8Radio

KingOfFairview

So, I'm just starting to try this station recently. Like it so far. Maybe not as left-field as I had been led to believe, but it's very enjoyable nonetheless. Any other listeners out there?

Declan A Walsh

KingOfFairview wrote: »

So, I'm just starting to try this station recently. Like it so far. Maybe not as left-field as I had been led to believe, but it's very enjoyable nonetheless. Any other listeners out there?

In case you don't know, this has been around as an on-line station since last year. It also had a 30-day temporary license on FM radio in the middle of spring last year and covered a number of cities (bit like Christmas FM does every year).

Will there be another license run this year?

As regards its music-policy, it is all about the deejays' taste in music with some input by the listeners. This gives it a peculiar eclectic mix of music: Phantom + 4FM + Radio Nova + a few guys' record collections! I remember the catchphrase "The Music We Like"!

soc160

Simon Maher is the founder. Same guy who founded Phantom. Good to see he wasn't detered by the what happened to Phantom and it's admirable that he's stuck by the same format and idea as before... This kind of station is an example of why the BAI should start looking into some alternative (not alternative music styled but different requirment based) contracts... What harm would it do to have them on FM?

Declan A Walsh

soc160 wrote: »

Simon Maher is the founder. Same guy who founded Phantom. Good to see he wasn't detered by the what happened to Phantom and it's admirable that he's stuck by the same format and idea as before... This kind of station is an example of why the BAI should start looking into some alternative (not alternative music styled but different requirment based) contracts... What harm would it do to have them on FM?

And there could be a number of people available soon to fill the schedule if you know what I mean!

omahaid

A small bit late to this thread but I'm another big fan. I found it when it was on FM, listen at work and when I'm studying so most of the week.

CamillaRhodes

Now that Phantom is no more *sob*, I'll only be listening to 8radio from now on. Until now, they were my start to the day - the only place where you can actually listen to MUSIC rather than inane drivel from presenters in the morning!

Arne_Saknussem

I'm another who's late to this thread and 8Radio.

Has Pearl left the station already?? It just lists 8Radio.com Sunday Selection for her time slot?

Declan A Walsh

CamillaRhodes wrote: »

Now that Phantom is no more *sob*, I'll only be listening to 8radio from now on. Until now, they were my start to the day - the only place where you can actually listen to MUSIC rather than inane drivel from presenters in the morning!

The brand Phantom is gone but the station is not gone. It was officially re-launched as 1052 TXFM yesterday. It does not have any inane drivel in the morning either. Breakfast is now presented by the very capable Cathal Funge.

Any sign of another temporary license run on FM for 8Radio.com?

Infoanon

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

The brand Phantom is gone but the station is not gone. It was officially re-launched as 1052 TXFM yesterday. It does not have any inane drivel in the morning either. Breakfast is now presented by the very capable Cathal Funge.

Any sign of another temporary license run on FM for 8Radio.com?

Reported in a few papers that a temporary run of 15 weeks is coming soon.

SimonMaher

Thanks for the interest and the queries!

Yep, the plan is to do FM in Dublin, Cork and Limerick again this year with two blocks of weekends in early Summer (May/June) and Autumn (September and October).

In the interim, we're introducing new live Weeknight programmes from 8pm each evening available via the Smartphone apps or listening via the 8Radio.com site. We celebrated our first birthday last weekend (March 30th). Time flies when you're having fun

Simon Maher
8Radio.com

Declan A Walsh

SimonMaher wrote: »

Thanks for the interest and the queries!

Yep, the plan is to do FM in Dublin, Cork and Limerick again this year with two blocks of weekends in early Summer (May/June) and Autumn (September and October).

In the interim, we're introducing new live Weeknight programmes from 8pm each evening available via the Smartphone apps or listening via the 8Radio.com site. We celebrated our first birthday last weekend (March 30th). Time flies when you're having fun

Simon Maher
8Radio.com

Thank you Simon for all that. I just had a quick look at your on-line schedule and I see some names that were involved with last year's temporary run (including at least three who go back a long way!). I also see some other names that I don't know.

Do you use a lot of new talent - people who have never presented before? I can see 8Radio.com being a good platform for giving new talent their first big break.

I look forward to the next license runs on FM .... I am a bit of an old-fashioned Luddite at times!

