THERE will be fewer local voices on radio in Scotland as a result of Global Radio’s plans to centralise programming, MSPs have been told.
It was announced in February that local programming at the network’s stations Capital, Heart and Smooth would be significantly reduced, with several shows axed and replaced with a new UK-wide breakfast programme hosted by Roman Kemp.
Des Clarke, who has hosted the breakfast show at Capital Radio for a decade, will move to Heart Scotland while his co-presenters, Steven Mill and Amy Irons, have also departed.
Global Radio has said it will retain regular Scottish news bulletins throughout weekdays, with some drive-time shows also retained. But all local and regional weekend programming will end.
At the Scottish Parliament’s Culture Committee yesterday,
MSPs told Global Radio’s chief strategy officer Will Harding that much of their reason for tuning
into programmes is to hear
Scottish voices.
Committee convener Joan McAlpine asked whether bosses had considered basing their programming in Scotland, as opposed to London where Global Radio’s headquarters are located. Harding said such a move had not been considered, adding the location of studios is not the top factor in determining whether listeners choose to tune in.
“I am absolutely, quite clearly, not going to argue the point that if the show is coming from somewhere outside Scotland, that is being broadcast across the UK, clearly in that show is less of a local voice.”
Harding also said a decision on reducing the number of staff had “not been taken lightly”.
He said that following implementation of the changes, the number of presenters across Heart and Smooth – who are counted as freelancers – would reduce from six to two.
Harding added that the employee headcount in Scotland, which currently stands at 34 excluding presenters, would be reduced by one, although he said the organisation is currently in consultation on the changes.
The number of broadcast centres in England are to be reduced, however centres in Scotland and Wales are expected to remain.
“I think we need to step back and look at all of the opportunities that listeners have,” Harding said.
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