º£½ÇÊÓÆµ

Oops.

Our website is temporarily unavailable in your location.

We are working hard to get it back online.

PRIVACY
Economic Development

Midlands 'still snubbed' by BBC, say campaigners

Pending departure of top Corporation boss from the region sparks criticism over its commitment

Tommy Nagra, outgoing head of BBC Birmingham

Campaigners claim the is still selling Birmingham short after - to return to Salford.

Tommy Nagra, a figurehead for change at the BBC in the Midlands, will step down in March after little more than a year in the role.

While his tenure saw a rise in employment at offices – principally through talent centre the BBC Academy moving to the city – campaigners believe Birmingham is still the broadcaster's poor relation.

The Midlands pays more into BBC coffers than any other º£½ÇÊÓÆµ region through the licence fee – more than £900 million – but its investment here is less than anywhere else, according to data unveiled by the Campaign for Regional Broadcasting Midlands (CRBM).

Following Mr Nagra's departure, its chairman Mike Bradley said: "When Tommy came to Birmingham, there had been so many cutbacks over the previous 15 years, that the Midlands was the only BBC region of seven that did not have a network television studio in which to make programming.

"Also, BBC Midlands contributed zero per cent of programming to Radio One, Radio Two, Radio Three, Radio Five, Radio Six, BBC2 or peaktime BBC One. All of this remains the same. Nothing has changed.

"Over on Radio Four there is The Archers and The Homefront, a World War One series of ten-minute dramas that both contribute 2.7 per cent of Radio Four output.

"This is an appalling record for a broadcaster that receives over £940 million each year from the Midland licence fee and which is required by parliament to 'represent the regions to the nation'.