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BBC Asian Network announces presenter rejig in bid to attract younger audience
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 19 October 2016
The BBC Asian Network has announced a big rejig of its presenter line-up in a bid to attract a younger British Asian audience, utilising changes to the station’s licence commitments as set by the BBC Trust with regard to non-English language programming.
The Trust approved proposals from BBC Radio that it remove an obligation to broadcast at least 20 hours of non-English language programming each week, the Beeb arguing that removing those commitments would allow the station to “focus on reaching a younger British Asian audience”.
The changes, due to come into action on 9 Jan next year, will see a new selection of presenters taking on weeknight programming. Comedians Mawaan Rizwan and Emily Lloyd-Saini will take over Monday nights, and fellow comedian Guz Khan Tuesdays. Another new show, Friday Night Residency, will fill the 9pm to midnight slot on Fridays (obviously) with a different DJ each week, the first of which will be Jasmine Takhar.
Yasser’s BBC Introducing show will move to Wednesday nights, and he’ll also take over the Official Asian Music Chart show on Saturday afternoons. Harpz Kaur, meanwhile, will move to weekend breakfasts.
“These changes to BBC Asian Network’s ‘service licence’ are necessary to help the station evolve its unique offer for the younger British Asian community whilst remaining as distinctive and relevant as ever”, says BBC Radio man Bob Shennan. “The station will still be culturally rich and showcase the best content from across Asian communities, and it will continue to incorporate South Asian language in its programming where editorially appropriate”.
Head Of Programmes Mark Strippel adds: “This is another milestone for BBC Asian Network, a station that is continually evolving, has more listeners than ever before, and is looking firmly to the future. I’m excited to be introducing some brilliant new talents in Mawaan, Emily, Parle and Jasmine to the station, but would also like to thank [departing presenters] Ray Khan, Alpa Pandya and Suzi Mann for their massive contribution”.
Another newcomer, YouTube star Parle Patel, will have a show on Sunday nights, which gets the jump on the other changes by starting on 6 Nov.
