Updated: 7:14 p.m. October 31, 2022 A major shake-up of local BBC radio stations in England has been announced with Norfolk one of the counties affected. The BBC is to overhaul its local radio services with stations sharing more content and broadcasting fewer programs unique to their area. The proposals come as part of the company’s new strategy, announced in May, to create a “modern digitally enabled broadcaster”. All 39 local BBC radio stations will continue with their own dedicated local programming from 6am. until 14:00 on weekdays. But from 14:00 to 18:00 there will be 18 afternoon programs across England shared between the stations. Radio Today reported that Norfolk will be shared with Suffolk, Cambridge and Three Counties Radio, which covers Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Ten local programs will then be shared across England between 6pm. and 10 p.m. weekdays, throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday mornings, serving areas that largely mirror existing local television areas. In the Radio Norfolk headlines at 5pm, long-serving presenter Matthew Gudgin said the only local outlet to remain at weekends would be an hourly newscast and sports commentary, featuring Norwich City games, on Saturdays and Sundays. Sundays. He added that Radio Norfolk went on air in 1980 before Radio Suffolk followed a decade later, but both had been largely local seven days a week since then. The BBC said there would be “additional investment” to support the production of the new shows. The plans confirmed by the broadcaster on Monday include the loss of 48 local staff jobs in England, representing an overall cut of 2%. The 48 jobs being cut include 40 due to the completion of the documentary series We Are England, which was announced in May. Greater program sharing will result in 139 fewer roles in audio teams, but around 131 additional roles in local news services. The changes will see around £19m re-prioritised from broadcast services to online production and media production. Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC’s director of nations, said: “These are ambitious and long-term proposals to increase the value we offer to local audiences everywhere. “The plans will help us connect with more people in more communities across England – striking a better balance between our broadcast and online services – and ensuring we remain a cornerstone of local life for generations to come.” The changes follow the BBC’s announcement of a new digital-first “design” in May, which included the news that BBC Four and CBBC will end as linear channels in the coming years.
