Extra Extra

Neil Midgely in The Telegraph has discovered what a range of radio producers know - that the BBC is stockpiling programmes with a view to changing the much-loved Radio 7 into the marketeers' and strategists' dream, Radio 4 Extra, in Spring 2011. 

In many ways, 7 has been the most successful of the BBC's digital offerings - offering largely comedy and drama from the archive round the clock, with a daily burst of children's programmes.   The audience has grown from just over 200,000 in 2003, to a million at the end of 2010.   Clearly Tim Davie, and thinkers John Tait and Will Jackson, believe the "shift, preview and repeat" mantra of ITV2 etc is the right way for the service, and are confident it'll go through the Trust on the nod in January. 

Mr Davie has said 4 Extra will preserve the best of Radio 7, but there will be fans who need convincing by a detailed schedule.  The production staff will have mixed feelings - the increased ties with Radio 4 probably mean they're safe from a late run to Salford, but it will be a very different station from the one they joined. Actors, playwrights and comedy writers will lose repeat fees, and there be less children's output.  Gillian Reynolds and the radio critics will go apoplectic at the increased cross trailing at every Radio 4 junction when the thing starts - but will there be enough fire all round to start #saveBBCradio7 ?