[VMPhil]

Well, this is interesting. No mention of moving the existing stations to DAB+, just that there is enough room on their multiplexes to launch these spin-off stations on DAB+. Can't imagine the commercial companies will be too happy, particularly the proposal for the Radio 2 spin-off, despite it being a take on what they've been doing for years with various niche spin-offs of all their brands

www.bbc.co.uk 

Plans announced for new, distinctive digital music stations as extensions for BB…
The new extensions look to delve deeper into specific genres and periods of musi…
  Source: www.bbc.co.uk

[qwerty123]

Launching additional services when you cannot afford the current ones makes absolutely no sense especially as there is no prospect of additional funding from these services being launched.

[ACTV]

Can't see Global being too happy about the plans to launch an expanded version of Radio 1 Dance on DAB+. Perhaps Radio 1 Relax would be a more suitable choice with it being more distinctive from commercial rivals, Capital Chill is more oriented towards downbeat dance.

Interesting to hear about the other planned Radio 1 spin-off as well. It sounds like it will act as a R1 take on 6 Music with it's promise of “authentic human curation“ and new on-air talent.

The Radio 2 spin-off sounds very much like it is trying to recoup the older audience it has lost over the past few years to the likes of Greatest Hits Radio and Smooth. It does note that it will broadcast Sounds from the 60s and simulcast Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs.

The Radio 3 spin-off meanwhile sounds interesting, an older skewed version of R1 Relax by the sounds of things, and probably why that station isn't heading towards DAB+.

I doubt Radio 5 Sports Extra will stick around with this consultation apparently going around. I can see it closing with the Beeb pushing it's content towards BBC Sounds.

[Omnipresent]

Whilst I would welcome greater use of the BBC’s archive it is something of a volte face as the BBC previously said it would not launch any new broadcast channels.

The objections from the commercial sector will be obvious and this must rankle those working in local radio where presentation & production teams are clearly very stretched.

I wonder if the BBC is anticipating a change in government and more favourable oversight?

[freeview87]

Launching additional services when you cannot afford the current ones makes absolutely no sense especially as there is no prospect of additional funding from these services being launched.

This is the BBC remember. Plead poverty on one hand but spend needlessly elsewhere.

The Radio 2 extra station is something they should have done years ago. It doesn't sound like it'll have any live familiar voices, the familiarity you get at Boom or to an extent GHR.

[Stooky Bill]

Launching additional services when you cannot afford the current ones makes absolutely no sense especially as there is no prospect of additional funding from these services being launched.

Thing is that these sorts of channels are very cheap. It's a very good way of making the BBCs offering bigger at little cost. They already do it with online services like Cbeebies Radio, Radio 1 Dance and Radio 1 Relax, as well as the FAST streams on iPlayer.

These services don't require studios or any programmes they're mainly reusing existing content or playing out a curated music playlist. They're all run off playout systems with with little human intervention.

Remember too that Radio 4 LW is closing next month (as a station, the transmitter is stating on for now) so that's one less BBC radio service

---

The Radio 2 extra station is something they should have done years ago. It doesn't sound like it'll have any live familiar voices, the familiarity you get at Boom or to an extent GHR.

Thing is that after much criticism that the BBC aren't catering for those who have grown out of Radio 2's, there will now be criticism that they're stepping on the toes of Boom.

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I doubt Radio 5 Sports Extra will stick around with this consultation apparently going around. I can see it closing with the Beeb pushing it's content towards BBC Sounds.

Quite the opposite, the consultation says they want to put more content on Sports Extra. Which is not a bad idea as long as it's not cutting the data rate of the other DAB stations permanently.

With the closure of Radio 4 LW it's even more important to have it on broadcast radio

[Brekkie]

Politically questionable but given recent RAJAR figures perhaps necessary and trickier for increasingly competitive commercial stations to argue against. Suspect the timing is not a coincidence and radio chiefs were probably happy ratings were down across the board ahead of this announcement.

The Radio 1 channels are just a natural development of what is on Sounds really. Radio 2 addresses the complaints about the station over the last couple of years, though shouldn't underestimate the need for familar and Live voices. The Radio 3 extension serves a purpose too. Makes sense as well to permit some of their sports podcasts to air in the downtime on 5 Live Sports Extra too.

TBH these are more likely to steal listeners from their parent channels rather than commercial rivals.

[ACTV]

Quite the opposite, the consultation says they want to put more content on Sports Extra. Which is not a bad idea as long as it's not cutting the data rate of the other DAB stations permanently.

With the closure of Radio 4 LW it's even more important to have it on broadcast radio

Knowing that, it would certainly add more value to Sports Extra. Under it's current guise it is pretty useless, and it seems the BBC - after pver 20 years - have finally recognised this. It is nice to see they are actually trying to make steps to improve the quality of the service. Could also allow 5 Live itself to potentially increase it's commitment to news and current affairs.

[IronRoad]

Looking at Wohnort, I can’t see how these spinoff stations can launch on DAB+ unless they permanently reduce the bitrate of BBC Radio 3 to 128 kbit/s…. and that would cause uproar (and rightly so). They’ll probably move Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra to DAB+, along with Radio 4 Extra, 6Music and World Service. Might mean they can make Asian Network stereo as well….. but as it stands, there’s no room at the inn….

[lookoutwales]

Statement from Radiocentre, the body representing commercial radio, is predictably critical of the plans.

www.radiocentre.org 

Radiocentre statement on BBC radio brand extension plans - Radiocentre
Radiocentre statement on BBC radio brand extension plans Below is a statement fr…
  Source: www.radiocentre.org