The official Christmas FM thread

DvB

WFH today because of the weather warning that was in place for earlier this morning, finally got around to having no teams meetings so have stuck on Christmas FM classical (still too soon for the main channel for me) and twigged that the official launch is 2 weeks tomorrow! Now that countdown has gone by in the blink of an eye.

SarahLil

Wow exciting and scary!! how is it launch day tomorrow 2 weeks, time going so fast

kitten_k

Looking forward to this coming back! Even my goddaughter keeps pressing the preset on the car radio to see if it’s back yet 🤣

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121363148#Comment_121363148

Good god that came in wayyyy too quick!!!

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121364858#Comment_121364858

Hasn't it just. Looking forward to it now as I've managed to avoid dipping in early this year.

Loughc

I meant to say last week I logged into the ChristmasFM app on my morning walk at 6am and there was a live DJ broadcasting, at first I was sure it was a recording but he gave time shout outs which matched the exact time on my phone.

It just amazes me just how dedicated the volunteers are in ChristmasFM, someone was doing a test broadcast at 6am in the morning, and most likely had a full days work ahead of themselves afterwards as well, that's why ChristmasFM is so special, the dedication. That's why other radio stations soulless knock off streaming channels that play Christmas songs (looking at you TodayFM and the Go Loud App) don't compare to ChristmasFM.

Loughc

On a negative side of ChristmasFM, the playlist so far on the main channel has been terrible, I even caught 2 seconds of a cover of Christmas Shoes by an american boyband on ChristmasFM this morning before I swiftly turned it off. Hopefully the tunes get better when it goes live!

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121370316#Comment_121370316

Since 2020 & covid, it appears they are DJing live, albeint online from Early November, which I think is a great addition. Every other year I started listening in little by little up until the full FM launch and surprised myself by enjoying it. Thought they may drop that when the restrictions around covid stopped but great to see it carry on. Haven't managed to listen in to the main channel yet this year though, struggling to get excited by Christmas this year so far with so much going on at home & at work. Hoping that if i can hold off for the full FM launch it'll raise my christmas spirits from their current slumber!!

davidk1394

Is Christmas FM live on the app most days now ?

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121370365#Comment_121370365

DJs are still very sporadic at the moment, they usually ramp up before FM go live and keep going until NYE.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121370327#Comment_121370327

Since 2020, there was an announcement each year that there would be live programming online from a specific date - a bit like the official FM launch a bit later. It sounds like they are doing it in a more low key manner this year. Maybe it is more ad-hoc this time until the official FM launch.

davidk1394

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121370398#Comment_121370398

Thanks, I enjoy listening to it when I'm milking the cows, it's a bit of a tradition the last few years.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121370413#Comment_121370413

That sounds about right. The last couple of years they made an announcement of DJ's being live online from early November, but this year there wasn't any (that I'm aware of at least) so an ad-hoc arrangement as you described it seems to be the order of the day for 2023. Likely we'll see/hear more live DJ's in the next couple of weeks too as we near FM launch day.

Heroditas

I tuned in to listen to it on the way home from Liffey Valley earlier. It's a shirt spin so only heard four songs but the DJ was yapping away and, combined with the fact that the decorations are up in Liffey Valley and M&S was playing Christmas music, it certainly lifted the spirits

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121373594#Comment_121373594

Via FM radio?

Lord Nelson

Frequencies confirmed this morning. Some changes I notice due to reallocation for RTE and others.

marno21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121374860#Comment_121374860

Letterkenny and Cavan? Have RTE added additional services recently?

Lord Nelson

Not sure what the story is to be honest. Possibly RTE changing frequencies rather than additional services or possibly to do with proximity to the border? I’m sure someone here will have the inside track.

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121373998#Comment_121373998

Tunein played via Android Auto

Manc-Red_

To me now Christmas FM in our house is an absolute must on a par to the trusty Christmas Tree.

Love it & long may it last

pigtail33

Caught a little bit of Christmas FM during my lunch break. The presenter said that last year, they had 'hundreds of thousands' listening in during the pre-launch in November so this year, they have decided to go "the full monty" with the presenters in November. I assume that means there's a full schedule of presenters on all day. I've only turned it on randomly during the day for a few minutes, but there has always been a presenter on.

