Radio industry sends wishlist to BBC review

Radio industry groups have set out priorities for the BBC’s future as part of the Government’s consultation on the next BBC Charter.

Radiocentre and the UK Community Radio Network have both submitted responses to the Charter Review, outlining how the corporation should work with the wider radio sector and how its services should be funded and regulated.

The closing date for submissions was yesterday, March 10th.

Radiocentre says the BBC must remain free of advertising and focus on more distinctive content that complements rather than duplicates commercial radio.

Research commissioned by the organisation and carried out by More in Common found 65% of people oppose advertising being introduced alongside the licence fee.

The polling also suggests BBC radio listening could fall if adverts were introduced, with 34% of listeners saying they would listen less or stop altogether.

The same research found news and current affairs are the top priority for BBC radio investment at 66%, while support for launching new music stations or streams is much lower at 18%.

Separately, the UK Community Radio Network is calling for stronger partnerships between the BBC and community stations, which it says would help strengthen local journalism and representation.

Its submission proposes a formal framework for collaboration, including shared content, training programmes and better access to BBC local journalism for community broadcasters.

Rebecca Steers, Director of the UK Community Radio Network, said: “Community radio provides trusted, grassroots public-interest content in places where other local media have been lost or scaled back.”

Radiocentre Chief Executive Matt Payton said: “The BBC cannot be funded by advertising and requires a stronger framework to help drive distinctiveness.”