London:
In a major shake-up, cash-strapped BBC has announced a raft of new measures, including closure of its Asian Network radio, which enjoys high popularity among South Asians, a measure aimed at cutting down US $890 million in expenditure.
The Asian Network's closure was widely expected following the leak last week of a BBC report based on an internal review.
The BBC director general Mark Thompson announced the closure of the radio station on Tuesday.
The move has been widely criticised by journalists and leading figures among Britain's Asian community, who believe that without the Asian Network, the cultural interests of the community will be obliterated in the public sector broadcasting organisation.
Thompson told BBC today that there will be 25 per cent less budget for BBC online by 2013.
The shake-up will free up an extra 600 million pounds (US $890 million) to be spent on programme-making, he said.
Among the closures will be teen services Switch and Blast radio. The Asian Network is expected to be closed down by the end of 2011, he said.
The strategy review announced by Thompson has been submitted to the BBC Trust and a wider consultation period will take place.