Lovely Bloke

Hi Simon, just want to say something regarding "reception" via TuneIn

I use TuneIn a LOT, usually for BBC Radio 6 Music or BBC R4, which I listen to in the mornings in the car, lunch time at my desk and for my drive home again in my car - this would be via my data plan (Vodafone). I also listen at home via my WiFi - (UPC 120meg cable broadband) usually in my kitchen when I'm cooking the family meals (tea time, or breakfast/lunch at the weekends). I love Radio, always have and always will

I have wanted to listen to, and would normally support an Irish venture, which is pretty similar in outlook to BBCR6Music, and also what Phantom used to be - however, I have found that more often than not, after a song or two, 8Radio just gives up - I find myself having to re-start the app - this only ever happens with 8Radio.

I can listen to the BBCs or All 80s (another Irish venture, and also pretty good it must be said), or the Xmas station in December all uninterrupted and buffer-free.

It is too much of a co-incidence for this to be down to bad signal. I know exactly the portion of the M50 where I lose signal from Vodafone for example, every day, without fail no matter what I have on, I lose it for about 30 seconds, same place all the time, but the signal in from my domestic broadband is not changeable.

Is there a reason for this? It is very frustrating.

KingOfFairview

Glad to hear that Simon!

One thing I would say is that 8Radio could do with a higher proportion of new music. Don;t get me wrong, I love the station, but I'd like a few less classics and a few more new tracks.

Trick of the Tail

SimonMaher wrote: »

Thanks for the interest and the queries!

Yep, the plan is to do FM in Dublin, Cork and Limerick again this year with two blocks of weekends in early Summer (May/June) and Autumn (September and October).

In the interim, we're introducing new live Weeknight programmes from 8pm each evening available via the Smartphone apps or listening via the 8Radio.com site. We celebrated our first birthday last weekend (March 30th). Time flies when you're having fun

Simon Maher
8Radio.com

Ah go on, put it on in the south east too!

SimonMaher

Hello all,

Thanks as always for the comments and questions!

First off, Trick of the Tail - we would love to be on in the South East too, absolutely. It's all about the budget though unfortunately, unless someone was able to do the decent on a site in the area

Baldy Conscience - I'll have the eggheads look into that reception issue. I listen quite a bit on the move on TuneIn and don't get any more than the usual amount of buffering problems but if there is something funny going on with the streaming, we'll get to the bottom of it.

King of Fairview - Glad you're enjoying the station. Interested in your view regarding new v classic. Being a nerd, I spend a lot of time tinkering with the mix so it's always good to get other perspectives!

Declan Walsh - Nothing wrong with being a luddite, there is a certain ease to being accessible on FM! Yep, we have a lot of new talent on 8Radio.com. Most have been working in radio at some level before they come to us whether thats Student radio, community radio or other digital outlets. I think the new voices thing is particularly important in a station like 8Radio.com. Any backrounds you need for the files just shout!

Think that's it for now. Listen by the way, that's important too

Simon Maher
8Radio.com

MoeJay

There is a blank preset left in my car from last year for the FM return...

Trick of the Tail

I'm sure a very good deal would be done!

KingOfFairview

Back on FM as of now!

SimonMaher

8Radio testing on 94.3FM in Dublin now with 105.5FM in Limerick and 106.7FM in Cork to follow later on as the engineering team work their way down the Motorways

Live on FM from Midnight tonight and then every Saturday and Sunday until July 6th and every weekend in September and October. Live online of course every day of the week!

Great fun this radio lark. Sometimes that gets forgotten!

Simon
www.8Radio.com

Trick of the Tail

Pity not in the south-east!

SimonMaher

Hello all,

Weekend 3 off and running for 8Radio.com in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. All proceeding (sort of vaugely!) to plan with the first run of 7 weekends (until July 6) then we go Online only until September when we return to FM for each weekend in September and October. Got reports of decent coverage on the 106.7FM Transmitter (Cork) being heard in an arc from Cahir to Macroom and the Dublin Transmitter (94.3FM) getting some distance in good conditions too despite the very strong BBC Wales on 94.2.

Let us know if you pick any of the three transmissions up (94.3 Dublin, 105.5 Limerick, 106.7 Cork). Promise to play you a request!

Simon
8Radio.com

Declan A Walsh

SimonMaher wrote: »

Hello all,

Weekend 3 off and running for 8Radio.com in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. All proceeding (sort of vaugely!) to plan with the first run of 7 weekends (until July 6) then we go Online only until September when we return to FM for each weekend in September and October. Got reports of decent coverage on the 106.7FM Transmitter (Cork) being heard in an arc from Cahir to Macroom and the Dublin Transmitter (94.3FM) getting some distance in good conditions too despite the very strong BBC Wales on 94.2.

Let us know if you pick any of the three transmissions up (94.3 Dublin, 105.5 Limerick, 106.7 Cork). Promise to play you a request!

