The official Christmas FM thread

3 Owls in a Coat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121013822#Comment_121013822

Thank you! That's me - 3 Owls in a Trenchcoat - one of these days I'll be found out but in the mean time I'll fake it 'til I make it!!

Loughc

So strange having no charity partner announcement to look forward to, will we hear from ChristmasFM at all on the runup?

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055175#Comment_121055175

No a peep from them since Paddys day & the sound of Ireland thing finished. Whilst once or twice that has happened, normally theres 1 or 2 random ones earlier in the summer or early autumn, but nowt this year.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055892#Comment_121055892

The Halloween station will probably come up again.

pigtail33

Do the DJs on the online version usually start straight away after the Hallowe'en one, or is there a bit of a break? I can't remember from previous years.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056274#Comment_121056274

Bit of a break, DJs pop up sporadically between Nov 1st and go-live. I think they use it as test runs in and out of the studio.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056298#Comment_121056298

yeah, last couple of years they've gone live online from Nov. 1st IIRC. THink in 2020 it was to test the remote DJ'ing and it kinda stuck. Hope they keep doing it TBH as I enjoy dipping in & hearing the DJ's, i'm usually all 'classicalled' out at that point 😀

Declan A Walsh

Dan McDermott, the station manager for Christmas FM for the last few years, was presenting this morning on 8Radio.com. It is on a temporary license run on FM at the moment. The next two presenters on 8Radio after him have also presented on Christmas FM in the last few years: Anne-Marie Walsh and Jenny Ridyard. It is on various frequencies in a few cities around Ireland. Its Dublin frequency is 105.2 mhz, the same one used by Christmas FM for the last seven years.

Edit: At the risk of going even further off on a tangent (!), it looks like Jennie is married to the same John Connolly who presents a brilliantly eclectic program on RTE Gold called ABC to XTC.

DvB

12 weeks today to lift off for Christmas FM for 2023!!

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072656#Comment_121072656

Will it add more FM frequencies this year? It was almost nationwide over the last couple of years!

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072855#Comment_121072855

Must be pretty close to full coverage at this stage, though I do remember losing it when driving to Westport (West of Strokestown) & Donegal Town last year.

PaulT21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072917#Comment_121072917

Definitely available in the Donegal Area (around 105.5 if I remember correctly)but it's a pity that they don't automatically switch frequencies as you travel the country like the normal stations do. Still, looking forward to its return🎅😀🤶

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073648#Comment_121073648

Pretty sure It changes frequency for me automatically when driving around the country, just no coverage in those areas so nothing to change to unfortunately.

Smell the glove

Signal in Waterford don't be great for me. Can be hit or miss because it's competing with beat 104 and opentempo FM.

marno21

Mayo, South Tipp and Waterford are the biggest population areas left that have no coverage but can be covered with 1 FM transmitter

Then again, for a temporary non profit station the level of coverage they have gotten to is remarkable

DvB

They must be the easily the most successful temporary station the country has ever had, given the coverage & number of consecutive years they've been broadcasting its a phenomenal achievement.

Long may it continue.

In fact, before I head to Sligo later this morning I may just treat myself to some classical.

Loughc

ChristmasFM dropped this on their socials today to mark 100 days to go.

Loughc

So it seems their news was applications are now open for a child to Switch Christmas On.

I checked it's only for Under 10's so my application got denied.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121126277#Comment_121126277

Saw that earlier, what a great prize though!!

Was wondering if my 2 12yo's would pass for 9??? 😉

10 weeks tomorrow is launch day!!

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121126620#Comment_121126620

Visions of Only fools and horses when they win a holiday and Rodney has to pretend he's 14.

Wow only 10 weeks to launch, not going to lie I got so excited when I saw the ChristmasFM socials posting stuff again instantly got me in the mood for the classics.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121126732#Comment_121126732

Yeah have to admit I got a tingle of excitement myself when I saw their socials updating again... I'd checked in on them a couple of times throughout the year but since St. Patricks day & the sound of Ireland promotion they'd been totally dormant, seeing activity again tells me its getting close!!

DvB

Here's the instagram post.

DvB

WFH for the morning & went to stick on some Christmas FM classical only to discover its offline and wont load... shame as its a little too early for the normal stuff. I've dropped them a message so hopefully it wont take too long to get back up & running.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121128589#Comment_121128589

WFH again today & i can confirm classical is back up & running. Even the last played list is up to date!!

