BRMB - IN TUNE WITH NOTHING?

08-09-2007

What's happened to BRMB - traditionally Birmingham's favourite radio station. More than 100,000 listeners have deserted in the last 12 months and its figures are the lowest for seven years.

The station which brought us Two Strangers and A Wedding (twice) and once hospitalised a competition entrant by encouraging him to leave his hand on a block of ice has got another gimmick.

Now they're taking "network" shows featuring celebrities like of Myleene Klass and American Idol presenter Ryan Seacroft.

As the name suggests, these are programmes which are syndicated and have no relation to the area in which they are broadcast.

The regulator Ofcom prides itself on being "light touch" which means that BRMB's owners One Radio (who are also in charge of Black Country station Beacon) can introduce these changes without any consultation.

But surely this isn't what local radio is meant to be?

BRMB already has (virtually) an entire channel of networked programmes via its Gold channel on medium wave (which broadcasts in both Brum and the Black Country) diluting output which was originally meant to be specific to the region it's transmitted to.

There are also numerous digital channels satisfying various musical niches.

What BRMB can offer is unique and specific to listeners with an 0121 phone code.

The station says that listeners like network shows which "add value" and aren't just about cutting costs; and they insist that they are keen to hear listeners views.

Here's mine - please go back to being a proper local station, or hand in your licence.

(A version of this article appeared in The Stirrer's Birmingham Mail column this week. To see it in full, click here)

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