Tom Dunne to Newstalk

shaper13

Statement from Fleischman, Newstalk's PR agency

Tom Dunne to Host New Morning Show on Newstalk

Newstalk 106-108 fm will be making a change to its morning schedule from Monday September 1st with the start of a new 3 hour talk show to be hosted by Tom Dunne. The programme, Tom Dunne, will air every weekday from 9.00am-12.00pm.


Tom Dunne will be a magazine-style talk show, covering topical news items, lifestyle, sport and entertainment. Comedy will be a key feature in the new show and occasional music tracks will complement lively and informative debate. As usual on Newstalk, listener comment and reaction will be a feature throughout the show.

An established and experienced broadcaster with Today FM and former front man with Something Happens, Tom moves to talk radio with a great sense of anticipation. “I’m very excited about the move to Newstalk. The station has carved out a real talk alternative in Irish radio. I’m looking forward to joining a great team, presenting a really exciting show and can’t wait to get started.”

Welcoming Tom to Newstalk, Chief Executive Elaine Geraghty said “This show marks a new departure for Newstalk’s morning schedule. Tom is a fantastic addition to our line up of presenters and he fits perfectly with Newstalk’s commitment of delivering great talk radio. We are confident that this new programme presented by Tom in his own inimitable way will continue to grow our national audience.”

Tom Dunne begins broadcasting on September 1st and replaces “Your Call with Brenda Power” presented by Brenda Power and “Life with Orla Barry” presented by Orla Barry. Brenda Power joins the senior editorial team and will continue to broadcast across the station. Orla Barry will also remain part of the Newstalk schedule.

Tom Dunne on Newstalk 106-108 fm, every weekday 9.00am-12.00pm



ENDS

flogen

Wow - didn't see that one coming.

It's quite a loss for Today FM as Pet Sounds is a well liked and respected music show. Will be interesting to see how Dunne copes without any music too; he does a good job when he covers for D'Arcy but even then he gets to play some music if not as much as on PS.

shaper13

He's leaving Today FM but "staying within the same group".

Both based in the same building too, don't forget.

J

Nevyn

Yes, no more Oral Barry.

MikeHoncho

Wow.:eek:

Genghis

I wouldn't assume there will be no music content. Newstalk already have limited music on other shows (mainly at the weekend), and as he will be challenging Tubridy/Kenny, Gerry Ryan and Ray Darcy - not to mention several similar shows on loca radio - all of which are 'mainly talk, with some music', I won't be surprised if there is music. 3hrs is also a very considerable time to present a magazine style show without musical interludes.

Somebody else posted a Press Release saying that Orla Barry and Brenda Power will still be with the station - but I wonder in what capacity.

Its interesting that Newstalk have apparently abandoned their 'Female driven' strategy for the 9-lunch slot.

Nevyn

Yes well those two 'females' had me driven demented, couldnot stand to listen to them and found the content of their programs and thier notions to be horrendus.

flogen

Genghis wrote: »

I wouldn't assume there will be no music content. Newstalk already have limited music on other shows (mainly at the weekend), and as he will be challenging Tubridy/Kenny, Gerry Ryan and Ray Darcy - not to mention several similar shows on loca radio - all of which are 'mainly talk, with some music', I won't be surprised if there is music. 3hrs is also a very considerable time to present a magazine style show without musical interludes.

Somebody else posted a Press Release saying that Orla Barry and Brenda Power will still be with the station - but I wonder in what capacity.

Its interesting that Newstalk have apparently abandoned their 'Female driven' strategy for the 9-lunch slot.

As part of their national licence Newstalk have the capacity to play a very limited amount of music - mainly through shows like 'The Meaning of Music' which is on on Saturday evening... It's true to say that they could probably squeeze the terms of that licence to allow a few songs here and there on Dunne's show but it would be very few and far between.

Thaedydal wrote: »

Yes well those two 'females' had me driven demented, couldnot stand to listen to them and found the content of their programs and thier notions to be horrendus.

Couldn't stand Orla Barry; Brenda Power I could take or leave.

shaper13 wrote: »

He's leaving Today FM but "staying within the same group".

Both based in the same building too, don't forget.

J

No they're not - Newstalk is based on Mount St. Crescent beside the Pepper Canister Church while Today FM is on Digges Lane near Stephen's Green SC (they only moved there recently).

What you may be thinking of is the fact that the Digges Lane office was originally supposed to house Today FM and FM104 which were both part of the EMAP group when the office space was bought - but once they were sold off and split up that plan was knocked on the head and there were rumours that Newstalk or 98FM would take FM104's place in the building - doesn't seem to be going anywhere, though and there'd be a lot of resistance to it in both camps, I'd imagine. There could even be licence issues to overcome if Communicorp wanted to put its two national stations in one building.

monument

flogen wrote: »

...

