BBC Launches New Digital Talk Radio Station

The BBC has today announced the launch of BBC7, a new digital talk-radio station for adults and children.

The new station, which is due to go on air within the next few months, will feature comedy, drama and book readings. It will also broadcast a daily children’s show, called Big Toe Radio Show, which from 4pm to 6pm will include interviews, music, comments and competitions. The show will also have a specially created website to support it.

Commenting on the new launch, Mary Kalemkerian, editor of the station, said: “BBC7 gives us a tremendous opportunity to bring new listeners to speech radio through a range of wonderful programmes and the latest technology.”

The channel is one of five new BBC digital radio services aimed at specialist audiences. Other stations include 1Xtra, which provides urban music for young audiences; Five Live Sports Extra, which launched last January (see BBC To Launch Its First Digital Radio Station); 6 Music, which carries pop and rock music and the Asian Network, which is set to launch in October.

The new digital radio stations received Government approval last year, along with BBC4 and two new digital TV channels for children. However, the BBC only got the go ahead to launch its new digital youth channel, BBC3, earlier this month following a series of delays and setbacks. The new channel, which is due to launch in the New Year will have to adhere to twelve separate conditions to ensure it is “genuinely distinctive, genuinely public service and genuinely innovative” (see Government Finally Gives BBC3 The Go Ahead).

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk

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