Thursday, 2^nd February, 2012

Another Landmark barrier broken

Newstalk achieves 5% market share*

 32,000 listeners more per day for Newstalk 106-108 fm **

 According to the JNLR results released today, 2^nd February 2012, Newstalk is now reaching 305,000*** listeners daily, an increase of 32,000 in the corresponding period last year.  Newstalk has achieved a market share of 5% up from 4.2% year on year. These are landmark barriers for Newstalk to break.

Other significant highlights from these results include:

- Breakfast with Ivan Yates and Chris Donoghue continues to grow now reaching an audience of 133,000 listeners daily. It is the fastest growing breakfast show on national radio in the country. The show has grown by 62,000**** listeners albeit with increased minutage.

- The Right Hook with George Hook continues to grow with 129,000 people listening daily, an increase of 14,000 listeners in the last year.

- Moncrieff with Sean Moncrieff has grown to reach 93,000 listeners daily, an increase of 15,000***** in the year

-Off the Ball, the No.1 sports show on radio reached 50,000 an increase of 15,000 listeners YOY. It remains the Number 1 programme at this time on national radio.

Newstalk has won an additional

-          59,000 weekly listeners **

-          17,000 ABC1 listeners daily**

-          21,000  females **

Speaking today, Frank Cronin, Chief Executive of Newstalk 106-108 fm, said: “Newstalk is delighted to grow its audience by 32,000 daily and break the 5% share barrier. Newstalk has grown its 25-45 audience, now representing 78% of the corresponding audience of RTE Radio 1***. This is significant as this demographic is the key national spending audience.

The passion and integrity we bring to our brand of talk radio is resonating with Irish people. Radio listeners are turning to Newstalk for its challenging and intelligent coverage of Irish life today’’.

Data Sources – JNLR/Ipsos MRBI2011-4

* M/share 7am-Midnight

** L/Yest July-Dec 2011 V July-Dec2010

*** L/Yest July – Dec 2011

**** Time change, show duration increased by one hour in Sept 2010

***** Time change, show increased in duration by 30 minutes in Sept 2010

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Neal Cummins, Fleishman-Hillard, 01-6188482 / 087 629 1091

Source: JNLR/Ipsos MRBI 2011-3 Oct ‘10 – Sept ‘11 V Oct ‘09 – Sept ’10 (year on year)

Thursday, 2 February 2012

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL!

http://vimeo.com/36095409

 Today FM is celebrating considerable wins as Joint National Listenership Report figures for the period January 2011 to December 2011 were released today.  Today FM continues to be the most listened to independent radio station in the country, with 879,000 tuning in every week.

The report shows significant increases in Today FM’s Share, Reach and Listened Yesterday figures, since the last survey in October 2011.

• UP 0.4%        Market Share                                    9.5%
• UP 21,000    Listened Yesterday                      467,000
• UP 30,000    Weekly Reach                                 879,000

In contrast, 2FM saw its Market Share drop to its lowest level at 7.5%.  2FM now trails Today FM across the main listening day (7am-7pm) in every programme segment.

On Today FM’s weekday schedule, there have been substantially more people tuning in every weekday show.

• UP 18,000    Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show                   171,000
• UP 6,000      Ray D’Arcy                                                       234,000
• UP 3,000      Ray Foley                                                         144,000
• UP 7,000      Tony Fenton                                                    118,000
• UP 7,000      The Last Word with Matt Cooper            161,000

For the first time Today FM holds all of the Top 5 Shows amongst 20-44 year olds, with Radio 1’s Morning Ireland dropping from No. 3 to No. 6:

Commenting on the report, Today FM’s Chairman, John McColgan, said:

“Today FM’s continued growth is proof positive that more Irish people want an antidote to all the daily doom and gloom. We’re providing a great combination of personality, information, opinion and fun – and it’s working.” 

For further information, please contact:

Gill Waters

Today FM Press Office

Tel : 01 804 9047

Mob: 086 248 2364

Note to Editor:

*        All quoted figures sourced from JNLR/Ipsos MRBI survey released February 2012 for January – December 2011. 

