BBC Humberside presenters and staff walk out to halt 'savage cuts' to local radio 'lifeline'

David Burns radio show comes off air early and no Look North with Peter Levy as BBC strike starts.

BBC Humberside presenters and staff have walked out today (Wednesday, March 15) to stop what they said would be savage cuts to local radio. The move has seen radio shows and TV news programmed shelved for the day.

BBC Humberside presenters and staff in the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) started their 24 hour strike at 11am, taking a number of programmes off air. Andy Comfort, NUJ rep for the BBC in Hull, said he and others did not want to see services cut to the bone by sweeping cuts planned for local radio.

Corporation Nations Director Rhodri Talfan Davies said radio would remain a cornerstone of local life and plans to shift resources to its online operations would help connect with more people. The walkout comes after the BBC unveiled plans to cut back on local radio programmes in October.

It also coincides with a national trade union day of action on Budget Day. Workers including teachers and junior doctors are among those on strike.

The proposals would see dedicated local programmes end after 2pm on weekdays, after which content would be shared with nearby stations until 10pm. Stations would broadcast England-wide shows after 10pm and on Sunday afternoons, apart from sports commentaries which would remain local.

BBC Radio Humberside would share an editor with BBC Radio York and some programmes with the broadcaster’s Lincolnshire station if the plans go ahead. The weekend Great Outdoors programme would be among those lost to regional shows shared between Humberside, Leeds, York, Sheffield and Lincolnshire.

Around 48 jobs are expected to be lost across local BBC teams as a result of the proposals, according to the NUJ. In Hull, presenters and staff are set to picket outside the broadcaster’s Queens Gardens offices.

Those on strike include presenter David Burns, who told listeners he was joining the walk out this morning. Mr Burns, known as Burnsy, said the plans would affect the way audiences engage with the BBC if they go ahead. It is also believed the Look North TV news scheduled for this evening and hosted by Peter Levy will not go-ahead.

Mr Burns added he would not be doing commentary on the Hull City match against Burnley as a result though it will be available on BBC Radio Lancashire. He said: “The plans have caused a lot of upset among BBC local radio staff.

“Local radio pulls in an audience of around five and a half million across the country. Match Of The Day has an audience of two and a half million, it’s all about perspective.”

Burnsy’s colleague Mr Comfort said the strike was about protecting one of the jewels in the crown of the BBC. The NUJ rep said: “This is where the BBC is closest to the audience because we live here too and we love providing a service to our local audiences in Hull, East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

“Everyone here, whether they work for BBC Radio Humberside, Look North, for the BBC website, is really proud to be part of the community and we don’t want to see that service cut to the bone. BBC Local Radio is more than just news and information, it’s companionship and friendship, a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable in our area who might not have digital access.

“These are savage cuts, the BBC say these cuts are to pay for better local digital services, which we support, but we don’t agree that you have to make such sweeping cuts to valued local radio services to pay for it. The BBC has not asked local licence fee payers what they think and they haven’t sat down with staff on local radio stations about how we can provide better digital services without these cuts.

“We’re proud of what we do and we want the best for the people of this great area of ours. We say keep BBC Local Radio Local.”

Mr Davies said the proposals, which include moving £19m from radio to online to create 11 investigate reporting teams were ambitious and far reaching. He added the plans were about trying to keep pace with changing audience expectations.

Mr Davies said: “These proposals would grow the value we deliver to local audiences everywhere. The plans will help us connect with more people in more communities right across England, striking a better balance between our broadcast and online services and ensuring we remain a cornerstone of local life for generations to come.”

Tags:BBC Hull Radio Whatson

What's On In Hull

Things to do in Hull

BBC Humberside presenters and staff walk out to halt ‘savage cuts’ to local radio ‘lifeline’

David Burns radio show comes off air early and no Look North with Peter Levy as BBC strike starts.

David Burns radio show comes off air early and no Look North with Peter Levy as BBC strike starts.

Related Articles