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Old 31-08-2010, 10:37
wiltshireboy
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[quote=Phillip Swift;43674734]

They must like what they are hearing though although they wouldn't be listening. I refuse to believe that thousands of people will choose to listen to something they don't like just because its broadcast from down the road. I can believe they want travel information and local news but they're still getting that. These licences have not been what you could call "full service" for a very long time.

Like I said people may be suprised to hear that Nick Snaith is not sitting in the studio up the road he's in London but it will not stop them listening. If they wanted masses of local content they'd have stopped listening to these stations years ago. If they listen now and love it they'll keep listening.
It's a bit difficult to accept this argument. in most Heart areas, there's no viable local alternative... theyve seen to that.
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Old 31-08-2010, 10:43
johnny radish
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[quote=Phillip Swift;43674734]

They must like what they are hearing though although they wouldn't be listening. I refuse to believe that thousands of people will choose to listen to something they don't like just because its broadcast from down the road. I can believe they want travel information and local news but they're still getting that. These licences have not been what you could call "full service" for a very long time.

Like I said people may be suprised to hear that Nick Snaith is not sitting in the studio up the road he's in London but it will not stop them listening. If they wanted masses of local content they'd have stopped listening to these stations years ago. If they listen now and love it they'll keep listening.

Totally right, they play to their strengths, people want music they like and know and a very quick heads up on news and travel.
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Old 31-08-2010, 11:14
Phillip Swift
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[quote=wiltshireboy;43674801]

It's a bit difficult to accept this argument. in most Heart areas, there's no viable local alternative... theyve seen to that.
Well then agt most people will dip in and out to hear the local news or travel allthough they can also get this and much more from their local BBC. If local news is what they want the BBC is far better for them than Heart or the station before it.

Why would people subject themselves to something they hate just for the travel news? They just don't do this.
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Old 31-08-2010, 15:58
mbessex
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[quote=Phillip Swift;43674035]

But do you know which Radio 2 shows are pre recorded and which ones come from a home studio and which ones are live?

As long as you're producing something that people want to listen to and you're giving them the information and entertainment that they want they won't care.

You could tell people that the shows come from London, some may be suprised but they won't suddenly stop listening if they already enjoy that show or that station.
Bt Radio 2 IS a national station, I thought local radio (a-hem ) the stations are given licences to serve a local area - I get your point but comparing radio 2 and the obligations of a local radio licence are a little err thin!!!
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Old 31-08-2010, 23:20
tim raffield
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Beautiful Monster has a melodic chorus doesn't it, Tim.
Yes, and I notice it has the word Heart in it.

We have the people on here who say that Heart are brainwashing us by repeating 'This is Heart, More Music Variety' between every song. Now how long before someone says that they are chosing songs with the word Heart in to remind listeners what station they are listening to during the song.

Seriously, it is good that Heart do seem to be playing newer music now which does prove that the playlist is evolving; although most of the older songs still seem rather stagnant, and not ones that I want to listen to.

In fact the range of music that Heart plays is now reminding me of Mercury FM Todays Best Mix in April 2008, when they used to play 80s, 90s and 00s music, pre Hit Music Network. I remember hearing Flo Rida, Low on Radio 1 and Kiss, but was rather disappointed that Mercury FM wasn't playing it, until about a couple of months later, when it was changed to Hit Music Network. I must admit that the 80s and 90s music on the station was better then, but now on Heart the 80s and 90s music is rather dull IMO, hence I am generally listening to other stations where possible.
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Old 31-08-2010, 23:32
tim raffield
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I notice that this Sunday on the Heart Schedule Jason Donovan is listed for 12-4pm with Chris Skinner listed for 7-10pm. Wonder if this is a permanant swap or an error on the websites.
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Old 31-08-2010, 23:57
FusionLad
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The local travel I think was the thing that stood out on the new 'Heart Devon' this morning instead of 'Heart Plymouth'. Most of the traffic news was from Exeter (surprise surprise!), and they failed to mention the waiting times on the Torpoint Ferry or traffic flow on the Tamar Bridge.

While this may seem trivial bits of information, thousands of commuters rely on it for their journeys from Cornwall into Devon every workday.

At least by the time we got to Drive, the Torpoint Ferry was mentioned, still minus the crucial Tamar Bridge.
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Old 01-09-2010, 07:41
starlingdarling
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The local travel I think was the thing that stood out on the new 'Heart Devon' this morning instead of 'Heart Plymouth'. Most of the traffic news was from Exeter (surprise surprise!), and they failed to mention the waiting times on the Torpoint Ferry or traffic flow on the Tamar Bridge.

While this may seem trivial bits of information, thousands of commuters rely on it for their journeys from Cornwall into Devon every workday.

At least by the time we got to Drive, the Torpoint Ferry was mentioned, still minus the crucial Tamar Bridge.
Great piece there. All helps in the documentation I am taking to OFCOM later in September. This is not local radio, this national radio pretending. At least you have Radio Plymouth if wish to turn over, we in North Devon have no other service.
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Old 01-09-2010, 08:15
timbouk
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"Great piece there. All helps in the documentation I am taking to OFCOM later in September."

