Cork's Red FM

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Cork's RedFM
Broadcast areaCounty Cork, Ireland
Frequency104.2 – 106.1 FM
Programming
Language(s)English
Irish[1]
FormatCHR
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
16 January 2002
Links
Websiteredfm.ie

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[2]" 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.[3]

In early 2024, The station went through a revamp with a new tagline, Cork's Good Times, new jingles and a similar format to 98FM in Dublin



History[edit]

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, 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.[4]

In December 2017, a sale was agreed of the 17.5% of Red FM owned by Landmark Media Investments to The Irish Times[5] pending regulatory approval. In July 2018, the 17.5% stake in the station to The Irish Times was complete.[6][7]


Business[edit]

Siteridge Limited currently hold a licence from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for Cork City and County and broadcast as Red FM.[8] Shareholders in Siteridge Limited included Thomas Crosbie Holdings.[9] Thomas Crosbie Holdings went into receivership in March 2013. Their stake acquired by Landmark Media Investments.[10]

In March 2013, Dublin born Diarmuid O'Leary, the then Advertising Sales Director of the Irish Daily Star, joined RedFM as CEO.[11]

News[edit]

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]

Frequencies[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ "Dúisigh le Lauren Ní Loingsigh – Red FM".
  2. ^ Murphy, David (16 January 2002). "Cork pop station goes on air today". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 19 August 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  3. ^ "Bauer Media Audio Completes Acquisition of Cork's Red FM". Bauer Media Audio. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Listnership improves at Cork's RedFM". TheCork.ie. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016.
  5. ^ "The Irish Times to acquire Landmark Media business". Irish Examiner. Cork. 6 December 2017. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Irish Times completes purchase of Irish Examiner". RTÉ.ie. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Irish Times complete purchase of Landmark Media; Pledge to protect 'identity and independence' of titles". Irish Examiner. Cork. 10 July 2018. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  8. ^ http://www.bai.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/20130117_EOI_Ad_Tabloid_24Jan_v.Final_AC.pdf [dead link]
  9. ^ "Our media". Thomas Crosbie Holdings. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Receiver appointed to publisher of Irish Examiner". RTÉ.ie. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  11. ^ "New CEO for Red FM". RadioNation. 15 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2013.

External links[edit]