Phantom FM

Infobox Radio station
name = Phantom 105.2


slogan = Quality Sounds Only!
airdate = 31 October 2006
frequency = 105.2 MHz, [http://www.phantom.ie Online] ,DAB Digital Radio, DTT, UPC Ch 935 |
area = Dublin
format = Alternative Rock
owner = Dublin Rock Radio Ltd.
website = [http://www.phantom.ie/ www.phantom.ie]
|

Phantom 105.2 is a Dublin based radio station, originally founded in 1996 as a pirate radio station. Phantom broadcasts under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. Phantom 105.2 is noted for playing music from artists who wouldn't normally get airplay on Irish radio and famed for bringing its listeners closer to their favourite bands via their Sound Check Parties

Phantom plays mostly alternative rock with a high emphasis on indigenous artists. The station also plays a small amount of alternative dance and hip-hop music from local and international acts. Apart from general programming Phantom also has runs many specialist shows dedicated to a specific genre of rock or to premiering new Irish and international acts.

History

Until 2003, they operated as a pirate, staying on air the majority of the time, barring outages for frequency collisions with newly licenced stations, fear of raids by Comreg, and at one stage, the theft of their transmission equipment from Three Rock Mountain. Since 2003, they have operated as an internet radio station, and under two temporary radio contracts (2003 and 2004) from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

Funding during their pirate era came from sponsorship and advertising from local bands and promoters and even contributions from station staff.

A number of times during this period, the station went off air for licence applications. After two successful temporary licenses, Phantom applied for an alternative rock license offered by the BCI for Dublin in July 2004. They finally won a licence for an alternative rock station for Dublin in November 2004, beating the Zed FM consortium, Xfm and two other applicants.

Phantom's expected launch was delayed due to a legal challenges against the BCI regarding the license from Scrollside Ltd./Zed FM. An unsuccessful challenge to the High Court was followed by an appeal to the Supreme Court which was rejected on 6th April 2006.

Phantom has returned to the airwaves as of the 31st of October 2006, broadcasting on 105.2 FM. The station is now known as Phantom 105.2.

Some of Dublin's best known and most popular DJs work for Phantom 105.2. Among them Sinister Pete, John Caddell, and Simon Maher.

The music Phantom 105.2 play the most is indie/alternative but occasionally stick on The Stranglers, Queen, Yes, ZZ Top and U2.

Phantom 105.2 won the award for best music driven local station at the 2007 PPI Awards.

The Bob Dylan hosted radio show ‘Theme Time Radio Hour' joins the Phantom schedule from 11 November 2007.

Phantom 105.2 Podcasts

Phantom 105.2 offers a number of podcasted shows including Access All Areas (Sinéad Ní Mhórdha), The Kiosk (Nadine O'Regan)and also an Interview Podcast featuring artist interviews. Notable artist interviews include The Ting Tings, Gary Numan, MGMT, Editors, PJ Harvey and Paul McGuinness of U2. Phantom's podcasts are available through iTunes and uniquely can be downloaded directly or listened "on-demand" (without any download) via the stations website at phantom.ie

List of Phantom 105.2 presenters

*Richie McCormack (Pure Morning)
*Michelle Doherty (Finest Worksongs)
*Sinéad Ní Mhórdha (Front Row)
*Simon Maher (Phantom Daily)
*Jack Hyland (Heavy Traffic)
*John Caddell (BedRock, Powerhouse)
*Ray McGowan (Metal Notes)
*Aidan Lynch (I-Con)
*Micko (Blitz)
*John Meehan
*Riley
*Cathal Funge (I-Con)
*Nadine O'Regan (The Kiosk)
*Bob Dylan (Theme Time Radio Hour)
*Derek Byrne (The Album Archive, The Lounge)
*Darragh Brophy
*Amber
*Emma Meehan (The Producers)
*Laura Lee Conboy (Spiral Stares)
*Pearl (Sunday Morning Comin' Down)
*Fiona Scally
*Richie Ryan (Stadium Rock)
*James Byrne
*Steve Conway (Random Access)
*Orlagh Donnelly (Phantom Anthems, Carraig Crua)
*Jim Carroll
*Sinister Pete

List of Phantom 105.2 Good News Team

*Emer Mc Lysaght
*Louise Mannion
*Roisin O'Dea
*Jennifer Ryan
*Orlaith Farrell
*Simon Maher (Head of News)
*Aedin Donnelly

Notable Former Presenters

*Edel Coffey (Irish Independent)
*Cormac Battle (RTÉ 2FM)
*John Walsh (State Magazine)
*Taragh Loughrey-Grant (RTE Online)
*Alison Curtis (Today FM)
*Jenny Huston (RTÉ 2FM)
*Dan Hegarty (RTÉ 2FM)

External links

* [http://www.phantom.ie/ Phantom 105.2 website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/phantomfm Phantom 105.2 on MySpace]
* [http://phantom1052.bebo.com/ Phantom 105.2 on Bebo]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Phantom-1052/8093274189 Phantom 105.2 on Facebook]