BBC Trust

A number of Radio 1 listeners were identified and the response to the station was generally positive, with the choice of music praised, though some expressed the view that the station’s playlist was sometimes too repetitive. Some members of the public liked the mix of music and chat, while others felt that there was too much chat. Some said that they really enjoyed listening to ‘true life stories’ and ‘confessions’.  The introduction of presenter Nick Grimshaw in the breakfast slot had evidently been traumatic for some listeners! Some praised the station’s emphasis on new music, but others felt that the station sometimes gave too much air-time to festivals.

Only a small number of members of the public approached listened to 1 Xtra but of those that did, the station was praised for the variety of music genres played and for introducing listeners to new music. Some listeners felt that the most positive thing that could happen to the station would be to give it a slot on FM rather than “consign it to the DAB backwater”.

Radio 2’s day-time presenters were considered by some members of the public to be rather long in the tooth, and to have been presenting for too long. This was considered to be particularly the case with the station’s afternoon presenters though other audience members said they tuned in especially to listen to the afternoon show. Some also praised the weekday schedule, but were not so fond of the weekend schedule. Radio 2’s traffic reports were considered particularly helpful. Radio 2’s varied playlist was considered by a number of respondents to be a reason to tune in to the station though others considered the music played somewhat repetitive.

While some Radio 3 listeners were identified, no comments on the station’s output were recorded.

While the numbers listening to the station were low amongst those members of the public approached by ACW members, those that did listen to 6 Music praised the station for introducing them to new music.

None of the members of the public approached at the event listened to the BBC Asian Network.

A number of respondents were avid listeners to Radio Cymru and Radio Wales, with views divided on the merits of particular presenters, and Radio Cymru praised in particular for its music policy. One member of the public – who spoke “only a little bit of Welsh” - said that she chose to listen to Radio Cymru in preference to Radio Wales because of its music policy, with itsC2 strand being praised in particular in this regard.

Radio Wales in turn was praised for its sports output, and in particular the high quality of its sports commentary.

Views were divided on the merits or otherwise of both stations’ phone-in programmes.

Radio 4, Radio 4Extra and Radio 5 Live were also all mentioned, with Radio 4’s drama being a highpoint for one respondent, and 5Live praised for its sports coverage by others.

A strikingly high number of those questioned said that their listening choices were dictated by reception issues, or the quality of reception for particular radio stations. A number of those asked said that they did not listen to a particular BBC radio station because of poor or non-existent reception, and were consequently listening to commercial radio stations. One example was a respondent who said “I often try to listen to Radio Cymru, but reception is usually poor, so I give up and tune in to Heart FM”. On the whole, a key theme was that the radio “was good company during the day’s activities”.

As the questions asked when approaching members of the public there were radio related, there were no additional insights into other aspects of the BBC.