Devon is latest and penultimate area to see the closure and merger of local radio stations owned by Global Radio.
Stations formerly known as Lantern, South Hams, Gemini and Plymouth Sound are now operating as one Heart from Exeter, with all programmes except breakfast and drive originating from London.
The switch happened on Friday 27th August, and will see Matt and Caroline from Kiss FM in Bristol take over breakfast for the whole region from September 6th, and Emma Scott on drive time.
Local presenters who are being let go said their goodbyes on Thursday and Friday. Ian Starling, a former Lantern FM presenter has applied for an RSL licence to cover the area, and has already started an online radio station.
Next week, Heart Suffolk and Heart Norfolk will be combined to form Heart East Anglia, completing the merger of over 30 stations to just 15. And as you can see from [link=http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101180618946071475014.00048999191609480aee7&z=7]this Google Map[/link], Heart Swindon, Heart Kent and Heart Gloucester were the only local stations to escape the cost-cutting exercise and will continue unmerged.
View This is/was Heart in a larger map