BBC Trust to review BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7

The BBC Trust is set to review BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and digital station Radio 7 later this year.

All three stations will be examined as part of the Trust’s on-going service reviews, while a second review will look at BBC local radio in England, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, Radio Ulster/Foyle, Radio Scotland and Radio nan Gaidheal.

Last week, the BBC’s director general Mark Thompson said local stations had to improve their “quality and originality” following a 15% decline in listeners in the five years to 2008-2009.

In the BBC’s strategic review announcement, Thompson also said BBC Radio 7 is to be rebranded as Radio 4 Extra in a bid to link it with its sister station.

David Liddment, a BBC trustee, said: “Radios 3, 4 and 7 all offer output which is hard to find elsewhere – and licence fee payers tell us that the BBC’s radio stations serving the nations and local regions make an invaluable contribution to their communities.

“As well as the current performance of these services we’ll also be looking at the BBC’s future plans for the stations to ensure they are robust and deliverable. If change is needed the trust can alter the stations’ service licences or ask the BBC executive to address the issues we raise.”

In a statement, the Trust added: “The reviews are part of the trust’s routine rolling programme of service reviews. They are amongst the last radio stations in the BBC’s portfolio to be reviewed in the current review cycle.

“The reviews will look at the services’ performance including the stations’ usage, quality, distinctiveness and value for money, and the BBC’s future plans for the services.

Each review will incorporate a 12-week period of consultation when the public will be able to give their views on the two services. The review of Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7 will begin in the spring and will be published next winter [2010/11], while the timetable for the review of nations and local radio is currently being considered.”