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How long can a radio station broadcast if losing money?

  • 15-06-2010 10:38am
    #1
    sleepyman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 461 ✭✭


    Newstalk has been on air since 2002. I believe it went national in 2006 yet they haven't broken even yet.
    I know radio stations can take years to earn a profit but surely after eight years they need to be showing something positive to their shareholders?
    The station seems to be in disarray with keane walking out/sacked, chopping & changing presenters etc.


Comments

  • #2
    giftgrub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,309 ✭✭✭giftgrub


    Newstalk costs an arm and a leg to run, there are over 20 people making 100k plus there, then you have producers, sound ops reporters, readers

    Why is it still running? three words

    Dennis. O. Brien


  • #3
    Bard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,309 ✭✭✭✭Bard


    Correct me if I'm wrong. but aren't they essentially being propped up by the profitable stations in the portfolio of their owners, Communicorp? 98FM, TodayFM and the like... Isn't it basically a loss leader - an admittedly good station that they believe is worth "taking a hit" for?


  • #4
    Barname
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,084 ✭✭✭Barname


    if you want a proper case study look at RTE


  • #5
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    giftgrub wrote: »
    Newstalk costs an arm and a leg to run, there are over 20 people making 100k plus there, then you have producers, sound ops reporters, readers

    Why is it still running? three words

    Dennis. O. Brien

    :eek: That must mean everyone who we hear is on the pigs back (I regard a 6 figure salary as being minted!).


  • #6
    TimmyTarmac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 221 ✭✭TimmyTarmac


    Yeah, that figure of circa 20 people earning over 100,000 a year in that station is amazing to me. Who would they be, some senior management and top talent?
    It doesn't have the listener figures (with the exception maybe of Hook) to justify that. It doesn't appear to have a management strategy, to me at least, to justify that kind of money to senior editorial and management staff.
    But hey, it's Denis O'Brien's money ultimately so he can do what he wants.
    He does seem keen to have a media outlet that might be influential in setting an agenda or agendas. I'm just not sure punters are getting it. It's frequently all over the place and like the Curate's egg, it's only good in spots.


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  • #7
    Poly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,807 ✭✭✭Poly


    Regardless of it's financial problems, it's very healthy to see an independent news source to give RTE a run for their our money.
    Maybe O'Brien likes keeping RTE/FF on their toes.


  • #8
    Bard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,309 ✭✭✭✭Bard


    Poly wrote: »
    Regardless of it's financial problems, it's very healthy to see an independent news source to give RTE a run for their our money.
    Maybe O'Brien likes keeping RTE/FF on their toes.

    Newstalk may not be state owned but "independent" is pushing it a bit as descriptions go.


  • #9
    delaad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭delaad


    Bard wrote: »
    Newstalk may not be state owned but "independent" is pushing it a bit as descriptions go.

    Exactlly. It's "independent" in the same way as Berlusconi's TV and newspapers are "independent".


  • #10
    eth0_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭eth0_


    Pretty ridiculous that they're on 100k. A lot of the presenters on TalkSPORT and Five Live would be on around that or less.


  • #11
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Did I miss the bit where Denis O'Brien became Taoiseach?


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  • #12
    Shane10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 785 ✭✭✭Shane10


    rte could listen to it to see how to put together a sports programme. off the ball best thing on irish radio.


  • #13
    legendal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 221 ✭✭legendal


    delaad wrote: »
    Exactlly. It's "independent" in the same way as Berlusconi's TV and newspapers are "independent".

    That's pushing it quite a bit as descriptions go.


  • #14
    Badabing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭Badabing


    Shane10 wrote: »
    rte could listen to it to see how to put together a sports programme. off the ball best thing on irish radio.

    OTB is a good show no arguement there but Sport@7 is very good and RTE and Today FM wipe the floor with Newstalk with the weekend sports shows.


  • #15
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Slightly OT but Sky News was in the red for many years, I think it was only in the last 5 years or so that it broke even.


  • #16
    Barname
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,084 ✭✭✭Barname


    Badabing wrote: »
    OTB is a good show no arguement there but Sport@7 is very good and RTE and Today FM wipe the floor with Newstalk with the weekend sports shows.

    lmao

    jackie hurley wipes nobodies floor, maybe thats what she should be at !


  • #17
    Badabing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭Badabing


    Barname wrote: »
    lmao

    jackie hurley wipes nobodies floor, maybe thats what she should be at !

    Do you prefer a show that has comprehensive coverage of GAA matches on Saturday and Sunday as an example or a show that has the telly on in the studio and has old players commentating on it ! No live Soccer or GAA for 3 months is a joke for a so called sports show.


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