Today FM News getting a boost - Why not Newstalk?

dulpit

Yesterday it was announced that Gareth O'Connor would be joining Today FM as the managing editor of Today FM News, and Gavan Reilly (from The Journal) is joining as Senior Political Correspondent.

(Links: https://twitter.com/garethoconnor/status/336485353567424513 and https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/336531255283810304).

So as Today FM bulk up their news department, it leads me to wonder why the split between Newstalk & Today FM? Surely the likes of Matt Cooper/etc would be better suited to a talk station such as Newstalk, it's bizarre that they'd have it separate. I understand there's licencing laws that mean Today FM must have some talk element, but it doesn't have to be current affairs - does it?

Bits_n_Bobs

I suspect Communicoirp is continuing to fund Newstalk on a minimum basis in order to

a) hold onto the license and block anyone else entering the market.
b) minimise losses

dulpit

I personally think there's a market for a proper 24-hour all-news radio station (okay, maybe not 24 hour). The light entertainment (e.g. Moncrief) could be moved to Today FM, and have the 2 stations complement each other. At the moment the way Today FM have Premier League on a Saturday, Newstalk on a Sunday, and the way Matt Cooper competes with George Hook, it has them in direct competition with each other as stations, when they could use their shared nature as an overall advantage, operate in a similar manner to the RTÉ stations do...

wnolan1992

dulpit wrote: »

I personally think there's a market for a proper 24-hour all-news radio station (okay, maybe not 24 hour). The light entertainment (e.g. Moncrief) could be moved to Today FM, and have the 2 stations complement each other. At the moment the way Today FM have Premier League on a Saturday, Newstalk on a Sunday, and the way Matt Cooper competes with George Hook, it has them in direct competition with each other as stations, when they could use their shared nature as an overall advantage, operate in a similar manner to the RTÉ stations do...

Not to mention Colm O'Mongain (sp?) in direct competition with Bobby Kerr, and Anton Savage in direct competition with Shane Coleman.

Although I wouldn't hold RTE as the example tbh, what with the Tubridy Vs. Whoever's on at that time on RTER1 situation.

dulpit

wnolan1992 wrote: »

Not to mention Colm O'Mongain (sp?) in direct competition with Bobby Kerr, and Anton Savage in direct competition with Shane Coleman.

Although I wouldn't hold RTE as the example tbh, what with the Tubridy Vs. Whoever's on at that time on RTER1 situation.

But Tubridy is light entertainment, Pat Kenny is serious current affairs.

wnolan1992

dulpit wrote: »

But Tubridy is light entertainment, Pat Kenny is serious current affairs.

Sorry, I'm mixing up timeslots there. My bad.

soc160

dulpit wrote: »

Yesterday it was announced that Gareth O'Connor would be joining Today FM as the managing editor of Today FM News, and Gavan Reilly (from The Journal) is joining as Senior Political Correspondent.

(Links: https://twitter.com/garethoconnor/status/336485353567424513 and https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/336531255283810304).

So as Today FM bulk up their news department, it leads me to wonder why the split between Newstalk & Today FM? Surely the likes of Matt Cooper/etc would be better suited to a talk station such as Newstalk, it's bizarre that they'd have it separate. I understand there's licencing laws that mean Today FM must have some talk element, but it doesn't have to be current affairs - does it?

The reason is that Today FM recently lost the people who held these positions and needed to replace them, they aren't exactly bulking up.

dulpit

soc160 wrote: »

The reason is that Today FM recently lost the people who held these positions and needed to replace them, they aren't exactly bulking up.

Not bulking up, but they are high-profile and excellent people to fill those roles, which got me thinking as to why Today FM even needs these roles, surely the Newstalk brand is better suited to it...

giftgrub

Gareth O'Connor, ok.... long background in broadcasting.

Who's the other guy?

armchair fusilier

Newstalk don't seem to be in any great hurry to find a new CEO. It's 3 and half months now since Frank Cronin left.

Bard

giftgrub wrote: »

Gareth O'Connor, ok.... long background in broadcasting.

Who's the other guy?

"The other guy" is Gavan Reilly of TheJournal.ie - an excellent and well experienced staff writer.

More here.

giftgrub

Bard wrote: »

"The other guy" is Gavan Reilly of TheJournal.ie - an excellent and well experienced staff writer.

More here.

It doesnt look like he has much radio experience...maybe they're looking to develop their online side of things. The Today FM website is pretty useless