Cuts in the output of British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) Radio continue, with the local breakfast show of BFBS Cyprus produced in Dhekelia the latest casualty. The last edition was broadcast on Friday.
BFBS has confirmed that the staffing of BFBS Cyprus has been reduced from ten to six people. Worldwide, there are reported to have been thirty job losses from a total workforce of 168.
Earlier fears that BFBS2 would be completely closed appear to have been unfounded, but as a cost-cutting measure a number of BBC programmes have been dropped from the schedule, apparently because most of their listeners were civilian expats and foreign workers, and listening figures amongst the forces were low.
on Feb 28th, 2009 at 22:32
It are not the BBC programmes they have cancelled, instead own programming of BFBS Radio 2 has been eliminated altogether and replaced by a relay of the UK channel (which also contains BFBS Germany programming).
The channel is also no longer called BFBS Radio 2 but now simply being referred to as “an alternative channel”, with “BFBS Alternative Listening” being the closest thing to a real station name I can recognize. My spin of the situation: BFBS Radio 2 no longer exists since Feb 23 and its former frequencies are now fed with relays only. Note also that acc. the Cyprus Mail article the days of the BBC relays appear to be numbered.
What is beyond me is the circumstance that at the same time BFBS spends money on domestic distribution in the UK. Here in Germany such a domestic service of Radio Andernach (the Bundeswehr broadcasting service) is strictly banned, and some special event services they run together with Bayerischer Rundfunk in the past were already in the grey zone.
Btw, the BFBS transmitters in Osnabrück have been shut down on Feb 27. This concerns not only the former BFBS Radio 2 on 106.3 MHz but also the TV transmitter on channel 48. It was the last BFBS TV transmitter in Germany. Elsewhere they have been replaced by new digital distribution systems, but not at Osnabrück due to the pending closure of the garrison. So it’s indeed the end of an era.
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 06:42
Dear Sir,
As a retired Consultant at TPMH Akrotiri I am appalled by the reduction of BFBS services in Cyprus with the loss of local information that was broadcast in the breakfast show. The loss of many radio 4 programmes and classical music on a Saturday and Sunday mornings is unacceptable. I realise that in the current finacial climate that some restrictions have to be made but the drivel that is now broadcast outside the minimal radio 4 and five live programs with show presenters of very pooor quality is again unacceptable.
I look forward to your response at my email address above with a FULL explanation of the reasons for the reasons of the reduction of services prvided by BFPS especially as it run under the auspices of the BBC to whom I pay a licence fee in UK .
Yours sincerely,
Ian E. Lowles
on Apr 17th, 2009 at 19:39
Here’s a full explanation of why the BFBS service has been augmented to link families of front-line troops serving overseas with their dependants in the UK. Just that. The welfare of our serving forces and their families takes precedence over all other potential listeners. Sadly, our expatriate listeners must come to terms with their decision not to live in their own country. One of those sadnesses is replacing culture with climate. Incidentally, BFBS is NOT run by the BBC but FOR the MOD under contract.
on Apr 18th, 2009 at 11:41
this station now shows up on DAB radios in the uk as it starts on monday.it replaces D1 tests C on the digital on network.
on Jun 24th, 2009 at 16:29
This officious clown, PMcD, has let the cat out of his bag. He shows absolute contempt for his listeners, whether they are serving in the forces now or like me, in the past. As he is employed under contract, the contract can be ended by an incoming Government that cares about defence spending. The campaign should start now to get rid of the idiots who currently have the contract.
on Aug 15th, 2009 at 06:38
One of the radio channels of the bfbs radio in Cyprus is not transmiting for a few days now is there a technical problem or is part of the “economic depression”
hope i will be back soon
thanks, take care
George
xx
on Sep 9th, 2009 at 00:58
As a former Presenter, Producer, Senior Programme Organiser and Station Controller of BFBS I believe I have some credibility to make the following observations. I joined BFBS as a National Serviceman during the time of the EOKA uprising in Cyprus and returned in 1959 as a civilian in time to produce and commentate on Independence day. I ALSO served in Libya, Malta and Germany where I took over the running of the station, during the station controller\’s detachment to London. Before I resigned to found commercial radio in Birmingham= BRMB Radio
The most obvious decline in BFBS is the lack of knowledge of Service life manifested in the prattle of the current presenters who display their ignorance of their audience daily. It is high time that BFBS recruits ex Servicemen rather than the poor quality recruits from British Commercial radio which is in itself in decline. BFBS now operates in a world of MP3 and I Pods sources of music sourced by the owners - thus music on radio is in decline but information and news is not hence the success of BBC Five Live BBC Radio Four and BBC Radio two and the various BBC local stations deeply rooted in the communities they serve. BFBS has lost this vital ingredient on both its radio channels.
Whilst there could be no serious suggestion of returning to Battle Dress broadcasters, American Forces radio has stuck with its mixture of serving personnel as well as civilians and is a far better service to the servicemen and women as BFBS used to be.
Your web site is old hat and static it is merely a biography or presenters. Either modernise and redesign it or drop it.
I look forward to your comments and those of others
John Russell former No 4 FBS, BFBS and now retired in Cyprus
on Dec 20th, 2009 at 17:00
And now BFBS Radio 2 will return…
http://www.bfbs-radio.com/pages/extranet/bfbs-radio-2-is-back-i-1585.php