Will you miss your BBC local radio station?

[Glow worm]

Looks like BBC local radio is next in the firing line as the cuts start to bite. The World Service is to quit its W. European MW slot on 648khz in two weeks time and now local radio could be next. Nick Clegg has stepped in to defend local radio so that's probably enough to seal its fate! Will you miss it?
See End of the road for BBC Local Radio?

I must admit that although I live in Cambs and am about a mile from Suffolk, I never listen to the respective BBC stations. I do listen to R Norfolk, mainly for the football and sometimes the farming/ environment programmes (don't ask), but that's about it. All the research suggests local radio is hemorraging listeners at an alarming rate, so the game could be up for these stations. (Plenty of free spots will appear on the dial for those who enjoy the odd spot of unlicensed broadcasting though. )

 

[Fab Foodie]

I never ever listen to 'local' radio stations because most are shite. Even worst than local news. So I'll not miss the progs. I suspect that many do and for them they perform a useful public service.

 

[TVC]

I've lived in Leicester 26 years and I've never listened to BBC Radio Leicester, not even by accident. So I guess, no I'll not miss it.

 

[numbnuts]

what's a r-a-d-i-o

 

[dellzeqq]

Robert Elms' show is one of the best radio shows around - so, yes, I would miss it

 

[marinyork]

Wouldn't miss it. Only ever watched local radio for travel news. Not wanting to get into some 'digital era' services rant though, I fully appreciate others use the service so think should stay.

 

[DTD]

Never listen, but support having them in the way I don't have kids, but still think having schools is a good thing.


Think the way that commercial TV went from having regional companies to becoming a single mush is a 'bad' thing.

 

[kishin]

The only thing I listen to our local station for is football commentary all the other programming is pants. I can just as easily keep up with the scores of games online, so I won't miss it.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

There's radio other than radio 4?
Can't stand that interminible FM musak and trivial shite the "presenters" appear to want to utter. It could be so much better.
But some folks like it..............

 

[ACS]

BBC Radio Scotland traffic reports yes, don't think I have ever listended to station otherwise.

 

[mcshroom]

I think I'd miss it.

I've just listened to the football broadcast on local radio
It is also the best source of information for local weather (especially on the fells) and news here as the local TV has been moved to Newcastle.
BBC Radio Cumbria was also extremely useful for getting information out around the area after the Cockermouth floods, and during the snow and ice of the last year.

When I lived in London then BBC London was of little extra benefit to the national stations, but out here in the regions the London-centric national media is not anything like as useful to us.

On a slightly related rant I would like to have the same access to freeview as the vast majority of the UK. We pay the same fees as everyone else but only get half the channels (and no option of cable).

 

[Glow worm]

Robert Elms' show is one of the best radio shows around - so, yes, I would miss it

It's funny as I've never really considered BBC London as 'local' radio in the same way as say R Sheffield or Tees. Perhaps because of it having such a huge and vairied potential audience and the unique geography of the place. Just googled Elms a- looks like a decent show. Over here we have good old Wally Webb who does the 4 -6.30 am slot on R Norfolk. He is rumoured to be the inspiration for Coogan's Alan Partridge character.
Wally Webb

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'd agree that London radio tends to be a cut above other provincial types and also agree that as mentioned in the Cumbria situation that local radio can be very useful, but for the other 99% it's just dreadful muzak, inane chatter that makes me very shouty at my friend the radio.

I recall that the 'Protect and Survive'? info. that was given-out in the 80s in case of nuclear armagedon stated that we should stay indoors and listen to local radio ... to be honest, I'd rather die than be improsoned with such torture ....

 

[marinyork]

I recall that the 'Protect and Survive'? info. that was given-out in the 80s in case of nuclear armagedon stated that we should stay indoors and listen to local radio ... to be honest, I'd rather die than be improsoned with such torture ....

Would just be travel, weather and school closure reports. Argh!!!!!!!!!

 

[HonestMan1910]

BBC Radio Scotland traffic reports yes, don't think I have ever listended to station otherwise.

Loads of good quality programmes on Radio Scotland, so YES i would miss it..

Perhaps another way tosave money is to cut back on the duplication of jobs within the Beeb i.e. reporter for National news covering Scottish events and then when you get the Scottish news it is a different reporter and team with the same story