MEDIA bosses claim they are not about to slash broadcasting hours at Radio Borders.

Multimedia giants Bauer were this week granted permission to reduce local content at the Tweedbank-based station from a minimum of seven hours to just three on weekdays.

And the application, which was approved by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, states the company can now programme-share from other studios all weekend.

The popular station currently broadcasts from Tweedbank for 11 hours each day during the week and four hours on weekends.

But despite the application approval Bauer bosses claim there are no immediate plans for change.

Graham Bryce, group managing director said: "There are no immediate plans to make any changes to local programming at Radio Borders, however we are constantly reviewing our business to meet the changing needs of listeners and advertisers.

"These requests provide the flexibility to review our business on a case by case basis to ensure we are fit for the future in an increasingly competitive, digital and voice-activated world."

Bauer's main rivals Global, which runs stations such as Capital, Heart and Smooth in cities across the UK, also reduced its local content earlier this year by scrapping regional breakfast shows.

And the Ofcom approval could pave the way for a similar change in programming at Radio Borders.

The report states: "With regard to the request to broadcast locally-made programming hours from anywhere within the approved area of the South of Scotland, Ofcom was satisfied on the basis that the change requested, if approved, would result in programmes included in the licensed service being made at premises within the South of Scotland approved area.

"In considering the proposed changes to the volume of locally-made hours and the provision of local news bulletins, we were satisfied that the changes would not substantially alter the character of the service.

"We were also satisfied with regard to the request to share all local programming hours with the Ayr, Edinburgh, Dumfries & Galloway and Glasgow & West Central Scotland licences.

"As a matter of general policy, we are content to approve format change requests relating to locally-made programming and programme sharing where all the stations involved are located within the same approved area, provided we are satisfied that the stations involved will continue to meet their licence obligations to provide local material relevant to the listeners in their individual licence areas."