It's quite a loss for Today FM as Pet Sounds is a well liked and respected music show. ....

Evening thought Alison Curtis just got the slot she is in, hopefully she is moved to the Pet Sounds slot. She'd be a good replacement.

EDIT: Just finishing off the paper.. according to the Irish Times, Gemma Hayes will be presenting after the news today!

Winters

Yes she is presenting atm as I sit on the bus home.

Had been wondering what had happened to Tom Dunne on pet sounds for the last while. He always did well when filling in for Ray Darcy but I dont know how he will be now that he is competeing agaist him, as such.

ahaaha

a load of people are sick of ray darcy away up there on his high moral ground recently. he is a changed man, sadly. he'll defiinately loose a lot of listeners against Tom. reckon he'll do a good job - a sad loss to pet sounds, but i agree alison kurtis is more than an acceptable replacement...

monument

ahaaha wrote: »

a load of people are sick of ray darcy away up there on his high moral ground recently. he is a changed man, sadly. he'll defiinately loose a lot of listeners against Tom. reckon he'll do a good job - a sad loss to pet sounds, but i agree alison kurtis is more than an acceptable replacement...

I don't think Kurtis has been anounced as a replacment yet, I just said she would be a good replacment.

BoB_BoT

flogen wrote: »

No they're not - Newstalk is based on Mount St. Crescent beside the Pepper Canister Church while Today FM is on Digges Lane near Stephen's Green SC (they only moved there recently).

What you may be thinking of is the fact that the Digges Lane office was originally supposed to house Today FM and FM104 which were both part of the EMAP group when the office space was bought - but once they were sold off and split up that plan was knocked on the head and there were rumours that Newstalk or 98FM would take FM104's place in the building - doesn't seem to be going anywhere, though and there'd be a lot of resistance to it in both camps, I'd imagine. There could even be licence issues to overcome if Communicorp wanted to put its two national stations in one building.

are ya sure of that Flogen, I remember (think it was on darcys show) them going on about the noise of drilling and hammering outside the studio as it was being prepared for Newstalk below them, then they started to do Hook impersonations, good show all in all :P
this was about 2 months ago I think.

djsupreme

flogen wrote: »

As part of their national licence Newstalk have the capacity to play a very limited amount of music - mainly through shows like 'The Meaning of Music' which is on on Saturday evening... It's true to say that they could probably squeeze the terms of that licence to allow a few songs here and there on Dunne's show but it would be very few and far between.

Newstalk are allowed something like 15 or 20% music under the terms of their licensing contract. As they don't play any music on daytime shows currently, I'm sure Tom Dunne can get away with quite a bit of music on his show if he wishes. I suspect however it will be similar to Gerry Ryan as in perhaps two songs per hour.

And Newstalk moved into the Today FM building about two months back.

GhostInTheRuins

Good riddance Orla and Brenda. Happy days

Capri

a load of people are sick of ray darcy away up there on his high moral ground recently. he is a changed man, sadly. he'll defiinately loose a lot of listeners against Tom.

I'll second that !

D'arcy's become such a 'Peter Perfect' I've gone over to Radio 1 !!! :eek:

flogen

BoB_BoT wrote: »

are ya sure of that Flogen, I remember (think it was on darcys show) them going on about the noise of drilling and hammering outside the studio as it was being prepared for Newstalk below them, then they started to do Hook impersonations, good show all in all :P
this was about 2 months ago I think.

djsupreme wrote: »

Newstalk are allowed something like 15 or 20% music under the terms of their licensing contract. As they don't play any music on daytime shows currently, I'm sure Tom Dunne can get away with quite a bit of music on his show if he wishes. I suspect however it will be similar to Gerry Ryan as in perhaps two songs per hour.

And Newstalk moved into the Today FM building about two months back.

As it turns out I was mistaken in saying it was still just a rumour and it is due to happen but I don't think the move has been made yet.

At least they hadn't moved into Marconi House by the end of July and I don't think they have in the last fortnight either - but it's probably going to happen any week now.

jdivision

Good hire for Newstalk, was only talking with friends recently about how much he outshone Darcy when he was on holidays. Darcy has become so smug and sanctimonious since he became the "perfect" father that it's nauseating. His political leanings also clouded a lot of the way he covered topics in the run up to the election and I lost a lot of respect for him over that

Hansel

Looks like I'll be switching over to Newstalk in the mornings. Dunne kicks D'arcy's arse when he covered for him. The show was much more fun, which is what that show is supposed to be all about. Thought I was the only one sick of D'arcy and his sanctimonious bull****. At least he's doing the Rose of Tralee and not his own show for the next two weeks:D

Gunnersonny

The 2 stations are in the same building so it must have been easy to poach him!... Thank God Tom Dunne is doing a morning slot. Ray D'arcy was turning into a Gay-Byrne-type pain in the arse I just couldn't listen anymore.

