The BBC has revealed plans to increase its committment to live events and talent following a surge in competition from commercial radio stations which now have a 50.1% share of listening, compared with the BBC’s 47.7%.
This strategy will involve all five BBC national networks and include a week-long live music festival in Glasgow called Music Live 1999. Radio 3 is set to stage Shakespeare for the Millenium, the bard’s entire canon supported by public events around the country, and Radio 1 is to cover the carnivals in Bristol and Leeds in addition to Notting Hill as part of its Soundtrack To The Summer programme of live events.
These improvements are to be funded by efficiency savings, and will cost approximately £5 million. Matthew Bannister, director, BBC Radio, stated: “The BBC’s unique investment in live performance across all its networks is a major cultural committment. Creating a sense of event draws attention to that committment and delights audiences who value the excitement and risk of the live broadcast.”
BBC Radio Publicity: 0171 765 4630 / 0171 765 2265
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