In a passionate display of local solidarity, seven prominent SNP MSPs have mounted a vigorous challenge against Bauer Media Group’s contentious decision to terminate cherished breakfast programmes across MFR, Northsound, and Tay FM radio stations.
The sweeping changes, which have sent shockwaves through communities from Inverness to Aberdeen and Dundee, will see the beloved local morning broadcasts replaced by Edinburgh’s ‘Boogie in the Morning’ show, effectively ending decades of distinctive regional programming that has served as a cultural cornerstone since the 1970s and 80s.
In their forceful letter to Bauer’s Chief Executive, the cross-regional group of parliamentarians, including Highland representative Emma Roddick MSP, emphasised the irreplaceable value of local broadcasting, describing these stations as “the backbone of local communities”.
The MSPs, representing constituencies across the affected broadcast areas, have demanded an urgent meeting with Bauer’s leadership whilst expressing grave concerns about potential job losses across the northern stations.
The controversial move has sparked particular concern in the Highlands, where MFR has long served as a vital connection for remote communities, providing essential local news, weather updates, and community information that many fear cannot be adequately replaced by centralised programming from Edinburgh.
Jackie Dunbar MSP for Aberdeen Donside, speaking on behalf of the group, stressed that “to undervalue local news outlets is to overlook the communities they speak to,” highlighting the growing anxiety about the diminishing presence of local media across the Scottish Highlands and North-East.
The decision represents yet another blow to local broadcasting in the Highlands, following a pattern of centralisation that has increasingly seen regional voices diminished in favour of urban-centric programming.
Local councillors and community leaders across the Highland region have joined the chorus of disapproval, with many pointing out the essential role these stations play during severe weather events and local emergencies.
The MSPs’ intervention reflects a broader concern about the preservation of Highland identity and culture in broadcasting, with fears that the unique character of local radio – which has served generations of Highland families – may be permanently lost to standardised programming from the Central Belt.
As communities await Bauer Media Group’s response to this high-level challenge, the future of local broadcasting in the Highlands hangs precariously in the balance, with many hoping this united political front might yet secure a reprieve for these cherished local institutions.
