BBC local radio shows suffer huge drop in listeners over past two years - and the broadcaster's plans could cause more damage
manchestereveningnews.co.ukBBC local radio shows have suffered a drop in listeners amid planned cuts to their programming by the corporation, new figures show.
The average weekly audience for local and regional stations has fallen by 20 per cent in the past two years, from 9.2 million in the third quarter of 2021 to 7.3 million in the same period for 2023, according to data from research body Radio Joint Audience Research (Rajar).
The BBC World Service has experienced an ever sharper drop in listeners, with its average weekly audience down 33 per cent from 1.4 million in July-September 2021 to 940,000 in the same period in 2023.
The figures come as the corporation has sought to make savings in the face of high inflation and a licence fee freeze, including plans for local radio stations to share more content and transmit fewer programmes unique to their areas.
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