BBC ASIAN RADIO STATION BASED IN LEICESTER A STEP CLOSER TO BEING AXED

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

BBC Asian radio station based in Leicester a step closer to being axed

The Asian Network is a step closer to being axed, after the BBC Trust accepted plans to close it.

In a review of BBC services, the trust said the station, launched in Leicester in 1996, was "performing poorly" and listener numbers were falling.

The BBC will now put together plans to replace the channel with a range of local stations for Asian audiences.

The Asian Network and BBC 6 Music have been under threat for the past two months, but 6 Music has been given a reprieve.

Much of the Asian Network's news team is based at BBC Radio Leicester, in St Nicholas Circle, in the city centre.

Gujurati and Hindi-language evening shows are broadcast from there three days a week.

It is understood about 30 people work for the station in Leicester, although the BBC said it could not confirm how many employees were based in the city.

A spokesman said in many cases there would be opportunities for staff to be employed elsewhere within the organisation.

The rest of the output is transmitted from Birmingham and London.

The BBC Trust, the governing body of the organisation, said in its initial review, published yesterday: "We acknowledge the Asian Network is performing poorly."

It added: "We would consider a formal proposal from the BBC to close it but would need to be convinced that any alternative proposed would be a clear improvement in terms of overall public value for British Asian audiences."

The Asian Network peaked with about 535,000 listeners a week in 2004.

The review said the number was about 300,000 in 2009.

Proposals to close the station were announced in March.

The trust said the Asian Network's audience figures had declined, especially among younger listeners, while commercial radio stations had seen an increase in listening numbers of Asian people.

It added: "A key theme that emerges is that of how Asian Network nurtures the idea of being a British Asian – rather than just a member of a local community – as well as recognising the diversity within British Asian communities.

"There is clearly a risk that this would be lost if it were to be closed as a national service."

One Asian Network employee, who did not want to be named, said: "I've been disappointed throughout this whole process.

"It'll be a real loss. We don't know what they are going to do or how they will continue the station in another way.

"The Asian Network is really important for the development of young journalists. A lot of people get their first chance of broadcasting here."

Yesterday, a BBC spokesman, said it would now make detailed plans for the closure of the Asian Network, which would need to be put to the BBC Trust for approval.

Manjula Sood, a former Lord Mayor of Leicester and chairman of Leicester Council of Faiths, said: "It started as just one hour in Leicester and has grown and grown."

She added: "It should be kept in some way as radio is a great way to reach the community. "The Asian Network is for everyone within the community, old or young."