South West Radio's two Quay West stations have gained Ofcom approval to share 20 hours a day of programming, meaning only breakfast will remain local.
The two stations are required to provide at least 10 hours a day of local programming, but the latest Format change means 6 of those hours can be shared.
Ofcom says: "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."
In requesting the change, Paul Roberts told Ofcom: "We believe that the move will not only be imperceptable 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."
