Download Devices A Potential Threat To Radio

New download devices could be a threat to radio if broadcasters do not respond to the opportunities that they offer, according to the director of radio at the BBC, Jenny Abramsky.

Speaking at the Cambridge Radio Festival yesterday, Abramsky said radio must do more to keep up with changes to the medium. “We must give [listeners] the programmes they want to listen to,” she said.

Ralph Bernard, chief executive of GCap Media, said that radio would actually thrive in a world where it can be received on so many devices, citing how 25+ adults are shown to ‘come back’ to radio.

“We cannot assume listeners will return [to radio],” warned Abramsky.

Bernard also said that privatising Radio 1 and 2 “would not be a threat to commercial radio, but would increase advertising revenues in the sector.”

“I’m not calling for this,” he added, “but it would not be ‘mad’ to privatise them,” as Andy Duncan, chief executive of Channel 4 had suggested.

“The BBC is very good at what it does, but so it should be with all the money it gets,” said Bernard.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk GCap Media: 020 7663 7000 www.gcapmedia.com