Declan A Walsh

I had it on for the last 15 or 20 minutes - first time since early this year. I particularly enjoyed Lizzo's Some Day at Christmas Time. Incidentally, Christmas FM regular Mike Maloney is presenting at the moment. He identified himself, but he is one of those that is easy to recognoise! He said he had been on for the last two hours and why did it take so long for us to tune in! Mike said that it will be back on FM on the 28th November, but we know that already! Jose Feliciano on now... will tune out now and concentrate on work.

Andrew93

Listening in the last 20-30 minutes and haven't heard a presenter (might have zoned out and missed them).

ClaudeVercetti

Just saw Nobbie who used to co-host the Strawberry Alarm clock with Jim-Jim has joined the lineup this year - that's a nice addition!

kitten_k

When is the FM launch

kitten_k

I agree, miss Nobby in the mornings

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121382880#Comment_121382880

28th of November

SarahLil

Haven’t dabbled in Christmas tunes yet this season, I always love launch day

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121382814#Comment_121382814

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121382882#Comment_121382882

Mark Noble is a fill-in presenter on Radio Nova these days. Incidentally, Emily Brew, who presents on Christmas FM, is a weekend presenter on Radio Nova.

DvB

1 week to launch day. This day week Christmas FM goes live on FM radio.

Looking forward to seeing what the kick off song is this year? Last year was Andy Williams & 'Its the most wonderful time of the year', but the most oft used is Bing Crosby's 'Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas' I wonder will they use one of those again or have a new one to kick us off for 2023!

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121395050#Comment_121395050

A week to launch day is just silly. The run in from September has felt like a fortnight.

SarahLil

Hopefully we’ll catch the live launch on the way home in the car from toddler group next Tuesday

DvB

Confirmed!

Heroditas

I'd better book out that time in my work Outlook calendar in case someone tries to arrange a meeting for that time 😤

Loughc

A bit late to this but

If you tune in between now and 10am you'll hear Garvan and the Brekkie Crew warming up for the FM launch next week! 🎅

Listen online at christmasfm.com, on the Christmas FM app, or ask your smart speaker to play Christmas FM! 📻

Loughc

Had ChristmasFM on all day. A lot of dad dancing was done while putting up the tree.

Full compliment of DJs today on air and lots of listeners texts and emails as well.

Declan A Walsh

Testing on 105.2FM in Dublin this evening, with RDS of XMAS.

Declan A Walsh

@Loughc : you might be interested in this:

https://forumofgames.com/showthread.php?tid=492

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121413938#Comment_121413938

Had the app on ourselves whilst decorating, was very glitchy though, had to restart it about 5 or 6 times.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121414035#Comment_121414035

Same with the glitch but teething problems no doubt.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121414151#Comment_121414151

Yeah, not unusual and normally settles down for trouble free listening when it matters.

SarahLil

FM Frequencies for the season

DvB

Was hoping the west may have been added for my drive to westport on Thursday but looks like I'll lose the signal after strokestown again like last year.

Heroditas

Christmas FM via Tunein is dreadful in the car

Can't wait to be able to hear it via FM

DvB

Caught a test broadcast in the car yesterday, pleasant surprise! Looking forward to Tuesday now.

Loughc

Love this

pigtail33

I love how Christmas FM shows the song and singer on my Google display. I wish all the stations would enable this!

Loughc

over 3 million streams in November alone is very impressive.

DvB

Was WFH for the afternoon & had Christmas FM on in the background, first time this year I've really enjoyed the main channel. Loved the DJ's constantly referring to the FM launch tomorrow, you can feel the excitement around it.

Roll on midday tomorrow & we can see who gets the ball rolling re: first FM song of the year.

Loughc

The FM had a generic playlist playing all day today obviously testing the frequencies for go live tomorrow.

interestingly enough they’ve taken to social media to ask people for first song suggestions. If they go off it Fairytale of New York is going to romp home the winner.