BBC Asian Network to rollout more changes

The BBC Asian Network has announced a second batch of programme changes set to take place later this year.

As part of the new line-up, which kicks off on Monday 20th April will see the station’s new ‘Breakfast’ show start one-hour later currently scheduled. The Adil Ray presented programme will begin at 07:00 and end at 10:00.

Also, in an effort to strengthen its daytime output with news and discussion content, Nihal and Nikki Bedi will swap slots. Nikki Bedi, whose programme brings the latest entertainment and arts from will sit in from 10:00 and go on until 12:30. Half-an-hour news show, ‘The Wrap’, will move to 12:30, which will then be followed by Nihal’s two-hour slot at the new time of 13:00.

The early morning devotional music strand is also being extended and will now sit within the station’s ‘Early Morning Breakfast Show’. The new show will include religious sounds for Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.

Andy Parfitt, Controller Asian Network said, “This is the second stage of the strategic development for Asian Network. All stations need to keep evolving and these changes will work well with our new breakfast show.”

The changes could also be seen as a response to RAJAR audience figures, which have shown the BBC Asian Network’s weekly reach shed nearly 100,000 listeners.