DigitalCity Business director says BBC should axe Radio 1
THE BBC should axe Radio 1 if it really wants to show its commitment to public service broadcasting, a leading member of Middlesbrough’s media industry said.
As the row over director general Mark Thompson’s proposed £600m cut to the service today focused on the closure of digital radio channels 6 Music and the Asian Network, Teesside’s Mark Elliott said listening figures should not determine spending policy at the Beeb.
“6 Music is innovative radio in the extreme. Radio 1 is just filling a gap that could adequately be filled by someone else. We wouldn’t miss it,” said the director of DigitalCity Business.
Speaking from his office at Middlesbrough’s media hub Boho One, Mr Elliott said the BBC was often unfairly criticised, especially over plans to parachute in talent from London to man its new headquarters in Manchester’s digital quarter, which is to be linked by a high speed broadband pipe to Boho, but it should not be in the business of pandering to popular public taste.
He welcomed the opening of the BBC’s first major studio outside the South-east and urged local media companies to up their game in response.
“If you haven’t got the kind of companies the Beeb wants to engage with, nothing’s going to come of it,” he said.
“But it could have profound consequences if people start to work together and develop the sort of projects the Beeb wants to buy. They want high quality and innovation and we have to make sure we are delivering in both.”
