Community radio stations free to use BBC local content during coronavirus

Community radio stations, who are members of the Community Media Association, will be able to use content from BBC local radio stations for free during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Radio Today, an agreement between Community Media Association and BBC England will be welcomed by many community radio stations, which have been struggling with lack of content.

Danny Lawrence, Chairman of the Community Media Association, was cited in the publication saying, “We’re delighted to be working with BBC local radio in this initiative to share their content with community radio stations during this health crisis. This is an excellent example of the CMA-BBC Memorandum of Understanding working in practice.

“It’s vitally important at this time for BBC local radio to partner with local community radio stations to keep our communities safe, informed, and educated. We look forward to furthering the relationships between local community radio and BBC local radio going forward.

“The MOU is about facilitating collaboration between community and BBC local radio. There are great opportunities here for community broadcasting so now is the time to get talking to your local BBC station if the conversation has not already begun.”

The agreement will now offer the following:

• BBC Local Radio will make its local news bulletins available to CMA radio station partners;

• BBC Local Radio will share its ‘Make A Difference’ information and stories with CMA radio station partners;

• BBC Local Radio will make available key public service drop-ins and interviews to CMA radio station partners; and

• BBC Local Radio will make some locally made programmes (e.g. Breakfast) available to CMA radio station partners.