Defiant BBC defends its services: corporation comes out fighting after commercial radio bosses' call for greater regulation.(Radio)

BBC music radio executives have put up a robust defence of their services after commercial radio bosses accused the Corporation of exploiting its position.

In a public seminar on the BBC Charter review, leading ILR figures, including GWR executive chairman Ralph Bernard and CRCA chief executive Paul Brown, called for more regulation within the BBC as they argued it should not be allowed to continue to cross-promote across different services.

The BBC representatives hit back at last Thursday's hearing, saying Radios One, Two and Three were not necessarily direct competitors with commercial stations--they quoted low crossover or over-lap figures--but were providing something not widely available in the marketplace: a public service, which provided variety of output and music.

The spirit of John Peel was never far from panellists' minds and director of BBC radio and music Jenny Abramsky said that all music stations should champion British music, give access to live music and nurture new talent. She added that Radios One and Two also had a role in moving listeners forward in using new technologies and broadening tastes. She added, "John Peel epitomised what we are and what we should be about."

Radio One controller Andy Parfitt also invoked Peel in describing the responsibilities the station had to an audience with a weekly reach of 10m listeners. He said it provided news; social activity, tackling issues such as drugs and self-harm; and driving the digital market. "My thoughts have been about John over the last 48 hours," said Parfitt. "He was the father of Radio One and the clearest inspiration for all who worked there and a magnet for DJ talent."

Parfitt and Radio Two and 6 Music controller Lesley Douglas found support for their agendas from panellist Tony Wadsworth, EMI Recorded Music chairman and CEO, and ...