Champion fm change of Heart is a loss to Gwynedd

Aug 20 2009

I WRITE as once a keen listener of our local radio station Champion 103 fm. This new change that we have been introduced to has caused me (and many others that I have discussed this topic with) to cease being a local radio listener.

Three main points turn my stomach regarding this new local radio station. One is their definition of the word "local". Do the directors of Heart FM understand the meaning of it? Heart FM is not a local radio station, it is a company owned by Global Radio who own radio stations in 18 other different counties across the British Isles. Each one of those stations have been named Heart.

How can it be unique to Gwynedd if it shares the same name as stations in 19 other counties which are hundreds of miles away? At least Champion (although an English word) is a local expression in Gwynedd used by thousands every day.

The second point, is the amount of English aired on the station, even as links during Welsh programmes such as Kev and Zowie. This does not reflect our local situation in Gwynedd regarding the Welsh language either. If those programmes, aired between 6 and 10 a.m and between 2 and 7pm daily are Welsh medium, then what on earth is the point in putting English links on air? Again, this poor, anglicised feature on this radio station contradicts the meaning of local for us in Gwynedd.

The last point I would like to express my sheer disgust at is the decision to take Cwl Cymru off air between 6 and 7 pm, daily. This was a popular programme DJ’d by Owain Llyr who showed genuine interest in local artists, and featured regular interviews during his shows. Why was this cancelled? Coast FM saw fit to air the show between 5 and 6am in the mornings (which I might add makes Welsh music almost unheard of in Conwy's local radio station, but that’s another matter). I do not know the reasons behind this decision, but it was irresponsible and undemoctratic.

Moreover, according to the Brodcasting Code of Ofsted, every broadcasting company should notify the public of any changes. We were notified of the change in the station's name, but not of the changes in programmes. Taking Cwl Cymru off air from 6 to 7 pm daily, showed great lack of respect on the behalf of the directors of Heart towards a very great culture in Gwynedd, and therefore toward the station's listeners. Shouldn't they have consulted with the listeners of the radio first ? Or was that too local in its nature to bother with ?

Sincerely, Sian Llywelyn,

Penrhyndeudraeth.