2011-10-26T23:02:00.000+01:00

Tom Webb's World Of Radio Update.

Welcome Back to Tom Webb's World Of Radio.As you can see it is now in a brand new format.
Instead of a fixed page on a site it will now be in the form of a Blog instead which is a more modern way of doing things.
One has to admit it has been a long time since this column has been updated but I now promise to do more regular updates.

A lot has changed in the radio world since then what with the advances in technology that has made DAB more accessable to everybody because of the the relatively cheap price of radios capable of recieving digital signals encouraged to some degree by recent advertising campaigns.

We now even don't have any anologue tv signals at least not in this part of the country as the current trend is toward digitilization in this modern age.
It was very important for radio to move with the times and perhaps attract new listenership.

The range of stations that can be listened to now is immense, with the varied choice that is on DAB and the vast amount of radio programmes that can now be be heard online.
This can only be a good thing and secures the future of radio at least to a certain degree.

Cutbacks At The BBC

As you no doubt have probably heard recently it has been decided by the powers that be that nearly 400 post's are to be cut at the BBC.

To my dismay the axe is going to fall on around 280 jobs in local radio.

Some stations will loose their daytime programming and our local station Radio Merseyside looks set to suffer as part of this cost cutting.

I have heard at least one of the presenters on the station will have to go and there will be syndicated programmes shared across the various stations in the north west.

This certainly won't be a popular move with the listeners as this is taking away some of the unique scouseness if that's the word the station has.

It is one of the most succesfull local stations the BBC has and it would be a shame if this move erodes listenership in an age when radio is dying a death.

The local stations play a important part in providing us with information that is relevant to the area to which they broadcast.

Some of the seven million weekly listeners to Local Radio feel anxious and outraged by what may be done to their station of choice.
There is even some suggestion that there is some sort of class warfare going on within the BBC. in regard to Radio Four being protected from the full force of the cuts at the expense of Local Radio.
This would not surprise me as I think within the organisation there does exist
a certain amount of snobbery.

The true facts are though that there is supposed to be a 13% cut in network management and presentation costs at Radio 4 .Local Radio is being asked
to save 12%.Worked out taking in to consideration the costs of buildings
and presentation for the locals in 40 different locations across the UK,
it works out in some cases to cuts of 20% which is a lot I think.
My own personal view is that they should take a good look at the likes of Radio 3.
Is there really a need to have this outdated station on so many frequencies throughout the England.A lot could be saved if this was made an online only service.Think how much money could be saved if this was the case.
What do you think?

Radio Merseyside Staff Protesting About The Proposed Cuts
Picture taken from Liverpool Echo 07 Oct 2011