Radio in the Republic of Ireland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 194.165.179.147 (talk) at 00:25, 14 November 2005 (→Connacht/Ulster ILRs). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jump to navigation Jump to search

The following is an (incomplete) list of Republic of Ireland radio stations on air as of 2004. Aside from the stations operated by Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), the other stations listed here operate under sound broadcasting contracts issued by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI). This body supervises and regulates the commercial Independent National, Regional, and Local Radio stations, as well as the non-profit Community Radio stations.

This article deals with the legal radio stations of the Republic of Ireland. For a discussion of the extensive illegal broadcasting scene in Ireland, see Irish pirate radio.

National stations

RTÉ (national state broadcaster)

Independent National Radio

On 8 September 2005 the BCI announced that it would be offering a "quasi-national" franchise for a speech-based station, to be advertised in October 2005.

Independent Regional Radio

  • Beat 102-103 - Counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and South Tipperary.

The above station was essentially a pilot for this type of franchise, offering a service to a larger area than traditionally served by Independent Local Radio (see below). On 8 September 2005 the BCI announced that it would extend independent regional radio to a number of other areas, with youth-based franchises being offered for the South West, North West, and North East and Midlands, and country and Irish music franchises for the North East and Mid West. As well as this, a franchise for a "classic gold" service will be offered for Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick cities (with a single contractor to run the services in all the cities).

Independent Local Radio

There are 25 commercial stations (Independent Local Radio - ILR) licensed on a regional franchise basis. Often several counties of Ireland are covered by one station only, but Dublin and Cork have several:

Dublin ILRs

Except for the two original ILR licences - 98FM and FM104 - each additional ILR licence in Dublin was awarded for a specific format, intending on meeting demands which it was felt that 98FM and FM104 were not catering to.

Another ILR licence for an alternative rock music service has been awarded in principle to Phantom FM, however this award is presently being challenged.

Cork ILRs

Leinster ILRs

Munster ILRs

Connacht/Ulster ILRs

Previously licenced ILRs

  • Limerick 95 FM (Radio Limerick One) (105 MHz FM). Lost franchise mid-term for stated misbehavior - now operates on a pirate basis.
  • CKR FM and Radio Kilkenny - franchises redrawn at end of contract, Kildare area awarded to KFM, Carlow and Kilkenny to KCLR.
  • Tipperary Mid-West Radio - held a very small franchise for South West Tipperary. Its franchise was merged with the Rest of Tipperary franchise (held by Tipp FM). The station continues to be licenced as a Community Radio station.
  • North West Radio - subsidiary of Mid West Radio. Replaced by Ocean FM at end of contract.

Community Radio

Community Radio covers specific local communities or communities of interest. These operate on a non-commercial basis. In Ireland the BCI requires that community radio stations subscribe to the AMARC Community Radio Charter for Europe. This list is incomplete, for a full list see the BCI website.

  • Radiowaves.FM A site detailing both licensed and pirate radio stations in Ireland
  • RadioFeeds Ireland An up-to-date list of Irish radio stations also broadcasting on the internet
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Radio_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland&oldid=28251084"