The BBC has announced a series of budget cuts to their TV, radio and online services. As a result Radio Merseyside will see their funding reduced by 20%. This makes it one of the worst hit by the changes.
A budget reduction of this size cannot be made without the loss of locally produced shows and jobs.
For many people in our city Radio Merseyside is the voice of their local community, and home to of some of our most famous Liverpool institutions – the Roger Phillips show, Billy Butler and others. It is the most popular local BBC station outside of London, with 312,000 listeners, who on average tune in for 16.2 hours.
These cuts are unfair.
Radio Merseyside is run on a shoestring compared to larger BBC services. Despite this senior managers have chosen not to cut from bigger stations like Radio Four. And with the majority of the licence fee being spent on TV, it is hard to understand why funding for BBC One has only been cut by 3%. Protecting these national stations means larger cuts to local radio across the country.
In times like these, when money is tight it’s only right that the BBC looks at where it can reduce its costs. But it is just as important that this is done in a way that is fair and protects local services and jobs where possible.
I am asking BBC chairman Lord Pattern and Director General Mark Thompson to think again and to visit Radio Merseyside to hear the concerns of staff and the public.
Support my campaign against these unfair cuts and call on BBC senior managers to give Liverpool a fair hearing by signing the petition below.
