I remember Eastern Eye giving the Network a hard time a couple of years ago.
There was that stuff about Mark Strippel, then the anti-Muslim bias, lack of Sikh stuff and lthe lack of Pakistani or Bengladeshi music.
Looks like the old rag had a point!

When will the BBC understand the Asian Network is not available on FM or MW and hence the reason why they have less listeners simple thing is to Time Share with Radio 2, 3, or even4.

that asian paper also reported on DesiDNA being axed and Asian Programme Unit being axed. they were always negative about the asian network and look at the result

I think its about time they closed the station... £25 million in two years...what a joke!!

"It is trying to cater for many disparate groups simultaneously. We are wrestling with how to best serve this audience and whether one whole network is the right way to do it. It is something we are looking at."

All the other asian stations in the UK do this and are doing fine without spending that much money on marketing!

BBC Asian Network should be aired on FM, AM & MW to get back ALL those listeners which it (BBC Asian Network) has lost!!!

If they have lost the listeners then they should not be given extra frequencies to try and get them back... they should manage with what they have! time to close it i think... the station has been losing listerners for years now

BBC ASian Network do have MW frequencies if they want to expand introduce a new frequency into Wales and North West -

But firstly improve programming axe Bobby Friction and bring Jay Patel live on air chit chat and have a new evening asian language prog live on air chit chat and a new saturday line up and debates in asian languages and have Azan thoughout ramadhan and with Birmingham UK timing were majority lissenors and also please introduce Traffic and TRAVEL REPORTS---

BBC IMPROVE NOW-

I must be one of the only people in the UK who likes the Asian Network as it is. The variety of music reflects British Asian tastes, it serves the youth demographic well, and it provides a platform for young British Asian artists to launch from.

The issue is about the amount of money that goes into spending. I think that there should be less money spent on Podcasts, the website, and marketing, and more concentration on music and talk. A dedicated youth reporter would be good, instead of focussing on news generally. Silver Street is a waste of money, as nobody listens to it.

With those cuts alone, at least a couple of million pounds could be saved. Oh yes, and cutting the number of 'behind the scenes' researchers and producers, who barely have a clue as to what's going on and merely act as minions on a gravy train.

There should also be more of a concentration on student events around the country, and contemporary issues affecting people - sexuality, drugs, alcoholism, and domestic violence, for example - discussed in all of the shows rather than just the news programming.