So, looking round his digital services, Controller Speech Mohit Bakaya has decided to close Radio 4 Extra. 16 years ago, under Tim Davie, the finger was pointed at BBC6 Music and The Asian Network; either would have generated considerably more savings than closing 4 Extra, and the argument was that there were plenty of other outlets delivering popular music.
Culturally, there's no rival to 4 Extra - it provides something only the BBC can. The management has been hollowed out since it first arrived as BBC7. A station editor/scheduler will be saved; financially, there's little extra work in paying out much reduced/zero repeat fees; some freelance announcers will lose work. The BBC 'owns' the prinicipal means of transmission - a Digital Audio Broadcasting multiplex, which carries all BBC network and digital stations. Radio 4 Extra gets enough bandwith for mono speech; I'd be puzzled if stopping it delivered a measurable cash benefit.
1.5m listeners reached every week, and it's not clear that the 'brand' will survive digitally for smart speakers etc - a big mistake. Radio 4 Extra's schedules give the BBC archive a recognised and friendly 'discovery' window, something that Matt Brittin says he values.
The BBC's Morning Service is left floating. Will BBC Local Radio really accommodate it in their schedules ? Why no similar imposition on Radio Wales, Radio Scotland and Radio Ulster ?
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