Errrrrr- think you'll find as home to 2 cities, we're not as backward as youd stereotype us.
However Radio Devon does need a refresh. But listening to Radio Kernow, the current package fits in well. But with the impact coming Pirate FM later this year, I'd guess that's the time Cornwall and Devon will get the refresh
Depends which part of Devon you're looking at. Some parts definitely are a bit backward, but others like Plymouth and Exeter are definitely way more metropolitan.
Radio Devon needs some wholesale change if it is to justify its continued existence. It's down to 164,000 reach in a market that's over a million strong, and they really are losing ground badly, especially when compared to their neighbour Radio Cornwall who have a 25% reach in their market compared to just 16%.
Dont forget the radio market in Cornwall is much less congested compared to Devon. Theres 3 main stations Heart, Pirate and Radio Cornwall plus some small community stations.
Devon has the same 3 (we get Pirate very clearly in Plymouth for example), but we have Radio Plymouth which does very well, as well as Radio Exe which I imagine does well in Exeter.
Problem with Radio Devon is that its stuck between a rock and a hard place. It takes the more mature reach but theres little for people like me in my mid 40s.
Actually if you compare Devon & Cornwall radio wise, both have a similar number of stations available on DAB, and most of them are exactly the same. Both have a similar number of community stations on FM, and both have traditionally been seen as kinda radio backwaters.
Right now in Cornwall, you have Goldmine DAB added into the local mix, alongside community stations Radio Scilly, Coast FM, Source FM, CHBN and RSAB, alongside BBC Radio Cornwall, Heart & Pirate FM. In Devon, There's Radio Plymouth, Radio Exe, BBC Radio Devon, Heart, The Breeze South Devon, along with community stations Cross Rhythms, Soundart Radio, Exmouth Air, Phonic FM & The Voice North Devon. There's a lot of competition for that local advertising money right now, and for listeners attentions, and that's what makes it such an interesting time in radio.
Radio Devon's problem however is much more straight forward. Back along a number of BBC locals decided to start going after a somewhat younger audience than the traditional 50+ demographic that had been in place since 1992. Radio Devon was a late entrant in that field, but go that route they did and it's cost them listeners, because they really didn't know how to appeal to a slightly younger demographic, and they've alienated some of their core audience as a result. They really do need to get back to basics there and do the simple stuff better than Heart or Radio Plymouth or The Breeze or Radio Exe do, in terms of both content and music.