BBC: BBC 6 Music and Asian Network face axe in shake-up

Mark Thompson explains why the review suggests 6 Music should be closed.
Digital radio stations BBC 6 Music and Asian Network are facing closure as part of a shake-up of the corporation, the director general has announced.

The strategy review will now go out to public consultation.

6 Music presenter Adam Buxton said he did not understand why a station with such devoted listeners had to close.

The review, which has been submitted to the BBC Trust, said more money will be ploughed into international news and the BBC must put a higher proportion of the licence fee into quality programmes to make "fewer things better".

Mr Thompson has denied that the proposals have anything to do with the forthcoming election.

"The proposed changes we are announcing today are not a piece of politics. It is also not a blueprint of a small BBC or a BBC that is in retreat from digital," he said.

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