Radio 3 'committed to live music'

The station celebrated its 60th birthday earlier this year

BBC Radio 3 has played down fears over planned schedule changes, saying its commitment to live music "remains as strong as it has been".

A spokeswoman admitted there would be fewer concerts broadcast live, but that the proportion of live and pre-recorded concerts would increase overall.

Newspaper reports have suggested more shows would play concert excerpts.

The station will next month announce details of significant schedule changes due to be introduced from February.

The spokeswoman said that the current 2pm to 4pm Afternoon Performance slot would be extended by an hour.

"We are freeing up the afternoon schedule to enable us to cover more classical music."

Coverage would range from big concerts to solo instrumental recitals, she said.

Live broadcasts would continue to feature in the schedule, while other concerts would be played as little as 24 hours after the event, she added.

"We are continuing to broadcast concerts in their entirety.

"Radio 3's commitment to live music playing throughout the UK remains as strong as it has been."

'Different feel'

Sarah Spilsbury, co-ordinator of campaign group Friends of Radio 3, said that some listeners preferred concerts broadcast live.

"If you have a presenter that is actually there on the site describing what is going on in the moment, that gives more of a sense of occasion than having the introductions from the studio," she said.

"Some people do like to feel [the concert] is actually happening now; it's exciting, anything could happen because it's live.

"It's quite a different feel when you know it happened yesterday."