing is a multi-platform initiative across BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 1Xtra, the BBC Asian Network, 39 BBC Local Radio stations and at bbc.co.uk/introducing – all working together to provide an internal network dedicated to showcasing the hottest new talent from across the UK.

‘BBC Introducing launched in June 2007 with its own stage at Glastonbury. The BBC Introducing Stage is now firmly established at many of the UK’s major festivals including Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Glastonbury, T in the Park and Reading and Leeds. This is not about saving money; there will now be more programmes (every BBC Local Radio station) across England and the Channel Islands in response to audience research which suggests that that there is demand across all age groups for programmes focusing on emerging local talent. These changes to the schedule have been designed to enable us to effectively promote this element of our public service programming and early Saturday evening feels like the right time for our audiences.’ ATV Today has been informed.

BBC Introducing offers BBC Local Radio audiences the opportunity to hear local bands and gives the bands an opportunity to make it onto BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC 1Xtra and BBC Asian Network through local programmes.

Also from next month, BBC Local Radio is to provide a range of current affairs programmes serving Asian, African Caribbean and Chinese audiences. This will be a returning feature to some regions, such as BBC Newcastle, which ditched its Asian and Chinese programming several years ago due to minute audience figures.

The strand will be broadcast on Sunday between 6 and 10 pm to reflect a growing demand for news and journalism in a regular and accessible time slot. The programmes will focus on journalism relating to these communities and each programme will contribute to peak time weekday output the beeb state.

And as revealed in October Mark Forrest launches a networked show on the 39 local stations from January 7^th. Broadcasting for three hours from 7pm the programme is to offer ‘a mix of great story telling, focussing on people and places, and debates on the issues that really matter to local communities’.

“Rather like the ITV Regional News then” Says media critic Queenie, “I sit watching Central News and have to wait 20 minutes before I hear something mildly near to my local area. I don’t really want to know whats going on 90 miles away darling. That’s not local no matter how much the corp spin it.”

Queenie adds, “The BBC is an important institution that must be cherished, but by cutting programming rather than un-needed levels of management just to cry ‘poverty’ due to the licence fee freeze I hope isn’t going to fool anyone.”

Your less local BBC Radio in your region (excluding Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland) begins from January 2013. Pictured: BBC North’s HQ in Newcastle.