Unpacking the box of delights: how BBC Radio 4 embraces the short-form feature

Resumo

The proliferation of podcasting and on-demand services like NPR One challenges linear broadcast radio. Not only does “on demand” radio allow consumers a choice of content style but also of content length and audio feature makers now have greater flexibility to create pieces of any length that they choose. The recent podcast “Serial”, produced by the makers of “This American Life”, highlights how producers are utilising this flexibility in their practice with great success. How does a major linear broadcast station like BBC Radio 4 react to this challenge and adapt to these changing consumer tastes and desires? How can a broadcaster of this nature embrace six and seven minute features in any meaningful sense? This paper examines a recent BBC commission that repurposes existing and specially commissioned short radio features and curates these into cohesive programmes that work within the BBC’s rigid schedule. “Short Cuts” (featuring the comedian Josie Long) has now established itself into the BBC Radio 4 schedule. This paper will examine this programme as a case study. This study will look to examine and draw conclusions as to how the BBC can harness the energy, enthusiasm and content of amateur and independent radio producers and make that work
within a schedule of structured hour and half-hour programming.