BBC draws up shortlist for ‘all England’ radio producer
THE BBC is drawing up a shortlist of independent producers who will supply a weekday evening programme to all 39 local radio stations.
BBC Merseyside, Radio Lancashire, Radio Cumbria and Radio Manchester will all take the three-hour “all England” show and will only be able to opt out for breaking news and live sport.
It is one of the measures introduced by the BBC in a bid to cut around £8m, or 10%, from the annual local radio budget.
Shortlisted producers will be expected to present to their proposals this week and a decision is expected by September 14. The contract has a guide value of £150,000, although this doesn’t include “talent” fees to cover the cost of the presenter.
TheBusinessDesk understands the commission – which will have a potential audience of 1.7 million – has attracted some unexpected bidders, including television producers.
The show will be broadcast from January. As schedules stand it will replace shows dedicated to Irish, Jewish and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender audiences in Manchester. It will also replace a repeats show broadcast on three evenings and some sports coverage.
In Merseyside it will affect folk music, football and current affairs shows, as well as a programme aimed at the Chinese community. Lancashire will lose shows aimed at anglers, and folk and blues fans, and Cumbria will axe shows featuring sport, classical music and music from the 1960s.
