BBC Asian Network to start next phase of Birmingham shift in September
BBC Asian Network will start the next phase of its move to Birmingham with The Official Asian Music Chart with Nayha, Panjabi Hit Squad, DJ Limelight, Saturday with Vallisa and DJ Kizzi scheduled to move to the city from Friday 6 September, as part of the BBC’s Across the UK plans.
These five shows will join a variety of DJs already broadcasting from the Mailbox, Birmingham, including two new shows which launched in April; popular chat show One More Chai (Wednesday, 22:00-23:00), hosted by West Midlanders SMASHBengali and Guranisha Randhawa, and the first-ever Official British Asian Chart Show hosted by Jasmine Takhar (Thursday, 21:00-22:00). Asian Network currently broadcasts 60% of its programme from Birmingham, with plans for the remaining London shows to relocate to the city by April 2025.
DJ Kizzi says, “I’m really excited to move to the Birmingham Studios, there is such a great vibe and energy of the BBC in Birmingham, plus it is situated in the heart of the city and I love working there. BBC Asian Network originating from Birmingham also feels really special – almost like we are bringing it home!”
Panjabi Hit Squad (Friday, 18:00-21:00), DJ Limelight (Friday, 21:00-00:00) and DJ Kizzi (Saturday, 18:00-21:00) with launch from Birmingham on Friday 6 September and Saturday 7 September.
The Official Asian Music Chart with Nayha (Friday, 15:00-18:00) and Saturday with Vallisa (11:00-15:00) will launch from Birmingham on Friday 4 October and Saturday 5 October.
Related to this
These moves are part of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy, moving shows, talent, teams, and content away from London to allow the BBC to better reflect, represent and serve all audiences. The BBC adds over £305m to the economic value of the West Midlands each year and is continuing to invest heavily in the region.
As part of these moves and in line with the BBC’S strategic priority to build a bigger pop music supplier community in the West Midlands, Asian Network will continue to work with and support local suppliers. Asian Network will continue to work with Birmingham based Glenvale Media and are delighted to welcome two new local suppliers to the network, True Thought Production and VoxWave, both based in the Birmingham.
Ahmed Hussain, Head of Asian Network, says, “I am delighted to start the next stage of Asian Network’s move to Birmingham, bringing us a step closer to uniting the station in our new home by April 2025.
“We are proud to champion British Asian music and culture and I’m excited to continue to work with and support local production companies in The Midlands, who are helping to drive fresh ideas to our exciting and growing platforms.”
