‘Devastated!’ Listeners in France respond to loss of BBC Sounds

We have received a lot of reader comments following our letter BBC downsizing will hurt listeners in France about the BBC’s plans to close BBC Sounds for international listeners. We have selected some here:

D.D: Devastated! It is such an important input into my well being, all my adult life. I live alone in France, speak French reasonably well and am well integrated, but the importance of one's first language and continuing basic access to one's first culture is a crucial part of my life and keeps me sane in hard times.

M.G: If only the BBC thought to suggest that overseas listeners make a voluntary payment for their listening! I'm sure many of us living in France would gladly cough up.

Instead, they seek to deny access to those of us who use their services but, living outside the UK, are unable to pay for them. This is a punitive reaction, which will only serve to limit everyone's enjoyment. To try and justify it as providing "better quality" for those licence-payers within the UK smacks of hypocrisy.

B.E: I only really listen to Radio 3 so the curtailing of this programme is going to be devastating - why are they doing it! Most programme producers are delighted to have a world-wide audience as well as just people in the home country. No doubt the lack of advanced warning is to prevent there being an avalanche of letters, petitions, complaints beforehand which will embarrass the BBC and maybe the UK Government - so much for soft power! 

M.V: This is very, very disappointing…. Not only will this affect expats but French friends also access the BBC. It is indeed a strange cost-cutting. Will a VPN work one wonders.

B.D: Hello, I'm horrified that the BBC will withdraw what I see as a right as well as a fundamental pleasure for British nationals abroad to listen to the wonderful BBC… can we petition? England is fast disappearing from France at an alarming rate.