This is where I tend to get very confused. As far as I can see Heart are operating how they are allowed to do as laid down in the new OFCOM rules.

Yes its a shame that some local breakfast shows have been axed but Heart have done nothing wrong. Taking documntation to OFCOM is just going to be wasting your time.

"At least you have Radio Plymouth if wish to turn over, we in North Devon have no other service"

Im sure in the case of bad weather etc extra local information will be broadcast, If you dont like it turn off or turn over. Plenty of other stations around (even if apart from radio devon they don't let you know if a road is closed in Branstaple).
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Old 01-09-2010, 09:45
on the air
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Great piece there. All helps in the documentation I am taking to OFCOM later in September. This is not local radio, this national radio pretending. At least you have Radio Plymouth if wish to turn over, we in North Devon have no other service.
The regulations have changed... who changed them?? OFCOM...

I am afraid you will be wasting your time.
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Old 01-09-2010, 12:32
starlingdarling
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The regulations have changed... who changed them?? OFCOM...

I am afraid you will be wasting your time.
Thanks for all your support.
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Old 01-09-2010, 12:35
starlingdarling
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"Great piece there. All helps in the documentation I am taking to OFCOM later in September."

This is where I tend to get very confused. As far as I can see Heart are operating how they are allowed to do as laid down in the new OFCOM rules.

Yes its a shame that some local breakfast shows have been axed but Heart have done nothing wrong. Taking documntation to OFCOM is just going to be wasting your time.

"At least you have Radio Plymouth if wish to turn over, we in North Devon have no other service"

Im sure in the case of bad weather etc extra local information will be broadcast, If you dont like it turn off or turn over. Plenty of other stations around (even if apart from radio devon they don't let you know if a road is closed in Branstaple).
Thats my point - there are no other radio stations around.
I have no problem Global making the decision they did on a business level. As a business why wouldnt you cull loads of jobs and save money and have a centre of excellence.

However thats where my agreement ends.

There are many reasons for me going to OFCOM. They have agreed to see me which is something.

Thanks for your support
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Old 01-09-2010, 12:44
wiltshireboy
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The time has come for a radical rethink.

Heart/global and others would really like to be National, without the need to do ANYthing of local value. And so it should be. They've spent vast amounts of money buying up local radio stations and they now deserve to be seen as large National outfits. I wish them all the best.

However, there are many towns in the UK that do not have a LOCAL radio station anymore. Local stations that care about the town that pays for their existence. Local stations that do not have to answer to major investors. Local stations that really do originate their output within the town they serve. And independent from the BBC too.

It's something that many people want - and it can exist alongside the large corporate stations.Today's eradio article by John Myers makes interesting reading in this context.
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Old 01-09-2010, 20:44
coolskin
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I notice that Heart Ipswich still shows the regular breakfast and drive time for next Monday and Tuesday so far according to their schedule
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Old 02-09-2010, 15:36
mr_radio
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Over 1,300 unhappy people in Plymouth have already joined a facebook petition page over this ridiculous situation. It's interesting reading all the unhappy comments that listeners have posted on the wall. Some very interesting points being made there.
Just do a facebook search for 'KEEP HAMISH AND MAXINE ON AIR'. Im sure the member count is growing everyday. Some very interesting points have been posted.
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Old 02-09-2010, 23:24
tim raffield
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The local travel I think was the thing that stood out on the new 'Heart Devon' this morning instead of 'Heart Plymouth'. Most of the traffic news was from Exeter (surprise surprise!), and they failed to mention the waiting times on the Torpoint Ferry or traffic flow on the Tamar Bridge.

While this may seem trivial bits of information, thousands of commuters rely on it for their journeys from Cornwall into Devon every workday.

At least by the time we got to Drive, the Torpoint Ferry was mentioned, still minus the crucial Tamar Bridge.
I thought that the new Heart Devon would cause a bit of a stir, with the 4 main towns/cities that the old stations were broadcasting to are on completely opposite sides of the county - Exeter (East), Torbay (South), Plymouth (West), Barnstaple (North) with large rural area in between each. I was expecting that the new station wouldn't be giving as comprehensive travel information as they used to give, and that this new station is probably going to be more biased towards the Exeter part of the county.

I also thought that the local output of the Heart Devon stations pre 27th August did seem to give more local information and were more significant in the community (evolved out of the Gemini FM) than Heart stations around the rest of the country, so listeners will notice these changes, and in the South of the county will hopefully tune into Radio Plymouth, Exeter FM and Palm FM, which Im sure and hope that they will use the Heart situation to their advantage. Also I would like to take this opportunity to wish the new Network North Devon station every success.

I see from various Facebook groups that the removal of various DJs such as Hopps and Chapple, Hamish & Maxine, Matt Rogan and Chris Dinnis have not been popular decisons from the listener point of view and some are already tuning to the other option. These popular DJs have become part of life for many listeners. However it has been said before and it will be said again, unfortunately the old bean counters at Heart don't give a hoot about these views - as far as they are concerned it is success on their part, saving money by cutting 5 stations to 1.

