Network Z - BBC 7 - BBC Radio 7 now becomes BBC Radio 4 Extra, with an 'E'
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Back in 2002, the BBC decided it needed to provide additional listening options for the digital radio listener. Five new services were proposed for the capacity the BBC had on DAB digital radio and digital satellite.
The sport section of Radio 4's long wave service became the longest named service, BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra. The Asian Network was promoted from a Midlands-only AM service.
The three other networks were codenamed "Network X", "Network Y" and "Network Z".
"Network X" became "1Xtra", "Network Y" launched as "6Music" and "Network Z" became "BBC7".
BBC Radio 1Xtra, as it now is, is still close to the original remit of "contemporary black music to a young audience and break new, non-chart UK talent".
BBC Radio 6 Music, has moved somewhat from the remit of "BBC archives of concerts and music interviews to explore music from the 1970s to the 1990s", and is now a very popular off-playlist music station.
BBC Radio 7 was intended to provide "spoken-word entertainment in a way which will encourage new listeners to speech radio".
In the next month, BBC Radio 7 will become, with a suitable 'correct' spelling, BBC Radio 4 Extra. There will be little change to the content of the station, aside from the dropping of the Cbeebies Radio service and the provision of some extended contemporary BBC Radio 4 programmes such as Now Show Extra and News Quiz Extra and Desert Island Discs Revisited.
12:19 AM
I'm glad to hear the end of Cbeebies; there was nothing more annoying than them waking me up in the early hours with their music. I have radio 7 on all night to help me sleep. I like to doze off listening to a story. Get rid of the comedy programming and the channel will be bliss.
Can anything be done to improve the podcasts from BBC7 which frequently restart?
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Joe: I must admit I mainly listen to the comedy, via the iPlayer.
I can't say I've ever had any problems with the podcasts. How are you listening to them?
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8:19 AM
Joe: I'm also glad to see the CBeebies go, but I am one who would hope the comedy was left as is...or even added to. I very much enjoy it.
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Simon: There's so much good old comedy on BBC Radio 7, everything from Round The Horne via Yes, Minister to Radio Shuttleworth, On The Hour and The Now Show.
The Comedy Club is a great way to discover comedians who's early work you missed out on.
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2:34 PM
I have been listening to Barchester Chronicles on BBC Radio 7. Please can you tell me the name of the music used in the Dr. Thorne episodes?
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9:33 PM
Briantist & Simon
I listen to the podcasts via an internet radio, a Clarus Plus. Some of the hiccoughs may be due to fluctuation in my wifi signal strength, but I frequently experience restarts before I get to the end of a story. I was listening to Morse the other night and about 5 mins before the end it restarted. I am convinced that whoever puts the podcasts up cuts them off before the programme has finished. Usually before a story starts you get 5-10 mins of the previous programme and I suspect this intro causes the programme to be cut before it's finished.
I'd like to hear a full story from about 10:00pm but that's when the comedy is on, which is why I opt for the podcasts. What use is a 15 minute segment of a story on podcast?
An end to end story station would suit me fine.
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Joe: I would contact whoever makes your radio and ask them to make their software work properly.
It is hardly the fault of the BBC if your device can't do a simple HTTP file retrieval.
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7:51 PM
Not a single aritcle in this weeks Radio Times about this change from BBC Radio 7 to Radio 4 Extra, apart from the name change in the listings pages. How bizarre for a BBC publication not to cover a significant change to one of its own radio stations. Not really living up to its name is it. Looking forward to AMBRIDGE EXTRA. I don't suppose the new station will be in STEREO on DAB unlike its predecessor ? That would be too much to hope for. Still hopefully it will continue in STEREO on Freeview, Freesat & on line & BBC i-player.
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Pete: There will be no changes to the transmissions other than the change of name (and graphics). How can the station change to stereo on DAB when the multiplex is already at capacity?
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Radio 7 is to become Radio 4 Extra.
If one day it plays the same Radio 4 programs only, then they could close Radio 4 Extra and transmit Radio 4 in stereo.
Less choice, but in stereo.
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