Cork's Red FM
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = Cork's RedFM
| logo = Cork's RedFM logo, 2023.png
| logo_caption = Logo used from 2014 till 2024
| sister_stations = {{hlist|Today FM|Newstalk|Dublin's 98FM|SPIN 1038|SPIN South West|iRadio}}
| airdate = {{Start date|2002|1|16|df=yes}}
| frequencies = 104.2–106.1 MHz
| rds = RedFM
| city = County Cork
| country = IE
| format = Adult contemporary
| owner = Bauer Media Audio
| website = {{url|http://www.redfm.ie/}}
| languages = English, Irish{{Cite web|url=https://redfm.ie/shows/dusaigh-le-lauren-ni-loingsigh/|title=Dúisigh le Lauren Ní Loingsigh – Red FM}}
}}
Cork's RedFM is an Irish radio station which broadcasts to Cork and the surrounding area, and is aimed at a youth audience. The station commenced broadcasting on 16 January 2002{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/cork-pop-station-goes-on--air-today-320306.html |title=Cork pop station goes on air today |first=David |last=Murphy |date=16 January 2002 |newspaper=Irish Independent |location=Dublin |issn=0021-1222 |language=en |access-date=24 May 2008 |archive-date=19 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819030315/http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/cork-pop-station-goes-on--air-today-320306.html |url-status=live }}" and was awarded Ireland's first youth radio licence. Its target market is the 15-35 age group in Cork city and county.
On 1 March 2023, the radio station was acquired by Bauer Media Audio and became one of the group's stations in the country.{{Cite web|url=https://bauermedia.ie/2023/03/bauer-media-audio-completes-acquisition-of-corks-red-fm/|title=Bauer Media Audio Completes Acquisition of Cork’s Red FM |work=Bauer Media Audio|access-date=2023-07-18|language=en}} It adopted a new branding kit in early 2024, to closer align with sister stations across the Bauer network. This included a new tagline, Cork's Good Times, taken from the network's similarly formatted 98FM in Dublin.
History
Some of RedFM's key personnel had previously worked with "Longwave, Atlantic 252 which ceased broadcasting on Thursday 20 December 2001. RedFM's first Chief Executive, The late Cork native Henry Condon and former presenter Charlie Wolf, a Boston native, were both well known voices on Atlantic 252.
Adrian Bodenham was Red FM's Production Director at launch, and moved to Ireland to join the team from the UK's Virgin Radio. The station has picked up 13 PPI Radio Awards since first broadcasting, including winning the "Best Breakfast Show" award two years in a row, in 2008 and 2009.
In 2014 the station signed up a well known Cork Presenter Neil Prendeville. Neil had previously been a staple of rival local station Cork's 96FM. Listenership to RedFM has improved since the transfer.{{cite web |url=http://thecork.ie/2015/05/10/congratulations-to-redfm |title=Listnership improves at Cork's RedFM |website=TheCork.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130085427/http://thecork.ie/2015/05/10/congratulations-to-redfm/ |archive-date=2016-01-30}}
In December 2017, a sale was agreed of the 17.5% of Red FM owned by Landmark Media Investments to The Irish Times{{Cite news |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/the-irish-times-to-acquire-landmark-media-business-817451.html |title=The Irish Times to acquire Landmark Media business |date=6 December 2017 |newspaper=Irish Examiner |issn=1393-9564 |location=Cork |language=en-ie |access-date=6 December 2017 |archive-date=7 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207014600/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/the-irish-times-to-acquire-landmark-media-business-817451.html |url-status=live }} pending regulatory approval. In July 2018, the 17.5% stake in the station to The Irish Times was complete.{{Cite web|url = https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0710/977737-irish-times-completes-purchase-of-irish-examiner/|title = Irish Times completes purchase of Irish Examiner|website = RTÉ.ie|date = 10 July 2018|access-date = 10 July 2018|archive-date = 11 July 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180711021907/https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0710/977737-irish-times-completes-purchase-of-irish-examiner/|url-status = live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/irish-times-complete-purchase-of-landmark-media-pledge-to-protect-identity-and-independence-of-titles-854228.html |title=Irish Times complete purchase of Landmark Media; Pledge to protect 'identity and independence' of titles |date=10 July 2018 |newspaper=Irish Examiner |issn=1393-9564 |location=Cork |language=en-ie |access-date=10 July 2018 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710170728/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/irish-times-complete-purchase-of-landmark-media-pledge-to-protect-identity-and-independence-of-titles-854228.html |url-status=live }}
In November 2022, the station reached a deal for acquisition by Bauer Media Audio,{{Cite web |title=Bauer Media Audio agrees deal to buy Cork’s Red FM |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2022/11/10/bauer-media-audio-agrees-deal-to-buy-corks-red-fm/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}} completed in March 2023.{{Cite web |last=Healy |first=Alison |date=2023-03-01 |title=Bauer Media Audio Completes Acquisition of Cork’s Red FM |url=https://bauermedia.ie/2023/03/bauer-media-audio-completes-acquisition-of-corks-red-fm/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Bauer Media Audio Ireland |language=en-GB}} The acquisition resulted in sweeping changes to the station's weekday and weekend schedules, with the resignation of many veteran presenters.{{Cite web |last=O'Callaghan |first=Gavin |date=2023-07-07 |title=Dave Mac presents last RedFM show while Philip Bourke also set to leave |url=https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/dave-mac-presents-last-redfm-27274110 |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Cork Beo |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Fitton |first=Daire |date=2023-07-23 |title=Cork radio host Izzy Showbizzy says farewell to RedFM after 12 years on air |url=https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/cork-radio-host-izzy-showbizzy-27379211 |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Cork Beo |language=en}} The station has since adopted a new branding kit shared by stations across the Bauer network in Ireland, including the tagline from similarly formatted 98FM in Dublin. The station also regularly features cross-promoted competitions from across Bauer stations under a local moniker.
