BBC to close 6Music and Asian Network

DigitalRadioTech will be happy, closing two stations will mean free bits

^{Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV 26th February 2010 at 09:45}

According to BBC signals an end to era of expansion - Times Online the BBC might close the least popular two of its national radio staions.

BBC 6 Music was conceived as a radio station to play the BBC's music archive, but has recently rather failed in that regard. The Asian Network is not attracting listeners.

And, as pointed out often at digitalradiotech this will free up bits.

6Music runs at 128kbps, the Asian Network at 64kbps, providing 192kbps.

This could mean that Radio 1, Radio 1Xtra and Radio 2 can be bumped up to 192kbps, just like Radio 3.

Or, perhaps, share the bits around and up these stations to 160kbps, sharing the other 96kbps around making BBC Radio 7 stereo on DAB.

Another idea is to provide the BBC News channel in audio as a replacement service.

And what of number 6? Rename "BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra" to "BBC Radio 6 Live Sport" might be an idea?

A note about DAB bitrates

Someone recently asked about the issue with a make of DAB radio having small silences in the service at the top of each hour.

When the BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra (5LSX) service operates, the 64kbps require to run it is deducted from Radio 3 (32kbps), Radio 4 (48kbps), Radio 5 Live (16kps).

Because some receivers have issues with the bitrates changing, the change of bitrates happens only at the top and half hour.