BBC stations network to combat strikes

A number of BBC local radio stations are sharing programmes today due to industrial action being carried out by the National Union of Journalists.

Whilst national live news programmes on BBC Radio 4 and 5 live are being replaced with archive material, BBC local stations are joining up to share presenters or are putting management on-air.

BBC Radio Scotland’s breakfast show didn’t go ahead as planned, instead it joined 5 live at 7am with hourly opt-outs for news bulletins.

BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Sheffield are all simulcasting from 1 till 6pm, whilst Radio’s Lancashire and Merseyside shared output between 6am and 1pm. Radio Lancashire’s Late Show will also be on Radio Manchester and Radio Merseyside this evening.

BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Tees are also planning on sharing the afternoon sequence, from 3pm till 7pm.

Are you striking or have you noticed more sharing? Let us know news@tmssvr.co.uk

Nationally, BBC Radio 4 cancelled The Today Programme, PM, The World at 1 and The World Tonight. 5 live’s morning newsreader Rachael Hodges covered Victoria Derbyshire’s mid-morning show and Ian Payne replaced Nicky Campbell at breakfast.

The BBC said today: “We are disappointed that the NUJ has gone ahead with today’s strike and apologise to our audience for the disruption to services.

“Unfortunately industrial action does not alter the fact that the BBC has significant savings targets and as a consequence may have to make a number of compulsory redundancies. We have made considerable progress in reducing the need for compulsory redundancies through volunteers, redeployment and cancelling vacant positions and we will continue with these efforts.”