Opening and closing doors: radio drama in the BBC

Abstract

Radio drama has long been a cornerstone of the BBC's public service broadcasting (PSB) remit. Its current state of health might therefore be regarded as an indicator of the BBC's commitment to PSB values in today's ‘convergence environment’. This article compares radio drama production and the commissioning process in the late 1980s with contemporary practice, drawing on a participant observation study reported in Scannell's Broadcast Talk and on recent research. The introduction of new technology in production and management has affected creative practice, but a more significant influence has been a changed management culture and the radical restructuring it has overseen.