BBC Trust

A small number of those approached were Radio 1 listeners, with opinions divided sharply on the merits or otherwise of particular presenters. The main attraction of the station to those who were regular listeners was the variety of music broadcast. A small number of comments suggested that Radio 1 had too much speech content, though others praised the scheduling mix. One member of the public said that her preferred way of accessing the station was via her smart phone and that she did so during breaks in her school day. One criticism made by some respondents was that the Radio 1 playlist was too repetitive. The station’s ‘live lounge’ strand and its other live music coverage was praised as was the station’s coverage from festivals, with one respondent saying of its coverage of the Glastonbury Festival that “it was so good, it was like being there”.

Radio 1 Xtra was not mentioned by any respondents at the event.

Radio 2 was the station of choice for a small number of respondents, with the main period for listening being during car journeys. The variety within the schedule was one factor for its popularity amongst those who listened to the station, with the lunch-time news and debate programme mentioned by a number of respondents.  The comedy within the station’s schedules was also an important element for many of its regular listeners.

A small number of respondents said that they were regular Radio 3 listeners and was popular amongst them, though there were some comments that the station could be too high-brow.

BBC 6 Music was a popular alternative for many of those audience members who also listened to Radio 1 or Radio 2, as well as being a stand-along choice for some others – based on their perception that the quality of music broadcast by the station was high.

None of the respondents were BBC Asian Network listeners.

Radio 4 had a number of loyal listeners amongst those members of the public approached, with the station’s drama and factual output praised in particular. Comedy was also an aspect of the station’s offering that was important to a number of the Radio 4 listeners. The variety of the output was a clear attraction for many of the station’s listeners. Once again a small number of listeners said that they listened to Radio 4’s output on-line, rather than through a radio set. The main criticism of the station was the perception that it was too Westminster focused.

Radio 4 Xtra was mentioned by one respondent, but no details recorded about the content consumed.

Radio 5 Live was an important source of sports information, and in particular football coverage and match commentary, for some of those questioned. The station’s news coverage was not mentioned, and the perception of those who mentioned the station was that it was primarily a sports orientated radio station.

The sports coverage was also an important part of the attraction of loyal BBC Radio Wales listeners with a number of respondents praising the station’s sports output. A number of the station’s presenters were specifically mentioned and humour was clearly an important aspect of the station’s output. A number of respondents felt that Radio Wales provided them with a good overview of the nation. The news, weather and travel information provided by the station was also an important aspect of its output. The recent BBC Cymru Wales Dylan Thomas season, to which the station contributed, was mentioned appreciatively by a number of respondents. Regular listeners appreciated the mixture contained within the station’s schedule.

Radio Cymru’s varied schedule was also one of the station’s attractions for those many respondents who listened to the station, though some felt that one of the station’s weaknesses was that it tried too hard to provide something for everyone, with some making the case for a second Radio Cymru station. Some of the station’s presenters were either loved or loathed by those whose views were invited, with the main criticism of some being their poor linguistic skills in Welsh. News, weather and travel updates were an important aspect of the station’s output according to a high number of those asked. The mixture of music, factual, drama and discussion programmes which now made up the station’s schedule was praised by many, with the agricultural news mentioned by a number as being particularly good. The station’s political coverage was also appreciated and considered an important aspect of its output. The station was praised for having introduced improvements recently to its music playlist, though some criticised the greater number of songs in English now played by the station. Some respondents said that while they personally didn’t like the changes introduced recently to the C2 strand, they were aware of the reasons for the changes – so as to attract a higher audience from the target age range.

A small number of respondents said that they listened to the station via the web, and considered it a good way of learning Welsh or improving their own Welsh language skills.

A small number of respondents criticised the station’s use of phone interviews, saying that the quality of the audio was so poor as to make a proportion of them unintelligible.

Reception issues remained a factor in the listening choices made by many of those members of the public approached, with some making it clear that they listened to particular stations, because of reception limitations.

Since members of the public were asked about their radio listening, there were no additional comments on other aspects of the BBC.