Derry BBC staff congratulated as Foyle morning show extended

BBC staff in Derry have been congratulated following confirmation the North West Today programme on Radio Foyle will be extended to an hour each morning. 

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP said the hard campaigning of BBC staff, the public in Derry and the NUJ had pushed the BBC to a new position that will benefit listeners in the city.

Mr Eastwood MP has made representations to the Prime Minister, the BBC Director General and the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee about cuts to programming at Radio Foyle this year.

He said: "This is really good news and it’s entirely down to the hard fought campaign from BBC staff in Derry as well as Radio Foyle’s loyal listeners in the city. 

“Since the initial decision to make unacceptable cuts to Radio Foyle’s programming, we have brought this issue to the top of the political establishment. I have raised it with the British Prime Minister, the Director General of the BBC and the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee. If decision makers at BBC Northern Ireland thought that Derry would take these cuts sitting down then they totally underestimated our city and its pride in our local broadcasters.

“This isn’t the end of the matter, either. Radio Foyle needs to benefit from a serious programme of investment that enhances services in our city.”