Why BBC Midlands Today has been pulled off air tonight and what will replace it

Why BBC Midlands Today has been pulled off air tonight and what will replace it

Postby dutchman » Wed Jun 07, 2023 8:47 pm

The usual 6.30pm show on BBC1 will not be aired

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Striking BBC staff have led to the last minute cancellation of Midlands Today tonight. The show, which usually airs at 6.30pm, has been pulled off the schedule tonight (June 7).

In its place will be an episode of Garden Rescue instead, according to a BirminghamLive report. This is because some staff who work on the show have joined BBC WM journalists on the picket line, to show solidarity to their strike action over proposed cuts to local radio services.

Union members at BBC Radio WM have started the first of what are two days of walk-outs in protest to planned changes to local BBC radio services. A picket line was set up outside the BBC studio in Birmingham city centre earlier today (June 7).

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) says that 80 per cent of its members have backed the industrial action. A picket took place on the steps of the Mailbox and outside the BBC studio today, June 7, on the first day of strikes. More than 80 per cent of members of the National Union of Journalists across England backed the walkout.

Why are BBC radio staff striking?

Under BBC proposals, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire will share a week day afternoon ‘drive’ show with BBC WM. Evening and weekend programming would either be regional or even national, with the exception of news bulletins and sports coverage.

Paul Siegert, the NUJ’s Broadcasting Organiser, said “Members have shared their disappointment over the treatment of colleagues who have had to re-apply for their jobs. Results of the (no confidence) vote indicate the strength of feeling among many journalists, alongside frustrations about the BBC’s handling of the dispute. Members wants to avoid strike action and stay doing the jobs they love. The NUJ is urging the BBC to reconsider its plans that will devastate the landscape of Local Radio."

A BBC spokesperson said: “We understand this is a difficult period of change for many colleagues and we will continue to support everyone affected by the plans to strengthen our local online services across news and audio. Our goal is to deliver a local service across TV, radio and online that offers more value to more people in more local communities. While the plans do impact on individual roles, we are maintaining our overall investment in local services and expect our overall level of editorial staffing across England to remain unchanged.”

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