BBC Asian Network closure was inevitable:Scribes

Senior Britain-based Indian journalists who worked for the BBC believe that given the multi-choice media environment, diversity of languages within the Asian community and stiff competition from commercial radio, the closure of the BBC Asian Network was inevitable.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson yesterday announced the closure of the Asian Network by the end of 2011, sparking mixed reactions from journalists and audiences.

The station’s closure is part of a raft of measures to cut costs in the public broadcaster.

Online campaigns and petitions have been launched to save the Asian Network while senior Indian-origin journalists said they saw it coming because of many pressing factors, including a lack of clarity in its programming and target audience.