Grawns

Gotta agree about Ray Darcy, I don't know how yer one Jenny puts up with him at all. Will miss pet sounds but am looking forward to having decent show in the morning slot now. Now if they could just do something about Ray Foley :mad:

StargazerLily

"Now if they could just do something about Ray Foley "

Was just thinking the same thing......would listen to 10 hrs of Darcy rather than an hour of Ray Foley. Tom Dunne is a huge loss - will miss him.

Firetrap

Wow, this is a surprise. I hope it turns out to be a good move for Tom. I've liked him when he's stood in for Ray D'arcy. Tis good to have alternatives. Brenda Power/Orla Barry are no loss really. I wonder were they losing listeners?

ateam

So have Orla and Brenda been sacked from Newstalk? Does this mean Eamon Keane gets an extra half an hour for his programme?

Firetrap

I don't know what the answer is to the Eamon Keane question but the press release from Newstalk says "Tom Dunne begins broadcasting on September 1st and replaces “Your Call with Brenda Power” presented by Brenda Power and “Life with Orla Barry” presented by Orla Barry. Brenda Power joins the senior editorial team and will continue to broadcast across the station. Orla Barry will also remain part of the Newstalk schedule".

Make of that what you will.

mike65

Has anyone noticed that both Barry and Power are off air, is that cos they are "on hollidays"? If so, it almost sounds like a coup

Mike.

_blank_

flogen wrote: »

At least they hadn't moved into Marconi House by the end of July and I don't think they have in the last fortnight either - but it's probably going to happen any week now.

Off The Ball was broadcasting from Marconi House this evening (Friday) for the first time.

flogen

Des wrote: »

Off The Ball was broadcasting from Marconi House this evening (Friday) for the first time.

Aye - as is Culture Shock this evening, looks like the move has been made but I guess it's only in the last week or so.

I hadn't even realised it was going ahead but knew if it was it hadn't happened one or two months ago... oddly enough it seems like they'll be sharing a reception area too, which implies to me that we'll very gradually see Today FM and Newstalk become very overt sister channels like RTÉ Radio One and 2FM; that will probably involve some eventual line-up tweaks to remove any timeslot rivalry, namely in the drivetime spot.

mike65

The newsrooms will be merged, no?

Mike

barnicles

Good idea:)

flogen

mike65 wrote: »

The newsrooms will be merged, no?

Mike

Not sure if that's officially on the agenda but it's bound to happen sooner or later - if they're sharing a reception area and one is easily accessible from the other (when coming from reception you actually have to walk down a flight of stairs to Today FM's floor in order to reach the stairs down to Newstalk; there's not even a real way of knowing that you're going from one station to another) merging of operations is bound to happen on a number of levels... I'd imagine news and sales are prime candidates for that and eventually we'll see schedule conflicts getting ironed out too.

santry_goonshow

Newstalk has been wracked with political convulsions recently. The rumour I heard was that Brenda Power had pi**ed off some pretty vindictive ppl in positions of authority with her slot ringing up state agencies and Government Ministers and demanding answers. This "left-wing" agenda doesn't work in Ireland bcoz the country is too small (yeah, I know these ppl dunno what left wing is).

mike65

Left wing agenda? Brenda Power? She was just drumming up some controversy not taking an ideological stand.

Mike.

santry_goonshow

mike65 wrote: »

Left wing agenda? Brenda Power? She was just drumming up some controversy not taking an ideological stand.

Mike.

Mike, my point precisely. How does taking a stand for downtrodden state service users or ripped off consumers constitute a left wing agenda? What it says to me is that some ppl in corporate ireland and the political elites are not averse to smear tactics when it suits them.

I'm listening to the woman who went in for Brenda Power.. Louise smthng. She is pure annodine, trawling up some very old rope about whether secondary level kids should be allowed to wear dreadlocks. YAAAWWWNNNNN, no shortage of tub thumpers willing to fon up and rant by linking the loosening of uniform codes to the demise of civilisation generally. As I said, YAAAAWWWWWN - just listening to see how much she can stretch it out.

Conclusion: if one child breaks the rules the sky will fall, the kingdom will be lost