6 Music 'saved' from BBC cuts
Updated on 05 July 2010
Saved from the axe: Channel 4 News examines whether BBC 6 Music's survival is a victory for "Twitter power" as Technology Correspondent Benjamin Cohen reports on the corporation's wider cuts plan.
The corporation's governing body the BBC Trust has confirmed the station will stay open until bigger questions about the future of BBC digital radio have been resolved.
The announcement is welcome news for the growing number of 6 Music's fans, as well as high-profile figures in the campaign, David Bowie, Lily Allen and Jarvis Cocker.
However the former Pulp frontman said earlier this month he was sceptical about the wording of the reprieve. He said: "You've had such a lot of people speaking out, you should stick to your timetable and give an answer. It is not nice to have the Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of the people who work there."
Twitter power?
The publicity generated by the campaign, in particular on Twitter via hash tags such as #saveBBC6Music, helped boost the station's audience to more than one million listeners a week.
After the announcement today, 6 Music "saviours" took to the web to congratulate and discuss what many saw as a people power triumph of the modern age.
@channel4news followers appeared divided over whether it was a success for social networking. Many said it was a definite victory for Twitter, while others were more sceptical.
"I doubt the Trust reads twitter/pays attention to hashtags, but it did mobilise people to respond to the consultation," tweeted @topfife.
@WebSquirrel said: "We'll never know if Twitter was what made the difference, but it's fair to say it would've definitely had some impact."
Join the debate and tell us what you think @channel4news
Others saw the social platform as a way of rallying audiences to a cause. @NigelBig said: "Its a victory for good old fashioned people power."
The view was reiterated by @ghostwoods who tweeted: "For Twitter power? I wouldn't have said so. For audience power in general, very possibly."
@dshirlaw said: "Agree that Twitter had its role; 6music listener blogs and sites can't be ignored. Doubt R4 [BBC Radio 4] could emulate similar campaign."
@IanSanders praised modern platforms as a way of contacting large groups of people.
"I think Twitter was able to mobilise support to lobby for its survival," he tweeted. "Without that platform + promotion, would not be saved."
A number of other followers voiced concerns about the announcement.
"The 25% cut on the website will eventually turn out to have been the real news, but doesn't make for good pictures," tweeted @tomskerous.
@dottyteakettle said: "Let's see the scope of the cuts they have up their sleeve because the majority only stood up for 6Music, NOT the Beeb."
BBC 6 Music presenter Adam Buxton spoke to Channel 4 News in March:
The presenter, who rose to fame with the Adam and Joe show, said: "A lot of shows on 6 Music have got an incredibly devoted and intelligent and unusually witty and creative audience."
And he asked BBC Director-General Mark Thompson where the cuts were a "fait accompli or whether the BBC will listen to people’s opinions if they’re offered to the BBC Trust online".
He said he did not understand why it was necessary to get rid of a station in the name of quality "when it's a station working really well and that people seem to love… It seems to be doing everything that the BBC wants to do best".
Read more here
In the initial conclusions of its strategy review published today, the Trust says: "We endorse the BBC Executive's underlying ambition to do fewer things better and thereby focus the BBC more effectively on its core mission, ensure that it plays its full part in promoting the move from analogue to digital and have due regard for the BBC's competitive impact.
"The Trust does not agree that there is a consistent strategic rationale for closure on grounds either of promoting digital development or market impact."
The BBC Trust said that, if the BBC wanted to put forward a "different proposal" for the overall shape of its music radio stations to "further increase the distinctiveness of the output", it would consider it.
But it "would not expect to see a further proposal to make changes to 6 Music" unless the BBC could meet several conditions, including giving reassurance that there would be "long-term protection for the type of distinctive content currently available uniquely on 6 Music" and providing evidence that "the changes we have already requested to Radio 1 and Radio 2 are underway".
Asian Network 'to close'
Today's decision was bitter sweet for come campaigners who were also fighting to save the radio station BBC Asian Network. The Trust announced today that despite the good news for 6 Music, the Asian Network is expected to close as planned.
A number of social networkers tweeted their disappointment for the decision.
"Gutted, bbc asian network thrown to the axe men," said @Farookster. "Somebody chuck in a lifeboat please!"
While other said blamed poor support for the campaign. "BBC Asian Network will be closed due to barely 3000 complaints," tweeted @prash1. "If you're upset now you only have yourselves to blame."