*        Above comparisons based on previous survey published in October 2011 

Date: 23^rd January 2012.  For immediate release.

Comedian Jason Byrne joins Phantom 105.2

Comedian Jason Byrne helps bid farewell to Blue Mondays as he joins Phantom 105.2’s line up next Monday.

Jason is one of Ireland’s most successful and popular comedians and has a growing international fan base. Last autumn, Jason toured his most recent show “Cirque Du Byrne” to sold out audiences throughout Great Britain. Jason now brings his inspired original brand of high energy surreal humour to Phantom, having previously worked for BBC Radio 2 his show on Phantom will be a first for him on Irish radio.

As was the case with Jason’s BBC show, the programme will be themed each week, with the list of possible themes including parenthood, shopping, law, and history, sport and…walls. It’s kind of hard to explain, you’ll just have to tune in to find out. If you’re in work you can stream it from phantom.ie and watch it live on Phantom TV!

What you can expect is lots of exclusive interviews, mayhem and most importantly the craic!

Jason Byrne had this to say:

‘I’m delighted to be joining Phantom; this is my first show on Irish radio so I’d better be good! You’ll have to tune in on Monday, for the manic, madness, mayhem that it will be. I think the Bangles described the show best when they sang ‘just another manic Monday’

Programme Director Keith Walsh added:

‘I am absolutely beside myself with excitement about Jason starting on Monday. As a radio fan first and foremost I think it’s only right to have one of Ireland’s best comedians Jason Byrne on air every week, Phantom rocks anyway, but we’re about to turn it up to 11.’

‘Jason Byrne on Phantom’ starts next Monday, 30 January at 10am

Phantom 105.2 broadcasts to Dublin on 105.2FM, nationwide on UPC 935, online at www.phantom.ie and on iphone.
Ends.

For further information on this release please contact Eamonn Hoban-Shelley on (01) 421 8652 or eamonnhshelley@phantom.ie

30^th January 2012

THE RAY D’ARCY SHOW

Bobble in a Bottle

When The Ray D’Arcy Show team returned to the studio after Christmas, they decided to kick start a project where they’d launch some bottles into the ocean and see where they’d end up.

This was inspired by the story of Rosemary Hill in Waterville, Co Kerry, who discovered a Lobster Pot tag while beachcombing. She later traced the tag back to a fisherman on the American east coast who lost his pots during what was known as The Perfect Storm in 1991.

The show thought it would be a good idea to put a Bobble Head Ray in each bottle, and so the name ‘Bobble in a Bottle’ came about. Then listeners suggested that we put GPS trackers in the bottles so we could track their progress in the water. That’s where Conor Hannon of EZTrack.ie offered his services and he built GPS trackers with 6 month battery packs to place inside each of the bottles. Rory Leadbitter from Jerpoint Glass in Kilkenny has custom made 4 beautiful glass bottles for the project.

The launch date has been set for Friday 3rd February as part of Ray’s Fix it Friday show. There are 4 families on board to launch the bottles in the North, South, East and West of the country.

They are:

• The Conroy/Kellys on the East coast at Wicklow Head
• The Hendersons on the North coast at Malin Head
• The Cartys on the West coast at Cliftden
• The Harringtons on the South coast at Galley Head

Each of the families has secured boats to bring them off the coast to launch the bottles and give them a better chance of starting a long journey!  Listeners to the Ray D’Arcy Show will then be able to track the bottles’ progress – named Ray, Jenny, Will and Mairead after the show’s team members – on www.todayfm.com.

Fingers crossed the bottles will reach foreign lands and the show’s contact details are engraved on the bottom of them so anyone who finds them can get in touch.

