Radio Foyle's North West Today extended to an hour

BBC Radio Foyle's morning news programme is to be extended from a half hour to an hour in early 2024, the corporation has announced.

North West Today will go on air each weekday from 08:00 to 09:00.

The breakfast news programme replaced Radio Foyle's previous two-hour programme earlier this year as part of schedule and programme changes.

The changes sparked protests from some politicians and community leaders in the north west.

Some assembly members had previously expressed concerns that cuts to programmes on Foyle would turn it into "BBC Greater Belfast".

The BBC said the move, which was part of efforts to save £2.3m and invest more money in online services, was to provide more digital news coverage and radio production from Foyle.

BBC Northern Ireland's head of news and current affairs Kevin Kelly said the extension of the morning programme was good news.

Protestors gathered outside the Radio Foyle station on Northland Road in November 2022

He added that the BBC's decision follows a review exercise and fulfils a commitment made by director of BBC Northern Ireland Adam Smyth.

"North West Today's longer duration will complement everything that we're doing to enhance digital newsgathering and output from Foyle," he said.

"We've made real progress in this area and expect that to continue - making even more effective use of the BBC's Foyle newsroom and helping to bring their work to a wider audience."

'Investment needed'

Foyle MP and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, who last year raised concerns around cuts to BBC Radio Foyle at Prime Minister's Questions, welcomed Wednesday's announcement.

"This is really good news and it's entirely down to the hard-fought campaign from BBC staff in Derry as well as Radio Foyle's loyal listeners in the city.

"If decision makers at BBC Northern Ireland thought that Derry would take these cuts sitting down then they totally underestimated our city and its pride in our local broadcasters".

Mr Eastwood said the Derry-based station now "needs to benefit from a serious programme of investment that enhances services in our city".

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said it was "delighted" by the programme's extension.

"It is what the listeners deserve and NUJ members can't wait for the launch in January," Paul Siegert, NUJ national broadcasting organiser, said.

Mr Siegert said NUJ members have "shown that not only can they provide digital content but also a bespoke 60 minutes of breakfast radio for the Derry community and the surrounding area".