brand new beeb
BBC to launch FOUR new radio stations with Steve Wright returning to front new spin-off in bid to lure viewers back
The new stations will span a range of genres and decades in music
THE BBC have confirmed they are launching FOUR brand new radio stations in a bid to keep up with commercial competition and draw listeners back in.
These new plans will see a range of programming brought to the airwaves in order to enhance the listener experience.
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Amongst the brand new channels will be a brand new BBC Radio 2 spin-off station dedicated to playing classic hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
The news is likely to come as a surprise to commercial rivals, including Heart FM and Greatest Hits Radio, who have been producing decade and genre-based spin-off stations for quite some time.
Whilst yet to be formally named, the radio station is set to capture the essence of Radio 2 with a playlist dedicated to yesteryear.
The BBC said the station would "bring heritage artist catalogues and stories to life in a much deeper and more richly textured manner than the main mixed-genre Radio 2 schedule can allow."
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Steve Wright will be part of the schedule as he returns in a different capacity to host a dedicated version of his Sunday Love Songs show that will feature music curated for the new spin-off station whilst being simulcast on BBC Radio 2.
As well as that, a slate of new commissions will be broadcast on the network.
Elsewhere. BBC Radio 1 will be launching a brand new youth-orientated station focusing on 2000s and 2010s hits not commonly played on the main station.
It is thought that it will take inspiration from the Radio 1 Anthems programme to broadcast similar sounds all-week round.
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It will allow music that is slightly older than the current chart hits but created for the Radio 1 audience, be able to be heard on a more regular basis.
BBC Radio 3 will also be handed a spin-off station that will allow listeners to "unwind, de-stress and escape the pressures of daily life".
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With a focus on calming classical music, it is also expected to feature a range of content from the BBC proms.
Finally, Radio 1 Dance looks set to be retooled and be available on DAB radio for the first time having previously existed solely online.
Speaking of the decision to launch the station, the BBC's directors of music, Lorna Clark said: "Our stations have captured the history of music in the UK during the past six decades for our audiences, and we now want to give them more choice from the BBC as listening habits are changing.
"Our extensions for Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 3 will allow listeners to deep-dive into more pop and classical genres and periods of music they love the most, uniquely created by the BBC."
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