Asian Network receives reprieve

It's reported that the BBC are reconsidering their decision to axe Asian Network. The station that was under threat along with BBC 6 Music has had a peak audience of 477,000 in the last three months of 2010, 33% up on the previous year.

The BBC Trust report last year, while glowing about 6 Music, gave little comfort to the Asian community station. The news has been received with some surprise. Punjabi Hit Squad who have a show on the station said: ‘It is good news that the station is recognised as being vital to the BBC, but it’s not out of the woods yet.”

The station is host to other high profile Asian DJs including Bobby Friction and Nihal, as well as breakfast presenter Sonia Deol.

The campaign to save the station has been active with rallies and marches including dhol drummers. It has also enlisted celebrity support from the like of Meera Syal, Olympic medal-winning boxer Amir Khan and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.