UTV Media urges 5 Live to act on BBC Trust findings

talkSPORT owner UTV Media has urged 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra to act on the BBC Trust’s findings following a review of the stations.

The BBC Trust published its service review findings today – setting out a number of actions aimed at strengthening 5 Live’s delivery of 75% news and giving a new platform to minority sports coverage.

The BBC Trust’s review followed a UTV complaint about the radio stations’ news coverage.

Scott Taunton, managing director of UTV Media (GB), said: “We welcome the BBC Trust’s findings, and in particular its decisions to strengthen 5 Live’s commitment to 75% news, and to ensure coverage of minority sports.

“Whilst the Trust has set out a number of important actions, we will need to wait and see whether this has a material impact on 5 Live’s performance and distinctiveness. We will therefore be watching the response of BBC management closely.

“The BBC Trust’s report also sets out some surprising figures for programme expenditure at 5 Live. This includes the revelation that 5 Live spends more money on sports programming than on news, despite news accounting for over three times more airtime. We welcome the Trust’s recommendation that expenditure should be rebalanced towards news and restate our offer to participate in an appropriate benchmarking study to help BBC management identify efficiency opportunities.”

However, speaking on air this morning, Alison Hastings, the BBC trustee who led the 5 Live review, said the report would not have a major impact on the way the station sounds. “I don’t think any listener will feel there is a wholesale change. It was a very successful review and the station is doing incredibly well. I don’t think you are going to hear a massive gear change from 5 Live.”

**RAJAR reports for Q4 2011 will be live on Newsline this Thursday**