Âé¶¹Éç

Âé¶¹Éç moves forward with plans to modernise local services

Full line-ups and schedule information will be announced later this year

Published: 0:30 pm, 18 January 2023
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Our goal over the next 12 months is to modernise our Âé¶¹Éç Local services in England to strengthen our online provision for communities across the country. We have listened carefully to the feedback we have received about proposed changes to Âé¶¹Éç Local Radio programming. As a result, we are making a number of amendments to the original plan in order to strike the best possible balance between live and on-demand services.
— Jason Horton, Director of Production, Âé¶¹Éç Local

The Âé¶¹Éç is taking the next steps to reshape local services after listening to audience feedback around proposals for local radio programming.  

In October last year ambitious proposals to modernise Âé¶¹Éç local services were set out to boost online provision for 43 areas across the country, enhance local audio services on Âé¶¹Éç Sounds and create a new network of investigative reporters. 

In order to achieve the changes, greater programme sharing outside of peak hours on local radio was proposed. Now, following feedback from staff and audiences, adjustments have been made to increase the number of afternoon and weekend programmes across the Âé¶¹Éç’s 39 local stations. 

Future plans for dedicated programming on Âé¶¹Éç Local Radio for Black and Asian audiences have also been announced. The much-loved community programmes shows will become more accessible by moving from their traditional single Sunday evening slot to new programmes on Monday and Friday evenings. The number of stations featuring community programming will increase from 20 to 33.  

On Âé¶¹Éç Introducing and Âé¶¹Éç Upload programmes, these will be broadcast as part of our schedule on Thursday and Saturday evenings.In addition, we’ll be giving more prominence to new music artists on Âé¶¹Éç Sounds and across our local radio schedule.  

Full line-ups and schedule information will be announced later this year.

Elsewhere in local radio, the updated plans include: 

  • Increasing the proposed number of afternoon weekday programmes from 18 to 20 between 2pm and 6pm 

  • Increasing the proposed number of weekend daytime shows from 12 to 18 between 10am and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday mornings 

  • Revising proposed pairings of stations in response to feedback from audiences 

Jason Horton, Director of Production, Âé¶¹Éç Local, says: "Our goal over the next 12 months is to modernise our Âé¶¹Éç Local services in England to strengthen our online provision for communities across the country. We have listened carefully to the feedback we have received about proposed changes to Âé¶¹Éç Local Radio programming. As a result, we are making a number of amendments to the original plan in order to strike the best possible balance between live and on-demand services."

JK

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