BBC Radio Devon
BBC Radio Devon is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Devon. It first aired on 17 January 1983, replacing a previous breakfast show (Morning Sou'West) for Devon and Cornwall broadcast on the local frequencies of Radio 4.
 | |
| City | Plymouth |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Devon |
| Slogan | The sound of Devon, and all the music you love |
| Frequency | FM: various MW: 801 & 990 kHz DAB Freeview channel 720 (Devon only) |
| First air date | 17 January 1983 |
| Format | Local news, talk and music |
| Language(s) | English |
| Owner | BBC Local Radio, BBC South West |
| Website | BBC Radio Devon |
According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 154,000 listeners and an 8% share as of December 2018.[1]
History
BBC Radio Devon started broadcasting on 17 January 1983, superseding the BBC Radio 4 regional service. On the same day, BBC Radio Cornwall started broadcasting, as did BBC Breakfast television. When broadcasting started, the new studios in Exeter had not yet been finished, so BBC Radio Devon was broadcast from portable cabins for the first few weeks. The Exeter studios were officially opened by Alastair Milne, then BBC Director General, on 30 September 1983.[2]
The station has reporters based in Exeter, Plymouth, Paignton and Barnstaple, allowing it to cover news stories throughout Devon. It broadcasts two breakfast shows simultaneously, one for Plymouth and the other for the rest of Devon. The newsroom in Plymouth is shared with the BBC regional website and television teams. The station has won several Sony Awards for its programming.[2]
Frequencies
Radio Devon is broadcast on the following frequencies from BBC Broadcasting House in Plymouth and Pynes Hill in Exeter (transmitter location in brackets):
- FM:
- 103.4 MHz main frequency (North Hessary Tor)
- 94.8 MHz in Barnstaple (Huntshaw Cross)
- 95.7 MHz in Plymouth (Plympton)
- 95.8 MHz in Exeter (St. Thomas)
- 96.0 MHz in Okehampton
- 104.3 MHz in Torbay and the South Hams (Beacon Hill)
- AM (MW):
- 801 kHz in North Devon (Barnstaple)
- 990 kHz in Exeter
- 1458 kHz in Torbay (this frequency ceased transmissions on 15 January 2018)[3]
- DAB
- Online through the BBC iPlayer.
Programming
The majority of BBC Radio Devon's programming is produced and broadcast from its Plymouth studios. During off-peak hours, BBC Radio Devon also produces regional programming for the South West and West regions. During the station's downtime, BBC Radio Devon simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live overnight.
Notable presenters include Gordon Sparks.
References
- "RAJAR". RAJAR. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- "BBC Radio Devon celebrates 25 years". BBC News. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- "BBC confirms local radio medium wave closures". Radio Today. Retrieved 10 February 2018.