Breakfast saved as Quaywest axes local programmes

WEST Somerset’s commercial radio station Quaywest FM has been allowed to axe all but its breakfast programme from locally-produced broadcasts.
The Watchet-based station was saved last year from administration by a buy-out by Bath businessman Paul Roberts.
Now, it has received permission from broadcast regulator Ofcom to share 20 hours’ a day of programming with its sister Quaywest station in Bridgwater.
Although the Watchet and Bridgwater stations were required to provide at least 10 hours a day of local programming, changes to the format agreed by Ofcom mean six of the hours can be shared.
Mr Roberts told Ofcom: “We believe that the move will not only be imperceptible to the local market place, but will also allow us to provide a better quality of service through the economies of scale that this change would allow.
“It will also allow the services to compete more effectively in the local market place.”
A statement from Ofcom said: “There is a clear logic in allowing these two small stations to create regional broadcasting outside breakfast.
“They have been linked through their history and the regionalisation of the drivetime show is most unlikely to create a substantial change to the character of service of either station, or become problematic for listeners.”