Participant Contact Details:

Olive Carty – Clifden, Galway – 087 2605961 / 095 22842

Gillian Conroy – Wicklow Head – 086 8564818

John Harrington – Galley Head, Cork – 087 7563032

Marie Henderson – Malin Head, Donegal – 087 2996874

For further information, please contact:

Gill Waters

Today FM Press Office

Tel: 01-804 9047

Mob: 086 248 2364

** PHOTOS SUPPLIED TO PICTURE DESKS 

Monday, 23^rd January 2012

 TODAY FM’S SHAVE OR DYE 2012

YOU NEVER LOOK STUPID FIGHTING CANCER

Shave or Dye TV ad 2012

Today FM’s Shave or Dye is back for its third year!    Since its inception back in February, 2010 a staggering €2.1 MILLION EURO has been raised for the Irish Cancer Society.    The campaign will see people from all over the country shaving or dyeing their hair to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society in an effort to improve the lives of those affected by cancer.

To kick start the campaign, the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show were  joined this morning by Irish Cricketers Kevin O’Brien and Trent Johnston, who confirmed the Irish Cricket Teams’ involvement again  in this year’s campaign.   12 months ago during their historic world cup victory over England, Kevin famously sported his shocking pick hair, whilst at the same time scoring his record breaking century at the Cricket World Cup.

The Ray D’Arcy Show were joined this morning by staff from Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre, who were given Mohicans to their already dyed hair live on the show.

Last year, The Ray D’Arcy Show along with 315 of their listeners broke the World Record for the most heads shaved in one hour by a team of 10 barbers.  They smashed the previous record of 229 by a whopping 86 heads.  This year, Ray is hoping to have 500 heads shaved over the duration of the show on February 17^th next.

Ireland’s cancer rate is one of the highest in the world.  1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and it is estimated that by 2020, 40,000 new cases will be diagnosed.  Latest data from the National Cancer Registry shows that 29,775 people were diagnosed with cancer in Ireland in 2009.  These stark figures mean that there is an ever increasing demand for the direct patient care services provided by the Irish Cancer Society.

If you are concerned about or affected by cancer, please call the National Cancer Helpline on Freefone 1800 200 700 for advice, support and information. Staffed by specialist cancer nurses and open Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm and Fridays 9am-5pm

To get involved in Today FM’s Shave or Dye 2012, log onto www.todayfm.com

Links:

Last year’s World Record video click here (worth a look!)

Today FM’s Shave or Dye 2012: www.todayfm.com/shaveordye

Irish Cancer Society:  www.cancer.ie

Facebook:  here

Photos supplied by Corporate Photography PR

Tel: 01 6857216

Email: info@corporatepr.ie

For more details, please contact:

Gill Waters

Today FM Press Office

Tel: 01-804 9047

Mob: 086 248 2364

18,000 listeners more per day for Newstalk 106-108 fm

 JNLR results released today, 27^th October 2011, shows that Newstalk is now reaching 302,000* listeners daily. This marks the breaking of a landmark barrier for Newstalk 106-108 fm.

Other significant highlights from these results include:

•  ‘Breakfast’ with Ivan Yates and Chris Donoghue continues to grow; now reaching an audience of 115,000 listeners daily. It is the fastest growing breakfast show on national radio.

• ‘Moncrieff’ with Sean Moncrieff has grown to reach 93,000 listeners daily.

• ‘Off the Ball’, the number one sports show on national radio reached 44,000 – an increase of 9,000 listeners daily. It remains the number one programme at this time on national radio.

• ‘The Right Hook’ with George Hook continues to be the number one program on Newstalk with 121,000 people tuning in everyday.

Newstalk has won an additional:

• 20,000 Dublin listeners
• 17,000 ABC1 listeners daily
• 14,000  females

Speaking today, Frank Cronin, Chief Executive of Newstalk 106-108 fm, said: “Newstalk is delighted to grow its audience by 18,000 and break the 300,000 daily listeners barrier. Our brand of talk radio and our extensive and informative analysis of breaking news continues to win listeners across the country. Listeners are turning to Newstalk for its exciting, opinionated and challenging coverage of day-to-day events.”

* Time change, shows duration increased by one hour in Sept 2010

** Time change, shows increase in duration by 30 minutes in Sept 2010

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Neal Cummins, Fleishman-Hillard, 01-6188482 / 087 629 1091

Source: JNLR/Ipsos MRBI 2011-3 Oct ‘10 – Sept ‘11 V Oct ‘09 – Sept ’10 (year on year)

* Six Month Data Apr to Sept 2011.

