Having a Heart FM
I AM writing following the publication of a letter from Matthew Webber of Barnstaple (Radio ruin on the cards, Journal, May 19).
I believe it is important that Journal readers have a broader view of the issues involved, rather than the emotive and one-sided perspective outlined by Mr Webber.
Heart FM has been broadcasting across Devon for little over two years, and during this time it has built a strong loyal audience and attracted a large number of new local advertisers. Almost 50,000 people in North Devon listen to Heart FM for more than 400,000 hours each week. That's more than one in every three people in North Devon.
Mr Webber is correct in saying Heart co-located from Barnstaple to Exeter in August last year, but he suggests this was some unilateral decision by the owners to disenfranchise the people of North Devon. What nonsense!
He is clearly unaware that the radio industry regulator, Ofcom, created this opportunity for broadcasters across the UK as part of the commercial radio local-ness regulation published on April 15, 2010.
This was a policy to help create a strong, well financed commercial radio industry as opposed to a plethora of small stations struggling to survive. It was a sensible decision by Ofcom, and commercial radio stations across the country have taken advantage of the new regulations so that they can continue to invest in their businesses.
Of course Heart has its commitments to all parts of Devon, no matter that our studios are now located in Exeter. We have local news teams and since the beginning of May, Heart FM has broadcast more than 70 separate stories relating to North Devon in our bulletins; we are deeply committed to the region.
Our Have a Heart charity which raises funds nationally and makes local awards, has supported many charities including Little Bridge House in Fremington, as part of Children's Hospice UK, and a recent Heart FM auction by our breakfast team raised more than £1,000 for another local charity. The worthwhile fundraising continues.
Unfortunately Mr Webber spends much of his letter bemoaning digital radio and what it will mean for North Devon. He claims that if digital radio is extended to North Devon, it will mean that FM radios will stop working as early as 2015 and that 10 per cent of the population will never be able to receive digital radio. This is scare-mongering. The Government has made it clear that there will be no digital switchover in radio until listeners are ready and no FM signals will be switched off until digital coverage reaches FM levels. Rather than digital sounding the death knell for local radio, the move to digital will actually free up frequencies for more community radio stations which will remain on FM. There is no reason why listeners in North Devon should not be able to enjoy the increased choice provided by digital radio.
We need to ensure that the local economy and businesses in particular can maximise their potential in the new digital age. We have just seen a massive injection of cash from the Government to roll out broadband into rural areas such as North Devon which also includes the whole of Devon and Somerset, an initiative that I'm passionate about and of which I personally lobbied for.
SARA BOND,
Managing Director,
Heart Devon.
6 Comments
by jennyr88
Tuesday, June 21 2011, 7:58AM
“Valid case but as a "Local" myself, and an ex listener of heart.. im affraid i can not fully agree, we get no local news reports of traffic info...we did before they moved to exeter! so how is this ofcom making it better for local communities?! When we had the bad snow no one could find any info on any of our local road states and school closures like we would of done even from heart pre the move to exeter! So im sorry but this not a service to local people its an insult to them!!”
by TomEX39
Monday, June 20 2011, 11:58PM
“I would listen to it more it wasn't like listening to a broken CD. They seem to play the same 10 or so songs constantly all day, it gets both boring and annoying. Even the oldies are the same, Man in the Mirror, Dirty Dancing, Don't Stop Me Now, Take on me. Yet they have the cheek to declare it's "more music variety"! It's perfectly good music but it's no variety whatsoever!”
by Roy1265
Sunday, June 19 2011, 12:58PM
“In principle I agree with many of the comments made by Fransam, there is no value in scare mongering or hype regarding the loss of local radio, what is needed is simply the facts. Neither is there any value in a media war between Heart FM and The Voice. Heart do a good job, with good presenters and interesting features, there is most definitely a place for what they provide. In his comments Fransam states; "Instead of trying to knock out the competition why not see if both can exist side by side?" The Voice and its team would happily co-exist with Heart FM, this would give the listeners the choice of which service they prefer. Unfortunately however, at present, OFCOM will not allow a second licence within North Devon, this being the case, listeners have little choice of service. As far as local news goes, yes we do have the North Devon Journal and the North Devon Gazette, and what a fantastic job they do. However the real loss of local news is really about up-to-date events that affect us in real time, such as traffic and travel problems and school closures that impact massively on local people and local services. Nothing can keep us more informed about relevant 'real time' incidents effecting North Devon than a truly local North Devon Radio service driven by presenters and management who know the area well. I have no desire to be negative about Heart FM, as already stated they do a good job, but they simply cannot keep us informed about events effecting North Devon from a base in Exeter 54 miles away! Whatever the outcome, let us hope that as a result of this local radio campaign, North Devon is well represented with relevant and up-to-date content from whatever service we are ultimately offered.”
by easypreacher
Friday, June 17 2011, 1:18PM
“"Almost 50,000 people in North Devon listen to Heart FM for more than 400,000 hours each week." So that would be 1 person listens for 8 hours per week (or 1.14285 hours per day) doesn't sound so impressive now does it.”
by fransam
Thursday, June 16 2011, 10:19PM
“Sara Bond of Heart makes a good case and nice to read her informative text rather than alarmist rantings from others. Perhaps if those who claim to be pro-Voice spent more time calmly putting their informed views across rather than hype it all up with claims of "the death of local radio"..and "the end of local news" (we still have the Journal and Gazette remember!) then their cause would be better placed. Sarcastic propaganda only results in self-harm.Instead of trying to knock out the competition why not see if both can exist side by side? Would it be feasible? Is it legally viable? I'd like to say though that Mr Starling deserves respect for his impressive and consistent hard work in getting The Voice off the ground.Whatever the outcome he should be proud of what he has achieved. Others would have given up long before now.”
by Voxsilens
Thursday, June 16 2011, 5:16PM
“70 stories on North Devon since the beginning of May equates to approx. 1.5 stories per day - hardly constitutes a 'deep commitment to the region'. It's all too little too late. In any case, the evidence is out there - examination of Heart's past record across the UK, both with respect to broadcasting and their website, clearly shows their level of commitment to the 'local' regions they cover.”