Consultation: Changes to BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Asian Network

This consultation sets out Ofcom’s provisional view on the BBC’s request to make two changes to its Operating Licence.

It has requested that the news and current affairs quota for BBC Radio Foyle be reduced from 1,043 hours to 710 hours each financial year. It has also requested a reduction in the news and current affairs quota for BBC Asian Network from 1,224 hours to 675 hours per year. In both cases, the BBC has explained the changes are driven by it seeking to better serve audience needs and as a result of investing more in online and digital services at a time of significant financial constraints.

The BBC is required under Public Purpose 1 to provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them. As audience habits continue to develop, it is important that the BBC is able to deliver news and current affairs output where audiences are most likely to find it and in ways that resonate with them.

Audiences of all ages, and particularly those under 35, are continuing to migrate online, relying less on traditional broadcast TV and radio services. Trends in Northern Ireland are no different and although local radio remains a key source for news and information, online platforms are now cited as one of the primary ways (alongside TV) that audiences access news in Northern Ireland. British Asian audiences mirror these trends. At the same time the audience age profile for the BBC Asian Network station, which targets audiences under 35 years old, has risen. Within this context, the BBC has requested changes to its Operating Licence conditions for BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Asian Network.

What we are proposing

We propose to approve the BBC’s requests to reduce the news and current affairs quotas on BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Asian Network. We consider that the amended quotas would be appropriate for requiring the BBC to fulfil its Mission and promote its Public Purposes and the changes have the potential to meet audience needs given changing viewing habits.

We would expect the BBC to monitor the impact of any changes on audience engagement, to ensure that where necessary it continues to adapt to better serve audiences. To hold the BBC to account, as well as ensuring compliance with its quotas, we would continue to assess performance. This would include how the BBC delivers news and current affairs to audiences across all of its services, including monitoring audience satisfaction, and reporting on this as part of our Annual Report. We also note our ongoing ability to step in should concerns arise about the BBC’s performance.

We are now seeking views from interested or affected parties on the proposals set out in this consultation by 26 June 2025.

The overview section in this document is a simplified high-level summary only. The proposals we are consulting on and our reasoning are set out in the full document.

Responding to this consultation

Please submit responses using the consultation response form no later than 5pm 26 June 2025.