The Joint National Listenership Report was released today for the period October 2010 to September 2011.  It showed Today FM has widened the gap further on 2FM in all three key market measures:-

TODAY FM                                  RTÉ 2FM:

Market Share:                        9.1%                                v        7.4%

Listened Yesterday           446,000 (13%)        v        396,000 (11%)

Weekly Reach:                      849,000 (24%)        v        823,000 (23%)

849,000 people are tuning into Today FM every week, with a solid performance across the stations full schedule:-

DIFFERENCE:                 CURRENT LISTENERSHIP

Ray D’Arcy                       + 16,000                        to 228,000

Ian Dempsey                  + 1,000                           to 153,000

Tony Fenton                  + 1,000                           to 111,000

Matt Cooper                     – 1,000                            to 154,000

Today FM holds 6 of the Top 8 shows in the lucrative 20-44 year old market, with Ray D’Arcy maintaining his crown at the top.

Top 8 Programmes – 20-44 YEAR OLDS

Commenting on the figures, Today FM’s CEO, Willie O’Reilly said:

“The Irish public have taken Ray D’Arcy and his team to heart and given him their number 1 vote… The station is in a growth phase and winning back listeners from the opposition.”

For further information, please contact:

Gill Waters on 01 804 9047 or 086 248 2364

Note: All quoted figures relate to JNLR book released Thursday 27th October 2011, for the period October 2010 to September 2011.  All comparisons are made on the previous book (July ’11) unless otherwise stated.

Newstalk and Google to facilitate Irish Presidential Debate for Irish at home and abroad

Newstalk 106-108 fm has today announced a partnership with Google to produce the most interactive Presidential Debate ever held in Ireland. This debate will empower citizens like no other and will put their concerns and issue to the forefront.  Damien Kiberd will moderate the 90 minute debate on Monday 24^th October where all seven candidates will be subject to questions that have been submitted and voted on by the general public.

Ireland’s first truly digital presidential debate, which will be the final public debate before the Presidential Election on Thursday 27^th October, will be broadcast live from Google’s Dublin offices at 12pm on Newstalk and on YouTube. Prior to the debate, the general public will be asked to submit potential questions for the candidates via youtube.com/newstalk and the most popular questions will be put to the Presidential hopefuls during the debate.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Frank Cronin, CEO of Newstalk 106-108 fm, said: “This innovative style of debating will give the Irish electorate the opportunity to raise the issues that matter most to them. Newstalk is committed to ensuring that the voice of the Irish nation is represented and this debate will allow the public put its questions to the candidates.  Through this partnership with Google, Newstalk is driving electoral debating into the modern age by giving Irish people at home and abroad the opportunity to interact with candidates and participate in a real way in the debate.”

A number of special digital features will further enhance the Newstalk Google Presidential Debate and enable listeners and viewers to get involved throughout the duration of the debate. These include:

•  Live online feedback from listeners and viewers, including video interaction with listeners in Ireland and abroad through Google+ Hangouts, i.e. live video chats for up to 10 people which will be incorporated into the debate.
• Live up to the minute analysis of reaction to the candidates during the debate online and on social media websites

Natasha Sachs, Debate Coordinator, Google said “We are pleased to partner with Newstalk on this endeavour. Google is committed to educating voters on the key issues in this election and empowering them to have a voice in this critical conversation with candidates. It has been 14 years since the last presidential election, and in that time advances in technology has made it possible for Irish voters to engage directly with the Presidential candidates online.  We’re proud to help facilitate the opportunity for voters to have their voices heard.’

All seven candidates have confirmed their participation in the debate and voters are being urged to submit their questions for the presidential hopefuls now, by posting video and text questions via youtube.com/newstalk.

