Absolute Radio open to saving BBC 6 Music

Absolute Radio could step in and save BBC 6 Music from closure, the company’s chief operating officer has confirmed.

The BBC is reportedly considering axing the station as part of a large overhaul of its digital services. The news has provoked widespread backlash from fans of stations such as 6 Music.

However, Absolute’s chief operating officer Clive Dickens says that the company is optimistic about the station’s commercial structure, and told reporters: “We would buy 6 Music from the BBC, both the brand and the network, and we’d run it more efficiently than they’ve been doing.”

Absolute, formerly known as Virgin Radio, has double 6 Music’s listenership but only half of its budget. Dickens says: “The passion that we’re seeing from listeners shows there’s nothing wrong with the station, it’s just been overfunded.”

“It would stand a better chance of succeeding if it was run commercially. It could be a complementary service that could be run alongside our own stations. It wouldn’t generate a lot of cash but it would serve a lot of fans who don’t want to be disenfranchised.”

Industry experts estimate BBC 6 Music could fetch around £3m should the BBC authorise the sale.