BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music have announced an increase in the number of opportunities for independent production companies at the stations.
Production companies will compete with in-house teams to make programmes including the new Radcliffe and Maconie afternoon show on 6 Music and the midnight-5am weekday output on Radio 2.
It's part of measures to increase the independent production quota of BBC Audio and Music's output to 10 percent by 2012-13.
The tender process is currently underway for the newly announced 6 Music Radcliffe And Maconie Show (weekdays, 1-4pm), The Nemone Weekend Breakfast Show (Saturday and Sunday, 7-10am), the 6 Music Interactive Show, a new Radio 2 Mark Radcliffe Show (Tuesdays 11pm-12), and also for several shows already on 6 Music – Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone (encompassing the Freakier Zone), The 6 Mix, and Craig Charles' Funk and Soul Show.
In the summer, Radio 2 will be introducing a new weekly strand of specialist music short series featuring musical genres not already covered on the network, at least 50% of which will be put out to tender.
Also, in the summer companies will be invited to pitch for Radio 2's midnight to 5am shows – Janice Long (Mondays to Fridays, midnight to 2am) and Alex Lester (Mondays to Fridays, 2-5am), as well as Sounds Of The 60s with Brian Matthew (Saturdays, 8-10am).
Bob Shennan, Controller, Radio 2 and 6 Music, said: "Independent production companies contribute hugely to our creativity at Radio 2 and 6 Music. Their ideas and passion are an essential part of the mix which keeps the networks vibrant and relevant. With these new commissions Radio 2 and 6 Music will continue to build on our strong relationships with the independent sector and provide our audiences with the range and quality of programming they can expect from us."