Local broadcasting in Devon after DevonAir Radio

Although DevonAir Radio was cruelly consigned to UK broadcast history, the incredible impression and the memory of this once great radio station remain. The businesses that succeeded DevonAir never attained such credibility or affection.

The successors direction eventually resulted in a national corporate ‘branding’ grown out of business takeovers. They have evolved as far from the localised ambitions of 1979 as possible.

City and town based popular radio in Devon is now in the hands of a newer, sharper, second generation of programme makers and business investment – smaller in size than their current enemy, the corporate ‘brands’, yet easily identified with the area it broadcasts.

These smaller-scale stations now compete for business and audience with the corporate monsters. The world we live and the technology we use to bring localised information have changed. The appetite for local news and talk has never diminished. When Goliath finally comes crashing down the victors will be the small Devon-based and owned broadcasters descended in philosophy from those pioneers in 1979.

A Google view of the former buildings occupied by DevonAir Radio between 1980 – 1994.