DvB

8 weeks to launch day.

Loughc

A dj slot on ChristmasFM online tomorrow at 3pm. Testing is starting early it seems.

Smell the glove

A bit early for me but nice for anyone who feels like a pick me up!

ClaudeVercetti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121215777#Comment_121215777

Raging I've a meeting everyday at that time, otherwise I'd be well up for tuning in!

DvB

I'll be on site from 2-3pm today, raging, would love to have been able to listen in. Still, just 7 weeks to full launch day & I suspect the DJ's will start online in Early November again this year too. So not long to go at all!

pigtail33

I've just had a meeting scheduled for 3pm. I was looking forward to hearing this. Hopefully the meeting won't take long.

Andrew93

I've just had a meeting re-scheduled so looks like I'll be able to tune in.

pigtail33

Did anyone get to listen in yesterday? I completely forgot about it after my meeting 😣

Andrew93

Completely forgot about this until I got home after work. Raging.

pigtail33

I just turned it on 10 minutes ago and they still have a presenter. I didn't hear his name, but sounds like he has a Spanish accent to me. I don't think I've heard him on Christmas FM before.

They're currently playing Kylie, Christmas Isn't Christmas Till You Get Here.

My first time to dip my toe into the festive tunes since last season. Must be the cold weather today.

OUTDOORLASS

Just turned the App on and live DJ on it

Happy Dayz..

DvB

Normally listen to classical only this far out, but having read the recent posts on here just had a listen online and there is indeed a 'live' presenter this afternoon also. A little odd that nothing was announced on their social media accounts as they normally would as soon as any presenters are broadcasting even if it is just online.

Just heard 'Christmas Tree Farm' by Taylor Swift, one of my recent favourites... still a little early though so will put classical back on for a couple more weeks methinks.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121232543#Comment_121232543

I think it’s more about testing and giving the presenters some “live” experience/training.

it’s great. I’m gonna be tipping in and out soon. I’ve resisted so far but it’s only a matter of time.

SleetAndSnow

Also a live presenter this morning, first cold morning in a while with blue skies so said I'd throw it on for some cheer! Sent expecting the live "and in an hour or so we will be" voice! - Mariah on ATM 😁

tscul32

Have replaced the kitchen radio with Alexa so making sure the app plays nicely. Classical has been playing a bit recently, haven't tried the main station yet.

DvB

Just 6 weeks to official launch day.

Also, Christmas FM have a look back at where the money raised from 2022 was spent on their social media channels, both 'X' & 'Instagram' wont allow me link them here though as they're videos.

Loughc

Loving this constant stream of live DJs lately. Gonna have to log on, on the commute to work me thinks.

DvB

Hmmm, I have to be honest, the main Christmas FM channel is still a little too soon for me, tried listening briefly last week when DJ's were mentioned but turned it off after 2 or 3 songs as I'm just not there yet. The last couple of years with DJ's starting on Nov.1st I started dipping in briefly and that built up slowly to the full launch nicely. Thinking of trying to hold off for the full FM launch this year though and not dip in early.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121252987#Comment_121252987

I didn't get time to click into ChristmasFM this morning myself so my streak is still alive haha. Will definitely dip in sooner than later, when time allows.

Loughc

Off work today have a few jobs to do thought I’d flick on ChristmasFM for the first time this year to keep me company and HalloweenFM has taken over.

That’s a sure fire sign for me to wait until November 1st at least.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121285351#Comment_121285351

Classical still working, still my go to when WFH. Though it is getting a little repetitive now to be honest.

Declan A Walsh

Halloween FM is back! I haven't seen or heard any mention of it. All the presenters listed this year are connected to Christmas FM...including Garvan Rigby! I seem to remember Jessica Spencer was involved last time. She has been associated with Spin1038 and I see she is now also a presenter on Christmas FM.

Loughc

The song contest is back!

Loughc

Oh baby now we are cooking!!

Loughc

Not sure where to put this interesting fact and it doesnt warrant it's own thread so here will do....

"All I Want For Christmas" by Mariah Carey got over 300,000 streams on September 1st this year, a massive jump from the previous month. Over 115k of those streams originated from The Philippines where Sept 1st is the start of their Christmas celebrations which last for months.

Imagine the meltdown in After Hours if our celebrations started Sept 1st haha.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121318495#Comment_121318495

A younger member of staff in work decided to put up some Christmas decoration in our office because it was November 1st. I nearly had a meltdown myself!