Go to Biz Asia Home Page

Home | News | Archives | Features | TV listings | Biz Info | Media jobs | Contact
Fri, 3rd. Sep, 2010.

Just launched
-Sangat TV
on Sky Digital (847)

Tues 21st September
-New: Ram Milaye...
starts on ZEE TV

Also in September
-Euro Bangla TV
launches on Sky

-World Food Channel
launches on Sky

In October
-New: KBC 4
starts on Sony TV

In October
-New: Bigg Boss
starts on Colors

Awaiting confirmation
-Rebrand of
NDTV Imagine

*Shows are subject to change without prior notice


BBC Asian Network comes under fire again

BBC Asian Network blasted againThe 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

Editor: Lakhvinder Baddhan Source: The Sun
Comments
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed here are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the site owner and/or moderators. If the reader considers a post to cause offence, then he or she should use the contact page to let the site administrator know. The complaint should be dealt with within 24 hours, but please respect the fact that the moderator may be living in a different time zone.

I have read this article as it discussed the BBC Asian Network; the radio station does need to improve presentation, snd present more programming for the asian audiance with live on air programming and take the language into account with better wider audiance they have spent alot meaning awful lot of money on a radio station that is threatned in the midlands by many leading asian stations such as Radio XL, Ambur, Raaj radio, Sabras, and other stations That have much better programming and only spend hundereds nots millions to present to the asian community.

The BBC Asian Network should have had live programming with live pray from Mosques, Mandirs, and Gurrdwara - on those special occasions.

I think BBC Asian Network spent a fortune on the live concerts and Party in Park - What a waste.

Improve the station before you expand otherwide please alllow Sunrise Radio to take their Midlands frequency and welcome to Midlands and Birmingham.

(BBC-dont even provide traffic and travel) it's POOR.

Posted by: Kamran
---

Its simple the asian audience that asian network are catering for dont follow the asian thing.Network has to get more desi, more miss pooja and less punjabi hit squad

Posted by: spaceman
---

The BBC Asian Network should develop in the midlands and introduce a daily live discussion programme for the family audiance with new evening presentor similar to Shabana Khazmie on XL and other stations-

During ramadhan the station must improve the islamic Azan programming-

A Punjabi and more better programming is required with live on air prog throughout daily 10pm evening slots-

BBC Saturday needs vast immediate new line up and slots and programming and a debate programmes in mother toungue for family and live on air simillar to XL and other radio stations.

I suggest management lissen to Radio Asian Sound Manchester and notice why they suceed they even have a chinese programme and excellent programming for the family and mother tongue-

BBC Asian Network Shame

Question- where is Traffic and Travel-

BBC Needs vast improvements and please broadcast the Hajj live on TV and radio

Bring some Asian Dramas and Movies to BBC TV--

we are also tax payers shame BBC

Otherwise sell your AM-MW Midlands frequencies for broadcasting to Sunrise Radio and you could close the air waves.

Posted by: Naheeda
---

Post a comment



Remember Me?


There are currently no advertised vacancies....

NCT Star Awards 2010

Sunday 14th November

Asian Media Networking Evening

Thursday 23rd September

Biz Asia Weekly Poll
Which free-to-air channel do you watch most on Sky Digital?
B4U Music
Bangla TV
Zing
Prime TV
MATV
Abu Dhabi TV
DM Digital
Venus TV
NDTV Imagine
Music India
Sunrise TV
Aastha TV
Channel S
ATN Bangla
Peace TV
Sikh Channel
Brit Asia TV
I don't have Sky Digital


See previous polls

Polls are renewed every Sunday

  About | Advertising | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy

Copyright © 2002-2010 Biz Asia. All Rights Reserved.
Site design by Line of Site