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BBC proposes to replace Asian Network news with Radio 1’s ‘Newsbeat’

The BBC has proposed to change a significant part of the BBC Asian Network’s output in the BBC Annual Plan for 2019/20.

The document published today is the corporation’s second Annual Plan, which is an essential part of the accountability to licence fee payers, Ofcom, partners and stakeholders.

Plans for the Asian Network were ambiguous, with just a small segment dedicated to the national radio station. Without giving much away, it has been proposed that it will replace the station’s current news output with ‘Newsbeat’ format from Radio 1. The report said, “We are planning to change Asian Network’s news offering to the effective and popular Newsbeat format. This may require a change to the operating licence.”

If the station is planning to directly broadcast Radio 1’s ‘Newsbeat’ simultaneously on Asian Network, it will be interesting to see the coverage given to news items targeting Asians living in the UK.

It is not yet clear whether the BBC will be plans will go through public scrutiny with a consultation. BizAsiaLive.com is awaiting a response from the BBC on this.

Aside from this, the BBC reinforced its commitments for the Asian Network in 2019/20:

– The stations plans to commission a series of entertaining and thought provoking podcasts, including a ‘bite-sized’ version of late-night topical discussion show with Mobeen Azhar

– The station will continue to act as a showcase for the British Asian Sound, with a minimum 30% of the music in daytime coming from UK artists and producers

– The station will offer a broad mix of music and speech programming designed primarily to entertain and engage young British Asian audiences

Keep it with BizAsiaLive.com for more.