BBC 6 Music ' to close by 2011'

The Corporation's director general Mark Thompson made the announcement to staff earlier this morning amid speculation over the weekend that the station would close.

 

Read SSP's blog: More than just a music station: Reasons to save six music:

 

Mr Thompson also there will be 25% less spent on BBC online by 2013. The decision comes amid strong vocal opposition to the cuts in the BBC's output. The proposed cuts to BBC 6 Music has been criticised by listeners and people in the music industry alike.

 

The station, which was founded in 2002, is seen as a leading station for new musical output, it also hosts a large range of comedy content with presenters including Jon Richardson and Richard Herring making regular appearances.

 

Listeners have been posting their feelings to the BBC all morning, while one rapper has penned an open letter to the BBC about the cuts. See his YouTube video here: http://bit.ly/6cutback

 

Thompson pledged that in the future 90p of every licence fee £1 will be spent on programming. The decision is not final until a three-month consultation with the BBC Trust period ends.

 

During the briefing he said the earliest 6 Music and Asian Network would close would be by the end of 2011.