BIG CHEESE
BBC
ASIAN NETWORK
EXPANDS
TO 5 NEW AREAS
19th
April 2000
The
BBC is planning an early roll-out of the Asian Network on
a further five local radio stations. The service is already
using AM frequencies of BBC Radios WM and Leicester.
The
Corporation now plan to expand the service to be available
on the medium wave frequencies of BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio
Lancashire, BBC Radio Sheffield and BBC Radio Derby. It
also hopes to include BBC Radio Cambridgeshire in this next
stage of expansion.
The
move - exclusively predicted by The RADIO Magazine
- means that many AM frequencies which could have been used
by new commercial radio stations have now been lost. The
frequencies are 774 (Leeds), 855 and 1557 (Lancashire),
1035 (Sheffield), 1116 (Derby) and 1026 and 1449 (Cambridgeshire).
A
consultation exercise is to be conducted among the Asian
communities in Bradford, Sheffield, Blackburn, Derby and
Peterborough where views will be taken on the expansion
plans and future developments of the BBC Asian Network.
“We
have a wide-ranging and diverse audience to serve,” said
Andy Griffee, Controller, BBC English Regions.