In July 2023, the station saw the departure of both its afternoon and drivetime veteran presenters, Philip Bourke and Dave MacArdle, who had each worked at the station for over 20 years. They both later joined national station Ireland's Classic Hits Radio. Their departure was quickly followed by weekend presenter Isabel Bartak-Healy, leaving for rival station Cork's 96FM after 12 years. The next month saw the return of Keith Cunningham to host a new flagship Breakfast show, following the station's dismissal of local Olympian Rob Heffernan and comedian Laura O'Mahony.
Business
Siteridge Limited currently hold a licence from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for Cork City and County and broadcast as Red FM.http://www.bai.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/20130117_EOI_Ad_Tabloid_24Jan_v.Final_AC.pdf {{Dead link|date=March 2022}} Shareholders in Siteridge Limited included Thomas Crosbie Holdings.{{cite web|url=http://www.tch.ie/our-media/ |title=Our media |website=Thomas Crosbie Holdings |access-date=2013-01-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231221151/http://www.tch.ie/our-media/ |archive-date=31 December 2012 }} Thomas Crosbie Holdings went into receivership in March 2013. Their stake acquired by Landmark Media Investments.{{Cite web|url = http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2013/0306/374490-thomas-crosbie-holdings/|title = Receiver appointed to publisher of Irish Examiner|website = RTÉ.ie|date = 6 March 2013|access-date = 8 March 2013|archive-date = 10 March 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130310002611/http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2013/0306/374490-thomas-crosbie-holdings/|url-status = live}}
In March 2013, Dublin born Diarmuid O'Leary, the then Advertising Sales Director of the Irish Daily Star, joined RedFM as CEO.{{cite web|url=http://radionation.ie/2013/03/new-ceo-for-red-fm/ |title=New CEO for Red FM |date=15 March 2013 |website=RadioNation |access-date=2013-03-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202221505/http://radionation.ie/2013/03/new-ceo-for-red-fm/ |archive-date= 2 February 2014 }}
News
RedFM's Head of News is female, and all newsreaders are female, with the exception of some male sports readers who occasionally read news.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
In early 2024, the station's weekend local news bulletins except for sport news were axed, with Red FM now airing network news bulletins from Newstalk.
Frequencies
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+{{sronly|Cork's RedFM frequencies}} !Frequency (MHz) !Transmitter !Service area !Power (kW) |
| 104.2
|Carrigaline |Carrigaline and Cobh |0.1 |
| 104.5
|Nowen Hill |West Cork |8.5 |
| 105.0 (inactive)
|Newmarket |Newmarket |0.5 |
| 105.1
|Youghal |Youghal |0.1 |
| 105.2
|Kinsale |Kinsale |0.2 |
| 105.4
|Bantry |Bantry |0.2 |
| 105.4
|Fermoy |Fermoy |0.2 |
| 105.7
|Corran Mountain |North Cork |2.5 |
| 106.1
|Hollyhill |Cork City and SE Cork |2.0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.redfm.ie Red FM]
- [http://www.medialive.ie/Comment/redfm_launch.html Market comment on Red FM launch in 2002]
{{Local radio in Ireland}}
{{Media in County Cork}}
{{Cork City}}
{{coord missing|County Cork}}
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in Ireland
Category:Mass media in County Cork
Category:2023 mergers and acquisitions