FM104

"For the Brisbane Austereo Station 4MMM, that used to be Called FM 104, click here."
Infobox Radio station
name = FM 104


slogan = Dublin's Hit Music Station
airdate = 1989
frequency = 104.4 MHz,
DAB, [http://www.fm104.ie Online]
area = Dublin
format = Contemporary and Rock
owner = UTV Radio
website = [http://www.fm104.ie/ www.fm104.ie]
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FM104 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcast across Dublin, Ireland, on the frequency 104.4 MHz. It is operated by Capital Radio Productions Limited (unconnected with, and not to be confused with, Capital Radio plc), and is a subsidiary of UTV Radio. The station broadcasts under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. The station was recently bought by Communicorp and then sold to UTV.

Programming

FM104 is aimed mainly at 15-35 year olds, broadcasting mainly popular music and rock music. The station's flagship programme is The Strawberry Alarm Clock, which is presented by Jim McCabe & Niamh Crowley. The station offers a full news service, airing on the hour between 06:00 and 19:00. During the early 1990s, FM104 operated a network news service for ILR stations known as "Network Radio News", however this was closed upon the inauguration of the current common network news service, Independent Network News.

History

Capital Radio, as the station was originally called, was the first Independent Local Radio contractor to take to the air in 20 July 1989. Although initially moderately successful, following the launch of rival 98FM, the station consistently trailed in the ratings. In May 1991, the station relaunched as Rock 104, however this was unsuccessful and the station re-branded again in April 1992 to Dublin's FM104, using the tag-line "Superstars of the 80s and 90s".This format was moderately successful allowing the station to reach financial stability. However, the station still lagged behind its competitor 98FM. A change in programming direction in 1995, together with the introduction of the highly successful Strawberry Alarm-clock saw it finally overtake 98FM, though 98FM would itself undergo a (less radical) relaunch, dropping the "Classic Hits" moniker, and poaching Chris Barry for a time.In April 1996 FM104 moved into the Number 1 slot in the Dublin market for the first time. Since then, FM104 and 98FM have been keen rivals.

In 2004 the original shareholders sold the station to Scottish Radio Holdings in the first of a sequence of ownership changes. SRH were subsequently sold to EMAP, who in turn sold the station in 2007.

On 16 July 2007 it was announced that Denis O'Brien's Communicorp had agreed to purchase FM104, along with national station Today FM and Donegal station Highland Radio. The sale is however subject to both Competition Authority and Broadcasting Commission of Ireland approval. Should the sale be approved, both FM104 and 98FM would be owned by the same company. [cite news | url = http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0716/obriend.html | title = O'Brien's company buys Irish radio stations | publisher = RTÉ | date = 2007-07-16 ] [cite news | url = http://www.emap.com/press-office-item.asp?Resource=2834 | title = Sale of Republic of Ireland radio stations | publisher = EMAP | date = 2007-07-16 ]

On 8 October 2007, it was announced by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland that it would not agree to the sale of FM104 to Communicorp. although it granted approval for the acquisition of Today FM and Highland Radio. [http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/1008/communicorp.html] . A Competition Authority investigation is continuing, however the BCI must agree to any transfer of the FM104 licence and thus the sale is, at present unlikely to proceed. On 19 December 2007 it was announced that UTV Media had agreed to purchase FM104, subject to approval from the BCI and the Competition Authority and from UTV shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting. Under the structure of the agreement Communicorp will acquire FM104 and immediately sell it to UTV Media, thus keeping to the spirit of the earlier BCI ruling and allowing it to acquire the other EMAP stations. [http://www.utvplc.com/indepth.asp?sub=ps&sublk=prl&id=564] [http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/utv-raises-over-pound5m-to-help-fund-e52m-takeover-of-fm104-station-1250156.html] The sale of FM104 to UTV Media was completed on April 10th 2008.

List of FM104 presenters

* Jim McCabe (The Strawberry Alarm Clock)
* Niamh Crowley (The Strawberry Alarm Clock)
* Andy Preston (The 10-3 Show,Hit 20)
* Mark Noble (The Jam/All request Saturday/Music Director)
* Ben Murray (FM104's Download Chart)
* Adrian Kennedy (FM104 PhoneShow)
* Jeremy Dixon (FM104 PhoneShow)
* Al Gibbs (Freaks On Friday)
* Rob Gormley (FM104's Hits/Weekday cover)
* Tony Dixon (R&B with Tony D)
* Frank Jez (FM104's Big Urban Mix)
* Louise Jordan (The Saturday Fridge/The Juice)
* Eamon Duffy (Saturday breakfast/FM104s 80's Wake Up)
* Miriam Maher (The Deireadh Seachtaine Show)
* Ruairi Carroll (The Open Mic)
* Ryan O'Neill (FM104s Night-Time Network Sunday - Thursday)
* Mel Byrne (FM104s Night-Time Network Friday)
* Stephen Daly (FM104s Night-Time Network Saturday/Commercial Production)

FM104 News Presenters

* Cathy Cregan
* Ross Lynch
* Trish Laverty (Editor)
* Cliona O'Dwyer
* Ruairi Carroll (Reporter)
* Sinead Young
* Jackie Farrell (Reporter)

FM104 Sports Presenters

* Hazel Nolan (Editor)
* Bernard O'Toole
* Ger Tracy
* Carl Monaghan

FM104 Live

Famous across Dublin for the three bleeps, FM104 Live is the branding for the stations hourly news updates. These short programmes are transmitted for 3 minutes (NEWS) and 90 seconds (SPORT)Monday to Friday between 6am and 7pm. FM104 broadcasts a comprehensive bulletin at 13:00 and 18:00 daily featuring the latest stories from the Irish houses of government and courts service. There is also a heavy focus on human and consumer interest stories.

FM104 Podcasts

Podcasts are available on iTunes of FM104's The Strawberry Alarm Clock, FM104's Phoneshow, FM104's Open Mic and FM104's The Juice.

References

See also

* FM104 PhoneShow
* The Strawberry Alarm Clock

External links

* [http://www.fm104.ie FM104]