The Hindu Business Line : BBC's infotainment updates on Radio One

MR NEIL CURRY (right), Head of Business Development, Asia-Pacific, BBC World Service, and Mr L.V. Navaneeth, Station Head, Radio One-Chennai, at a press conference in Chennai on Tuesday. — Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai June 5 FM channel Radio One will ginger up its content with non-news infotainment updates in Tamil by global major BBC. Announcing a tie-up with BBC for providing content, Mr L.V. Navaneeth, Station Head, Radio One-Chennai, said the new 20-minute infotainment updates will be aired once in 20 minutes during the `breakfast show' from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. from June 6. In other words, the infotainment capsules and `breakfast show' features such as film songs, will alternate every 20 minutes.

"In a couple of months from now, this will be aired throughout the day as we have been doing in Delhi and Mumbai," he said.

Changes in programming

That apart, the channel has also made changes in its programming mix to ensure its core promise — pure entertainment — with slice of life or humorous titbits once in every 20 minutes.

According to Mr Navaneeth, the 20-minute plan was conceived after a study that says no one listens to one channel for more than that period of time.

The channel has roped in popular RJ Suchitra to host the breakfast show.

Talking about the programming partnership with Radio One, the BBC's Business Development Head, Asia-Pacific, Mr Neil Curry, said the non-news infotainment updates would focus on business, sports and entertainment.

According to him, outside the UK, 183 million listeners tune into BBC at least once in a week.

`Open to partnership'

Asked whether BBC would form similar partnership with other FM channels, he said BBC is open to the idea, "but only in towns that are not covered by Radio One".

BBC has 20 per cent stake in Mid-Day Multimedia, the promoter of Radio One.

The company has licenses to operate FM stations in four metros and big cities such as Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune.