BBC Chief Pledges Support For Radios 1&2

Newly appointed managing director of BBC Network Radio, Liz Forgan, has pledged her support for Radios 1 and 2. Speaking at a debate on the future of radio she rejected suggestions that the output of the 2 stations could be provided by the commercial sector.

Forgan said “Radio 1 has a blend of programming which is quite different from a straightforward commercial station.” She emphasised that the station’s 300 hours of live music and 300 hours of specialist music each year could not be matched.

Also speaking at the Radio Academy debate, Heritage Secretary, Peter Brooke said the future of BBC radio is inextricably linked with the future objectives of public service broadcasting and that “deciding the future aims of public service broadcasting will help in making decisions about the future range of BBC programmes and services.