BBC Statements of Programme Policy: BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio website
BBC Local Radio press releases
More about BBC Local Radio
Last updated August 2004
The BBC's 40 Local Radio stations across England and six dedicated radio
services for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - including Radio
Cymru in Welsh and Radio nan Gaidheal in Gaelic - attract more than
10.5 million regular listeners.
There are no other services of its kind anywhere on the radio dial.
BBC Local Radio has increased its speech content and strengthened its
service to local communities.
Competition continues to increase sharply in the local radio sector.
There are now more than 250 local commercial stations across the UK
(including 16 regional services) – almost twice the number that existed
five years ago.
Across England BBC Local Radio is now even more local – with dedicated
services restored for Berkshire and Coventry & Warwickshire and split
services developed at Southern Counties Radio, Radio Cambridgeshire,
Radio Devon, Three Countries Radio, Wiltshire Sound and Radio York.
Over the next 10 years the BBC is committed to increasing the 'localness'
of our services by opening new stations in Bradford, Somerset, Cheshire
and Dorset.
BBC Local Radio's increased focus on social action campaigns has achieved
unprecedented success, with thousands of listeners calling the BBC Helpline
for each campaign.
Recent subjects include tackling weight problems and loneliness.
BBC Local Radio is astonishing value for licence payers, costing only
£300 an hour. That compares with around £11,000 an hour for Radio 4
and more than £500,000 for television drama.
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