The BBC Trust is to launch a review of the corporation’s local radio stations after a period of long-term audience decline and cuts.
The trust will look at the corporation’s position on the local media environment at a time when the impact of the BBC on its commercial rivals has been highlighted by chancellor George Osborne, who accused it of having “imperial ambitions”.
One of a series of regular, ongoing reviews by the trust, it will be the first to look at both local radio and the BBC’s local news and current affairs programming on TV and radio across England, as well as online.
The BBC’s combined audience across all of its local radio stations fell by half a million listeners in a year, to 8.8 million in the first three months ofr 2015, down from 9.3 million in 2014. Its share of the audience fell from 8.3% to 7.6% over the same period.
Over the longer term, the fall has been steeper, from nearly 10 million listeners in 2010, when it had a 10.3% share.
BBC local radio cost a total of £149.6m last year, more than Radio 4 (£120.6m).
Its budget was cut by around £8m a year three years ago, approximately half a proposed package of £15m of cuts after they were rejected by the BBC Trust following protests from listeners and MPs.
John Myers, who carried out a review of BBC local radio in 2012 proposing big management cuts, earlier this year accused BBC local radio of a “crazy obsession with news” that was “driving people out of the door”.
Mark Florman, its trustee for England, said: “Our last review of local radio showed us how greatly valued the BBC’s local services are – they are a companion to many and a lifeline in local emergencies.
“We want to bring things up to date and hear from audiences what they think about their local BBC services on radio, television and online right now. We want to know what you think about the content, variety and quality of programming – your opinion matters, so please get in touch and tell us how well you think they are doing.”
The trust said: “Whilst not formally assessing market impact, the review will consider the BBC’s position in the local media environment and how its local news provision currently fits with that provided by others.
“The review will also look at whether local radio and local news is equipped for changes to listening and viewing habits, including responding to technological shifts.”
The review will include a public consultation to which people can also tweet, #localreview. The review will be published early next year.