THE BBC will keep black local radio stations, after u-turning on consultation proposals to axe the programmes from on-air schedules.

Now, not only will black and Asian community shows remain but the number of stations local stations broadcasting these programmes will increase.

Earlier this year The Voice exclusively revealed the concerns of black BBC staff after the corporation considered proposals to share programmes during afternoon and evening slots.

Black producers and presenters who contacted The Voice feared that the proposed cuts and reorganisation meant that shows, targeted at African and Caribbean audiences and which go out on Sunday nights, would disappear.

Following The Voice’s coverage several equality campaigners strongly criticised the BBC’s proposals and questioned the corporation’s commitment to serving diverse audiences.

The Voice’s news coverage was absolutely instrumental in making sure the BBC recognise the absolute jewel they have in these programmes.

Marcus Ryder, Head of External Consultancies at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity

Celebrities actors David Harewood and Adrian Lester, MPs including Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence were among the high-profile figures who signed a petition organised by the Black Equity Organisation urging the corporation to reject the cuts.

Senior BBC executives were grilled over the proposals in parliament, and the London Assembly voted for a motion to save the show in the capital.

Jason Horton, Director of Production, BBC Local said the corporation has made changes to the original proposals following feedback from staff and audiences.

“Our goal over the next 12 months is to modernise our BBC Local services in England to strengthen our online provision for communities across the country” he said.

“We have listened carefully to the feedback we have received about proposed changes to BBC Local Radio programming. As a result, we are making a number of amendments to the original plan in order to strike the best possible balance between live and on-demand services.”

The new proposals for BBC local radio were outlined in a statement issued by the BBC yesterday.

Outlining its plans for dedicated programming on BBC Local Radio for black and Asian audiences the statement said: “The much-loved community programmes shows will become more accessible by moving from their traditional single Sunday evening slot to new programmes on Monday and Friday evenings. The number of stations featuring community programming will increase from 20 to 33.”

Broadcasters and campaigners have welcomed the BBC’s decision.

BBC Three Counties presenter Ed Adoo, who recently announced he is leaving his Sunday night show on the station following disillusionment over the corporation’s original proposals cautiously welcomed the announcement.

He said: “It’s also great news that they are going to give the programmes more exposure by moving them from Sundays to a Monday and Friday slot and expanding their reach by increasing the number of stations that broadcast them.

“I hope they will maintain and look after these shows, truly invest in them, and finally acknowledge what these shows bring to the BBC. Even though it looks like the programmes have been saved I think there’s still a question mark as to whether they will still be local or there’ll be a regional element to them.”

Adoo also praised The Voice’s role in highlighting the importance of these programmes for underrepresented communities.

“I think The Voice’s coverage definitely helped to save these programmes and keep them on air. That’s what I’ve heard from  other BBC colleagues as well” he said. “Without The Voice, I don’t think the community would have known about the proposed changes.

“The Voice has always worked closely with all the black shows on BBC so in a sense, it’s part of a shared community spirit where we work together on content that reflects it relates to the audiences and community.”

Adoo continued: “There’s not enough outlets, which cover the black stories or give a platform to black voices. Things may have changed and since George Floyd, we maybe seen more people of colour on TV and radio, but there’s still got a long way to go in my opinion.

“If there aren’t platforms like The Voice and the black programmes on BBC radio where we can talk about issues such as Windrush or sickle cell for example then we’ve got problems because the other outlets aren’t going to touch these stories.”

Marcus Ryder, Head of External Consultancies at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity also hailed The Voice’s role in the campaign to keep the BBC’s black and Asian shows on air.

“I believe the BBC’s decision is testimony to why we need publications like The Voice,  why we need independent black news organisations to cover the things which are of intefrest to us” he said. “I don’t know anything about the internal meetings that were held at BBC had.

“But everybody I’ve spoken to thinks The Voice’s news coverage was absolutely instrumental in making sure that what is a predominantly white BBC senior management recognise the absolute jewel they have in these programmes.  It takes news organisations like The Voice to pick it up. Once it did others like Eastern Eye and other trade publications picked it up as well.”

Speaking about the BBC’s new proposals Ryder said: “It’s great news. It looks like the BBC has recognised what it’s there for. One of the key things it’s there for is to meet market failure. And these programmes are not met by the commercial market. If they’re going to make cuts, the one thing that can’t cut are programmes which are not being provided by the commercial market. on the face of it is, it’s, it’s great.”

However while also welcoming the news, black BBC staff members whom The Voice spoke to following the latest announcements remain wary. Questions remain over production spend the shows will receive and whether or not the shows will become regional shows rather than the local programmes they are currently.

Also given the corporation’s need for budget cuts, there is also uncertainty about whether or not the same production teams will remain in place. The Voice understands that staff are due to meet with senior BBC bosses in the near future to discuss the new proposals.

Ryder said it was right that black staff in the corporation and equality campaigners remained cautious.

“I think there is a major issue around production spend. So we do need to have a grown-up conversation about money. The last census shows that people of colour make up over 18 per cent of the population in England and Wales” he said.

“There is no way that 18 per cent of the licence fee is being spent on black and Asian programming. Now, there is an argument that we also watch  mainstream programming like EastEnders for example.

“But we’re nowhere close to even having a proper discussion right now as to what percentage spend of the licence fee should be being spent on black and Asian programming in relation to the size of the population that we make up, and how much we contribute to the licence fee. And we need to have those kinds of conversations.”