When I am in Devon in a couple of weeks, I may give Heart Devon a listen as a bit of research, but otherwise it will be Exeter FM, and thank god for Galaxy and Kiss on DAB.
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Old 02-09-2010, 23:25
starlingdarling
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1) http://www.garyandrews.net/2010/08/2...-extinguished/

2)http://blammy.blogspot.com/2010/08/h...emembered.html
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Old 03-09-2010, 03:09
Love China
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The reason ILR used to be viable was that, in addition to the garnishing of local content, it had the monopoly on mainstream music.

Radio 1 was for kids and Radio 2 was for your parents.

ILR sat nicely as "Radio 1.5". Many people tolerated the local chat/clutter in order to hear the music.

The music monopoly has been taken away, so it's bye bye local radio. Unfortunately.


I don't know who Blammy is, but I stopped reading that piece once the swearing started.
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Old 03-09-2010, 03:29
Peter the Great
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The reason ILR used to be viable was that, in addition to the garnishing of local content, it had the monopoly on mainstream music.

Radio 1 was for kids and Radio 2 was for your parents.

ILR sat nicely as "Radio 1.5". Many people tolerated the local chat/clutter in order to hear the music.

The music monopoly has been taken away, so it's bye bye local radio. Unfortunately.




I don't know who Blammy is, but I stopped reading that piece once the swearing started.
ILR used to benefit from being on FM where as Radio 1 was on AM most of the time up until the late 80's which could make reception difficult. I wouldn't have really said that Radio 1 was for kids. It had alot of middle aged listeners pre Bannister.
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Old 03-09-2010, 08:07
gwrbristol
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My God!! What was that awful "this is Heart Breakfast" jingle used at 7am on Heart West Country this morning!
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Old 03-09-2010, 08:26
hanssolo
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Radio 1 occassionally changes djs to reduce the average age of listeners as kids grow up! Next year I expect the current 20-30ish listeners will find new stations if Moyles is replaced by a much younger breakfast dj.
The time has come for a radical rethink.

Heart/global and others would really like to be National, without the need to do ANYthing of local value. And so it should be. They've spent vast amounts of money buying up local radio stations and they now deserve to be seen as large National outfits. I wish them all the best.

However, there are many towns in the UK that do not have a LOCAL radio station anymore. Local stations that care about the town that pays for their existence. Local stations that do not have to answer to major investors. Local stations that really do originate their output within the town they serve. And independent from the BBC too.

It's something that many people want - and it can exist alongside the large corporate stations.Today's eradio article by John Myers makes interesting reading in this context.
It's interesting from the eradio email article that many US local stations are beginning to advertise their local roots to fight back against Sirius national radio stations. But Sirius is growing thanks to Stern. When Global have finished with changing Heart and Galaxy they may make LBC national along the same lines (pushing boundries).

In the UK many local stations had local investors who decided to sell out to the big groups and it will be hard to get local investors back into local commercial radio to complete against Heart, Galaxy, Smooth, Kiss, Gold, Magic, etc.

Local groups like UKRD, Tindle, Totalstar etc and indie sallies like Jackie, Fire etc may make some some gains through promoting localness but will have a hard time to keep up quality and TV promotion!

The local future for many areas might be low cost community radio!
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Old 03-09-2010, 09:24
boywonder
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But Sirius is growing thanks to Stern.
Maybe not for much longer..
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Old 03-09-2010, 09:46
Phillip Swift
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In the UK many local stations had local investors who decided to sell out to the big groups and it will be hard to get local investors back into local commercial radio to complete against Heart, Galaxy, Smooth, Kiss, Gold, Magic, etc.
They decided to sell out because it was probably the only way to make serious money from radio. It was the same with the rich people who foolishly backed the new wave of local stations in the 90's, they spent a fortune on these new stations believing they'd make their money back and it just didn't really happen. Radio is very tough to make money from if you're going it alone, you need to throw a fotune into it and keep it going for a long time before you get any profit which usually means you need VERY deep pockets. With the recession few people have that kind of money and are prepared to take that type of risk. Markets are getting more crowded and every stations listening share is getting smaller. Looking at it from a business point of view which like it or not radio is, there are far better ways with much less risk to make a large amount of money.

Sadly the stories of faliur far outweigh the stories of succes as radio owner who isn't part of a group.
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Old 04-09-2010, 19:30
johnny radish
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The complete national roll out of Heart without any local/regional input is 3 years away , maximum 5 ,but sooner I would have thought.

I think what we will have then is a very strong brand and product, even now most of Globals manpower is wasted by man management, and site issues.

Heart has never been a local brand, is doesn't stand for that or share the values of "small" thinking. It's a feelgood brand with entertainment and showbiz, and that's it, brilliantly packaged. If for example Bush & Troy were gone by next week, and replaced by Jamie & Harriet do you really think anyone would care come Xmas ?

So what replaces local radio stations that in the 80s provided a "full service"?

Not even a valid question , no one would switch on an ILR station as the first port of call for any critical information.
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Old 04-09-2010, 23:53
michael1152
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If they had any sense they would switch to the excellent local BBC stations full of local info the only true local stations left theat truely care about the areas they broadcast to.
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