Utterly heartbreaking day: BBC confirms jobs to be lost in drastic shakeup of local radio including Three Counties covering Hitchin and North Herts
By Layth Yousif 31st Oct 2022
BBC confirms it will cut 48 jobs in local radio overhaul - including BBC3CR which caters for Hitchin and North Herts listeners.
'Utterly heartbreaking day' will see move dramatically reduce content made for specific Hitchin and North Herts listeners and see focus switched to local programming from 6am to 2pm.
In a drastic shakeup a total of 10 local programmes will be shared across England between 6-10pm on weekdays, across the day on Saturday and on Sunday mornings, serving areas broadly mirroring the existing local TV areas.
The BBC insisted all 39 local radio stations including BBC3CR will continue with their own dedicated local programming from 6am to 2pm on weekdays.
However in a move that is sure to upset dedicated local BBC3CR listeners across North Herts including Hitchin, after 2pm every day, the BBC will produce 18 generic afternoon programmes across the country shared between stations - thereby reducing specific local content.
Popular BBC3CR broadcaster Jonathon Vernon-Smith tweeted: "Utterly heartbreaking day at BBC3CR...oh and we are all at risk of redundancy."
The changes will see about £19m redirected from broadcast services to online and multimedia production.
Greater programme sharing will result in 139 fewer roles in audio teams, but the BBC said it would create about 131 additional roles across local news services. There will also be 11 investigative reporting teams across the country to focus on local issues across TV, radio and online.
The BBC said there will be "additional investment" to support the production of the original local online and audio programmes and podcasts, including new BBC Sounds producer roles at all local bases.
The changes are understood to be due to cost pressures arising from the combination of the licence fee freeze and inflation, as well as a shift in focus from older audiences to younger listeners, who prefer online content.
Sam Collins, the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary candidate shared his view on the cuts, tweeting: "Local radio and local media are essential and important. This is really not a good step."
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