MUMBAI: After months of protests by the listeners and presenters, BBC bosses have finally decided against axing BBC radio station 6 Music.
BBC Trust rejected the proposal to slam down the radio station as “a convincing case” had not been made for the shut-down.
6 Music along with the Asian Network were the two stations earmarked for closure as reported in March this year. However revival of Asian Network appeared doomed as the Trust declared a “case for closure” for it.
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In the Initial Conclusions of its Strategy Review published on Monday, the Trust said: “The Trust does not agree that there is a consistent strategic rationale for closure on grounds either of promoting digital development or market impact.”
Plans to do away with music stations were a part of the BBC’s strategic review which proposed a slimming of services, including a 25 per cent budget cut for the corporation’s online activities.
The Trust which is the BBC’s governing body said that, if the BBC wanted to put forward a “different proposal” for the overall shape of its music radio stations to “further increase the distinctiveness of the output”, it would be considered.
However, it “would not expect to see a further proposal to make changes to 6 Music” unless the BBC could meet several conditions, including giving reassurance that there would be “long-term protection for the type of distinctive content currently available uniquely on 6 Music”.
The station which costs around ?9 million a year to run saw its audience grow by 50% in three months, partly due to the increased publicity surrounding the proposed closure. Music executives, politicians and stars such as David Bowie, Coldplay and Lily Allen voiced their fears that closure would have a huge impact on the recording industry. As per the figures quoted by industry body Rajar, the station added almost a third of a million listeners in a quarter.
