The BBC Asian Network has been blasted yet again in the press today after spending £25 million in two years on the station - despite plunging audience figures.

As it was revealed last week, the BBC Asian Network has lost over 60,000 listeners in the last three months, according to audience measuring body, RAJAR.

In an article written in The Sun by former BBC Asian Network presenter, Anjum Rafiq, gave his view on the current status of the public funded station. He described the Asian Network as a station "hardly anyone listens to."

Anjum said, "Every month brings a smaller audience for the Asian Network, yet the BBC continues to pump licence fee payers' money into it.

And while its management wastes money on unpopular acts and artists, special events, dinners and expensive coffees, they have completely lost touch with their core audience.

The station is wasting a good opportunity to connect with Asian communities because it is run by people who do not understand what that audience wants.

The station focuses too much on young people and tries too hard to be cool."

Anjum also went on to criticise the management and staff of the station, "They are wasting a huge pot of cash, and there are too many cowboys - and not enough Indians...The BBC also pays its presenters ridiculous amounts of money. They spend far too much money poaching DJs from rival commercial stations - they brought me over from the Sunrise London station."

In a statement to BizAsia.co.uk, the BBC said, "The Asian Network offers an original and distinct service for the BBC with 53% of our audience not consuming any other BBC station. Its high quality programming across news, documentaries, discussion, language and religious programmes alongside a broad range of music makes it different to any other media offer aimed at British Asians.

We're proud of our record in developing presenting talent - our most recent daytime presenter started as a Programme Assistant at the station and we firmly believe that our music policy should reflect the mainstream tastes of our British-Asian audience so we play a limited amount of non-Asian music in our overall music mix.

The recent set of Rajar figures were disappointing but we have made major changes to the schedule this year and are in the early stages of a long term strategy that we are confident our team of presenters and staff can deliver."

Anjum currently hosts the 'Drivetime' show on Radio XL. Prior to this, Anjum fronted the 'Lunch Time' show on the BBC Asian Network. In 2006, the DJ was found guilty of theft.

In July this year, London's Evening Standard reported that the station was facing closure after losing a fifth of its listeners despite spending more than £25  million in two years. The BBC went on to deny this.

Updated: 10/11/09

Related links:
RAJAR Results: Huge fall for BBC Asian Net.
BBC denies Asian Network radio closure