Research commissioned by Children 2000, one of the organisations that is calling for the network, found widespread support for children's radio among the 2,000 adults surveyed: 23 per cent said a children's service was more important than the BBC's five digital stations, which include 5 Live Extra, R7, 6 Music, Radio 1Xtra and the Asian Network. The next most popular radio station was 5 Live Extra, a sports channel, with 19 per cent of adults choosing it.
A lobbying organisation called the Sound Start group has put forward proposals for a children's network that would feature songs, stories, games, quizzes and music and movement and aim to improve children's listening and language skills. It estimates that a two-year trial of the network, which would be run in partnership with the BBC, would cost £3.6m. It says that the Asian Network's annual service budget is £9.2m.
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