Tuesday, December 14, 2010

BBC Local Radio Service Licence

EXTRACTS FROM THE BBC LOCAL RADIO SERVICE LICENCE

BBC Local Radio

This Service Licence covers BBC Local Radio in England. Each of the 38 individual stations is described in Annex II of this licence
Part I: Key characteristics of the service

1. Remit

The remit of BBC Local Radio is to provide a primarily speech-based service of news, information and debate to urban and rural communities. Speech output should be complimented by music. The target audience should be listeners aged 50 and over, who are not well-served elsewhere. There should be a strong emphasis on interactivity and audience involvement.

4. Overview of aims and objectives

BBC Local Radio programmes should exhibit some or all of the following characteristics: high quality, original, challenging, innovative and engaging, and it should nurture UK talent.
BBC Local Radio should deliver its remit by providing accurate, impartial  and independent news and programmes that set local issues in context.
The output should be relevant and act as a trusted guide to local and other issues for its audiences. BBC Local Radio should champion the local area and call to account decision makers. It should also reflect the diversity of communities served.

The presentation style and tone should encourage participation. Programmes should offer listeners the opportunity to contribute, and there should be opportunities for listeners to tell their own stories 


Output should be all speech at the breakfast peak and the service should be speech-led in daytime. Music output should be mainstream in peaktime and include specialist in off-peak hours. Specialist music should be appropriate to the area. Current and recent chart hits should represent a low proportion of weekly music output

BBC Local Radio should use some non-broadcast methods to extend its
reach, and that of the BBC, into local communities.

5.2 Reflecting the UK’s nations, regions and communities
BBC Local Radio should make a very important contribution to this purpose amongst its audience, primarily by placing local and community concerns at the centre of the output.

...Where they exist, local minority audiences should be catered for.

5.3 Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence

BBC Local Radio should contribute to this purpose amongst its audience. It should provide opportunities for new and emerging musicians from the local area and support local arts and music events by providing event information.
Music output should be mainstream in peaktime and include specialist in off-peak hours. Specialist music should be appropriate to the area.
 


5.5 Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK
BBC Local Radio should play its part in contributing to this purpose amongst its audience, primarily by bringing the world to the UK. Its news bulletins should cover key international events and issues  


And with particular reference to the London remit...

It should aim to meet the needs of the ethnically diverse audience in London, including regular programmes for particular communities in London.

2 comments:

  1. Now HOW exactly is the BBC fulfilling its remit by getting rid of DJ Ritu's A World in London?

    And how is Sunny and Shay catering for an audience of 45+ in the case of London?

    The only show on Radio LDN that stimulates creativity and cultural excellence is being axed... Logic?

    HOW exactly can the BBC justify cutting this show based on its own remit? Unless that remit has changed and we have not been informed?

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  2. Yes the Service Licence is pretty clear

    General Remit: "include specialist
    in off-peak hours. Specialist music should be appropriate to the area."

    London Gloss: "BBC London should fulfil the aims and objectives, including the speech
    and music policies, for BBC English Local Radio described in the main Service Licence.
    It should aim to meet the needs of the ethnically diverse audience in London, including regular programmes for particular communities in London."

    Reading these two together makes a strong case for a programme like Ritu's. BBC could argue that the new programme will focus as a speech based programme on different ethnic communities, but without the specialist music angle. So the BBC would not be in accordance with its remit there.

    Also "regular programmes for particular communities in London" is just not happening now on radio. Can anyone give an example? And it is not easy on BBC London to create a programme focus for Asians, for Turks, for Greeks, Afro-Carribeans, for Chinese, for Portuguese speakers - all strong enough communities in London. Music provides the perfect unifying context and rationale for doing so. Ritu has done exactly this when she talks with an artist from a specific community.

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