Local programmes on BBC Radio Gloucestershire face axe with 139 jobs expected to go

BBC Radio Gloucestershire will see a number of local programmes cut and replaced with regional programmes instead.

The proposed changes will see local programming at the BBC’s 39 local stations pooled into 10 shows broadcast to a wider area from 2pm each weekday.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire would have a local breakfast show and mid-morning show during the week with regional programmes shared from 2pm until 10pm between Bristol, Gloucester, Wiltshire and Somerset.

The BBC plans are as follows:

• All 39 BBC Local Radio stations will continue with their own dedicated local programming from 6am to 2pm on weekdays. Since 2020 all local stations have broadcast three daytime programmes on weekdays (6am to 6pm), this will now reduce to two on many of our smaller stations.
• Across the week, all live sports programming will be maintained across all local stations.
• Local news bulletin services will be protected across the day on all local stations.
• After 2pm on weekdays, the BBC will produce 18 afternoon programmes across England – with a number of local stations sharing programming. Additional investment will support the production of these new programmes.
• There will be ten local programmes across England between 6-10pm on weekdays; across the day on Saturday; and on Sunday mornings. These programmes will serve areas that broadly mirror our existing local television areas. This is in addition to any live sports programming which will continue to be broadcast locally.
• A national ‘all-England’ programme will be launched after 10pm across the week and on Sunday afternoons and evenings. Again, this will be in addition to any live sports programming which will continue to be broadcast locally.

The changes will see up 139 job losses across the local radio network.

A recent RAJAR survey saw BBC Radio Gloucestershire reach a weekly audience of 79,000 listeners.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire broadcasts countywide on AM, FM and DAB Digital Radio.

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk