[ste88m]

Originally Posted by Itssoeasy

Really ? Who's doing it now as on the todayfm website it says morning time.

Phil Cawley and Tim Kelly have been filling in since Alison went upstairs.

I heard it from someone in Today FM, then another person in Today FM tweeted about it and apparently Phil Cawley mentioned it (on air) too... I imagine they won't update the website 'til she starts out..

[whatlliwear]

Originally Posted by ste88m

It seems Louise Duffy of AA Roadwatch will be the new presenter of the 5am - 7am slot on Today FM...

Certainly different from doing traffic reports, and it'll be an even earlier start. But good luck to her all the same.

Oh dear! Is she the girl that makes a lot of mistakes reading the traffic reports! It's ok though I won't hear it. Too early for me.

[Itssoeasy]

So that's louise Duffy than of AA roadwatch fame ? Fair enough.

[Dudess]

Feckin' hell, the monopoly O'Brien has on radio - I remember when he bid for the Emap Irish radio portfolio (Today FM, FM104, one or two local stations) it was assumed he hadn't a chance. It was pretty much laughed off - after all, he had NewsTalk, Sp!n and 98FM. D'oh.

And now Phantom? The reduction in competition doesn't seem too healthy...

[NickDrake]

Is Alison gone?

Don't think she was a fan of the early mornings.

She always sounded sour on the morning show

She does like her nights out.

[Itssoeasy]

Well done to Louise Duffy on her first show this morning.

[Tapes]

I wish today fm would have given this louise girl a real chance by putting fony fenton on early mornings and putting her on afternoons

[kraggy]

Originally Posted by Bard

Communicorp (owners of Today FM, Newstalk, 98FM, Spin and more) bought a majority stake in Phantom and they've moved in to Marconi House, upstairs from Today FM.

Sorry for the thread ressurection, was looking up something else and came across this.

How the hell are Communicorp allow to buy up yet another media outlet in Ireland? Or part of it at least.

Scandalous.

What sort of country are we living in? O'Brien owns the 2 largest independent stations in the country and is majority shareholder in the most popular newspaper in the country too.

How is this allowed to happen?

[PaulieBoy]

Originally Posted by kraggy

Sorry for the thread ressurection, was looking up something else and came across this.

How the hell are Communicorp allow to buy up yet another media outlet in Ireland? Or part of it at least.

Scandalous.

What sort of country are we living in? O'Brien owns the 2 largest independent stations in the country and is majority shareholder in the most popular newspaper in the country too.

How is this allowed to happen?

Fear not! I'm quite sure we have a 'regulator' who will, in the fullness of time, have a quick look at the issue and conclude that's it's fine. It's how we do things in this country.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Bard

Communicorp (owners of Today FM, Newstalk, 98FM, Spin and more) bought a majority stake in Phantom and they've moved in to Marconi House, upstairs from Today FM.

Just to clarify that Communicorp have acquired a stake in Phantom but it is not a majority stake. The station moved into Marconi House last January.

[Bard]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Just to clarify that Communicorp have acquired a stake in Phantom but it is not a majority stake. The station moved into Marconi House last January.

I stand corrected, but can I assume that the stake is large enough to be considered a 'controlling' one?

[Caledonman]

Originally Posted by kraggy

Sorry for the thread ressurection, was looking up something else and came across this.

How the hell are Communicorp allow to buy up yet another media outlet in Ireland? Or part of it at least.

Scandalous.

What sort of country are we living in? O'Brien owns the 2 largest independent stations in the country and is majority shareholder in the most popular newspaper in the country too.

How is this allowed to happen?

The problem is that it is not a level playing field.. DOB puts the money in and demands results, its a business. We put the money into RTE, all the licensing fees and so on, and there is little accountability, as we can see by the endless amounts of trash they put out on air. If the other stations got a cut of the licence fees, it would be a lot fairer. The private stations put out better quality programmes with far fewer resources. Whether you like DOB or not, at least they keep the stations going.. very few others around willing to invest.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Bard

I stand corrected, but can I assume that the stake is large enough to be considered a 'controlling' one?

Not a controlling one. They are one of 4 shareholders and not the largest.

[windowcleaner]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Not a controlling one. They are one of 4 shareholders and not the largest.

Nonsense! Communicorp are the ones making ALL the Phantom decisions now - sure, the station are now based in a few cupboards down the back of Marconi House, the Communicopy HQ. Plus Communicorp are behind the axing of a huge % of Phantom staff (including, though he didn't say it, Brian D) and ALL programming decisions. It may be couched in "one of 4 shareholders" but they're the ones calling the shots. Just ask any current Phantom staff member (if you can find one!) or those who've left the station because their positions were made redundant.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by windowcleaner

Nonsense! Communicorp are the ones making ALL the Phantom decisions now - sure, the station are now based in a few cupboards down the back of Marconi House, the Communicopy HQ. Plus Communicorp are behind the axing of a huge % of Phantom staff (including, though he didn't say it, Brian D) and ALL programming decisions. It may be couched in "one of 4 shareholders" but they're the ones calling the shots. Just ask any current Phantom staff member (if you can find one!) or those who've left the station because their positions were made redundant.

Bard just asked about a controlling stake to which to me means a majority stake or the larger stake. I just was just clarifying this point. The shareholders can decide who they want to call the shots at an operational level.

Last time I was in the building they weren't in the cupboards - perhaps they are now.

Communicorp HQ is generally considered to be Grand Canal Quay with the Twilight Zone elevator. Was "Communicopy" a typo or intended?