By Nick Cecil
Stunned at DevonAir bosses were considering applying for a judicial review yesterday after losing the Exeter and Torbay radio franchise in a decision they believe will send shock waves throughout the industry.
Station chiefs, employees and listeners were devastated by the announcement that the West Country based Gemini Radio have won the licence.
DevonAir is only the second station not to retain its franchise since the Radio Authority was set up in 1991.
Station bosses said DevonAir had just had its most successful financial year, its audience listening figures were outstanding, and it had considerable support from local politicians, businessmen and the community.
“It’s a huge disappointment. The board of DevonAir and parent company Westcountry Broadcasting are totally dismayed,” said chief executive Paul Angus.
Bosses at DevonAir, which has held the licence since 1980 And Is Now Owned By London’s Capital Radio and GWR group, heard the news shortly after eight am yesterday and told staff before announcing the decision on its 10 AM bulletin.
Options
It’s sister station, Plymouth Sound, will be unaffected by the decision.
“This is a very worrying decision, I expect it will send shockwaves throughout the rest of the industry,” said Mr. Angus.
“We will certainly be considering all the options including a judicial review.”
Mr. Angus stressed at DevonAir would continue its present service until January 1, 1995, when the new franchise starts.
The Radio Authority awarded the franchise to Gemini Radio because of its “coherent, detailed and well research proposals for two complementary AM and FM programme services.”
The authority’s chairman Lord Chalfont said the decision was “not so much an adverse comment on the performance of the former licence holder, as a judgment that the newcomer would do better.”
Questions had been raised about DevonAir’s plans to split its service into a AM and FM programmes but the station had given assurances this would be done before 1995.
