The retreat of the BBC from its international audience (World Service must be fully state-funded to counter disinformation, say BBC bosses, 12 March) includes the decision to make BBC Sounds unavailable to international listeners and replace it with BBC.com from this spring. The practical effect of this cutback is to limit access by international listeners to audio except for podcasts, the World Service and Radio 4. In particular, Radio 3 will no longer be available.
This is a very sad move for those of us outside the UK who have for many years enjoyed the constant companionship of Radio 3, with its outstanding presenters and music. During Covid, the Guardian published my letter saying how much of a comfort it was in those difficult days to be able to listen to the station while reading the Guardian. That has continued to be the case.
I hope something can be done to preserve Radio 3 as the best international classical music station, at least in the English-speaking world. Like the news stations, it forms an important part of the UK’s soft power. In these troubled times, we need more not less BBC.
Jim Reynolds
Vancouver, Canada
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