Radio station 'dedicated to North Devon'
THE head of a Devon radio station has invited councillors to its Exeter studios to demonstrate how local the station can be.
Sara Bond, managing director of Heart Devon, will host North Devon Council leader Brian Greenslade and members of the executive committee in the hope of demonstrating the station's dedication to North Devon.
The visit next month comes just weeks after the council publicly stated its support for independent North Devon radio station The Voice, which is headed by former Lantern FM presenter Ian Starling.
Members of the council's executive committee said they unanimously agreed that a truly local radio station was vital for the community and economy of North Devon and agreed to support The Voice wherever possible.
But Heart Devon manager Sara Bond says the people of North Devon needed a broader view of the issues involved.
She said: "We have been broadcasting across Devon for a little over two years and have built a strong loyal audience and a large number of new local advertisers. Almost 50,000 people in North Devon listen to Heart for more than 400,000 hours each week – that's more than one in three people.
"When the councillors come to see the studios we will show them how we do split links which can be very local. In fact in the past month we have carried 70 news stories from North Devon. We also plan to update councillors on the investment we have made and discuss our programming, news and Heart Angel activity."
Next week's Journal will feature an exclusive head-to-head debate between Heart managing director Sara Bond and head of The Voice radio station Ian Starling.
3 Comments
by dyingtown
Monday, June 20 2011, 4:06PM
“As someone who is interested in LOCAl newws and LOCAL travel and LOCAL weather I don't care what is happening in Exeter. Actually I care about what is happening in Exeter as much as people in Exeter care about what is happening in Barnstaple or Bideford or Holsworthy or Parkham or well, you get the idea. Heart is NOT relevant to North Devon!”
by fransam
Thursday, June 16 2011, 5:14PM
“I fail to see why it matters who owns what or who owns the company that owns the company that owns the company that owns Heart! Irrelevant! As a layperson who occasionally listens( and sometimes enjoys!) radio of all types, I have been disappointed (even saddened) at how this 'campaign' has degenerated into a slanging match. From what I've seen, as a neutral/impartial observer(!), it seems that members of the 'Voice Camp' (with the exception of Mr Starling) have become prone to name calling and making unsubstantiative accusations of Heart and a duly appointed organisation, Ofcom. Shame. Why not combine and have some input to the Heart station? At the end of the day there'll be a 'winner' (for want of a better word) and a loser(ditto). As for us, the listeners, all we want surely is bit of music, a bit of chat and a bit of relevant local news/travel. Simple! I for one will be glad when this episode is over and peace is restored to the overused airwaves.!! Hopefully both sides will shake hands and make up!!!!”
by Jamesbraunton
Thursday, June 16 2011, 4:10PM
“Heart Devon is no more local than BBC Radio Devon. It is part of Global, Britain's largest commercial radio group, hundreds of stations networked nationwide, overseas internet stations. Millionaire boss Charles Allen is also a director of Tesco, Virgin media, EMI music, London Olympic Committee etc., etc. It was a bad move for Ofcom to "give away" local North Devon radio to such a wordly conglomerate.”