BBC to save Asian Network from closure
The BBC have confirmed they will not be closing down the threatened Asian digital radio network, but will look to cut its budget in half.
The U-turn follows the BBC Trust decision to save another digital station, 6 Music last year.
As reported by the Guardian, the decision has been welcomed by staff and listeners as the station posted increased audience numbers since the closure plan was announced in March last year.
The network had an average weekly reach of 477,000 listeners in the final three months of last year, an increase of a third from 2009.
Half the station's budget will now go, as revealed by networker controller Andy Parfitt in a conference call to staff earlier today. It's spend of £8.9m from 2010 was bigger than any other BBC digital station.
The future of the network will now be assessed by director general Mark Thompson in a review christened "Delivering Quality First" that will aim to save more than £400m.
The plan to keep the station will be formally approved by the BBC Trust this summer.