Share alike

David Holdsworth, in charge of regional and local broadcasting for the BBC in England, has made his move on savings.  He's testing "daytime sharing" on local radio with two six month pilots. From next February, Radio Sheffield, Radio Leeds and Radio York which will have one afternoon show presented by Liz Green. And from December, Radio Kent and BBC Sussex and Surrey will have one drivetime show, presented by Dominic King.

Radio Today seems to have the email from David: "Rest assured, we are not reducing the budgets of these stations, but we are re-organising in order to re-direct some people effort [to breakfast and morning output]."

Unless Helen Boaden, Director of News and now owner of local radio, gives stations preferential treatment, they will face the same 16% cuts as other outputs over the next licence fee period. "Rest assured" represents a moment in time.  The big question is whether or not David H can arrest the decline in BBC Local Radio listening by adding staff effort to breakfast shows.  Effort isn't always everything, as Daybreak has shown...