For further information on Newstalk’s Presidential Debate, checkout www.newstalk.ie and YouTube.com/Newstalk

Ends

For further information, please contact:
Neal Cummins, Fleishman-Hillard, 01-6188482 / 087 629 1091
Céline Crawford, Google Press Office, 01 7038613 / 086 823577

Wednesday, 14^th September 2011 – Dublin, Ireland: In response to the IBI’s statement of 13 September 2011, Communicorp Group Limited has welcomed the positions outlined and supports the need for reform in regulation of the Irish radio broadcast industry.

Communicorp calls on the BAI to bring forward more specific proposals on digital radio, for the restructuring of RTÉ funding, and the abolition of the BAI levy. Communicorp is also calling for the removal of license renewal fees, and is recommending other measures to restore the viability of the sector. Communicorp also supports the current rules on Ownership and Control as robust. They should only be reviewed when the BAI’s plan for licensing and, in particular, digital radio become clear. Communicorp also welcomes the potential to relax News and Current Affairs requirements but suggests that this be done openly and on an equal basis among all stations.

Communicorp Group Ltd., Chairman, Lucy Gaffney added, “The current commercial environment requires radical new thinking on behalf of the regulator and Government. We need to support indigenous Irish industry. The template for the previous success of the radio sector will not work for the future.  Facilitating digital radio, creating a level playing field among all operators and licensing continuity should be the BAI’s top priorities”

Communicorp Position:

·       In relation to RTÉ funding, a proportion of the current Television License Fee should be dedicated to the independent broadcast sector. A lower cap should be placed on all advertising minutes across RTÉ Radio stations (RTÉ Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric FM and Radio Na Gaeltachta) to ensure renewed competitiveness in the Industry.

·       In relation to the BAI levy, Communicorp recommends that the levy be abolished or failing that be funded through the Television License Fee to ensure commercial viability of the sector.

·       In relation to Ownership and Control, Communicorp recommends that the current position remains as is, whereby one entity can own up to 25% of the licenses.  We believe that the current legislation does not need to be changed in the current commercial environment which requires the industry to consolidate for diversity and viability.

·       In relation to License Renewal, Communicorp opposes the imposition of any financial charges at this stage, as stability and continuity are critical to ensure quality of programming.  Furthermore, an automatic extension of licenses is not uncommon in other European countries.

·       In relation to News and Current Affairs, Communicorp believes that the BAI should go further with its proposed derogation and include all stations. Communicorp believes there is diversity amongst the current large operators and that those included should be broader than just niche stations.

·       In relation to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Communicorp believes the BAI and the Department of Communications must develop a position in relation to DAB after consultation with stakeholders before concluding this consultation paper.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Neal Cummins, Fleishman-Hillard, 01-6188482 / 087 629 1091

Communicorp Group Ltd was founded by Irish entrepreneur Denis O’Brien. The Group’s radio operations launched in Ireland and followed with stations in the Czech Republic in 1992. The Group now operates in Ireland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Hungary and Jordan.

 98FM’s biggest promotion yet encouraging listeners to take to the streets

98FM’s KNOCK KNOCK, a massive new promotion unlike anything Dublin has ever seen before has been launched today. The station have hidden €20,000 behind a door in a residential house somewhere the city and they are asking the people of Dublin to find it. The search starts today to find the top secret location.

Every week day from 9am, 98FM will give out 4 clues on-air and online which will be vital to those searching for the door. The rules are simple: Find the secret door, and when the door is answered, immediately ask “Is 98FM in the house?” If the answer is yes; you’ve just won €20,000!

98FM’s General manager Chris Doyle explains, “Word of mouth is sure to be the key driver of this campaign, similar to our previous promotions such as The Fugitive.  98FM’s KNOCK KNOCK will have people running around the streets of Dublin in an attempt to find the house which will win them €20,000. Even those who are not involved will have people knocking on their door in hope – so be prepared Dublin!”

A live webcam stream from the secret location can be viewed on 98FM.com/knockknock

98FM’s KNOCK KNOCK runs Monday to Friday from 9am – 7pm.

ENDS

For further information:

Chris Kelly, Fleishman Hillard, 01 6188415 or chris.kelly@fleishmaneurope.com, David Hewitt 01 439 8823 or david.hewitt@98FM.com, or  logon to www.98FM.com