Asian Network presenters slam BBC plans

Two BBC Asian Network presenters have slammed the BBC’s plans to axe the station.

Sports presenter Nikesh Rughani and reporter Rahila Bano have both reacted with dismay at the reasons for shutting it down.

Rughani wrote in Broadcast’s Ariel magazine saying that the BBC had “ruined” the network with “poor management”. He added: “Commercial radio simply cannot provide the British Asian audiences with the quality of content we produce.

“We cover sport in a way that nobody else in the Western world would even dream of. We talk about British Asians in sport��_and we�۪re the only radio station in the world that gives a platform to UK Asian artists. Seriously, how can the BBC even think about getting rid of us?”

Rahila Bano said: “The proposal to close the Asian Network is a devastatingly backwards step. We should be looking to strengthen the national network, return to the format that was popular with audiences a few years ago.

“Please Mr Thompson, if you care about growing the audiences, reconsider your decision it will do in the long term is incalculable.”