Simon
8Radio.com

8Radio.com is coming in loud and clear (as you would expect!) on 94.3 in south Dublin. I have listened when I can over the last couple of weekends - not always possible.

I heard a great selection from the experienced Steve Conway this morning, doing his "A to Z" thing. He is stuck on the letter "B"!

It was also nice to hear a bit of Rachel Breslin this morning - I had not heard her dulcet Donegal tones since last year's run!

Keep up the good work.

Any plans to expand your FM coverage around the country in the future, in the way that Christmas FM did?

SimonMaher

Thanks Declan,

It's great to be doing 8Radio.com in general, and better still to be doing it on FM for a bit!

We thought about extra areas for FM coverage this time around but we made the decision to stick with the three sites on a number of grounds:

1. Cost - Each site is Satellite linked and obviously needs all the relevant TX gear as well as the time required to install/de-rig. The transmission costs per site are quite high!

2. Concept - 8Radio.com is very much a proof of concept operation at this stage of its development. While obviously we think its amazing and will eventually take over the world of broadcasting, it is great to be able to use the FM to test out various aspects of the stations operation and policies before extending it further.

Who knows what the future holds though? For now it's just exciting to be involved and having the freedom to allow a radio station to develop organically rather than being at the beck and call of some cloth eared consultant telling you what is within the realms of possibility! Jaysus, that last sentence even looks ranty.

Simon
8Radio.com

byte

Presumably, whilst each site is satellite linked, you're not uplinking to a typical DTH satellite, like Astra 2 or Hotbird, etc?

SimonMaher

byte wrote: »

Presumably, whilst each site is satellite linked, you're not uplinking to a typical DTH satellite, like Astra 2 or Hotbird, etc?

Imagine the cost! No, thankfully not - something a bit more modest and less bandwidth consuming.

Simon
8Radio.com

Declan A Walsh

I heard another former voice from Phantom presenting yesterday evening - Brian Daly. He was also the Marketing Director.

byte

SimonMaher wrote: »

Imagine the cost! No, thankfully not - something a bit more modest and less bandwidth consuming.

Simon
8Radio.com

Hah, just when you mentioned satellite, I wondered if you were using a standard orbital Clarke Belt satellite to link to the 3 sites.

Just keep the 128kbps online stream, and I'll be happy! Something even RTE can't seem to afford or care for

WoollyRedHat

Loving itt so far guys.. Abbey Road being streamed at the mo with some nice music trivia thrown in

SimonMaher

Thanks WoollyRedhat and others for the messages,

Glad you're enjoying it and it's great to be back on FM for the next 8 weekends (94.3FM Dublin, 105.5FM Limerick and 106.7FM Cork). Good reception reports coming in from all over today and the Cork transmitter went live earlier with the Limerick one hopefully all linked into the network by now. Wonders of modern technology at work again.

Think I mentioned it earlier in the thread but just in case I didn't: 8Radio.com always welcomes musical submissions (good ones!). Send tracks as MP3 (minimum 192k) to music AT 8Radio DOT com along with some biog info.

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

Fuzzy Clam

SimonMaher wrote: »

Thanks WoollyRedhat and others for the messages,

Glad you're enjoying it and it's great to be back on FM for the next 8 weekends (94.3FM Dublin, 105.5FM Limerick and 106.7FM Cork). Good reception reports coming in from all over today and the Cork transmitter went live earlier with the Limerick one hopefully all linked into the network by now. Wonders of modern technology at work again.

Think I mentioned it earlier in the thread but just in case I didn't: 8Radio.com always welcomes musical submissions (good ones!). Send tracks as MP3 (minimum 192k) to music AT 8Radio DOT com along with some biog info.

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

Hi Simon
Have you considered trying to get a relay in the midlands?
Xmas FM had one from Cairn Hill I believe.

SimonMaher

Fuzzy Clam wrote: »

Hi Simon
Have you considered trying to get a relay in the midlands?
Xmas FM had one from Cairn Hill I believe.

Thanks Fuzzy,

Really just a matter of finances. We have 3 or 4 more sites on offer to us but the expense of the equipment, installation, linking etc just isn't an option at the moment. That's not to say it won't be in the future though!

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

Antenna

8radio are currently testing, for full launch Midnight tonight for a 2015 run of weekends FM temporary licence, in 4 cities and surrounding areas with Galway city added this year.

Sunday 7th June 2015 and every Saturday and Sunday from Saturday 13th June 2015 to Sunday 19th July 2015 and every Saturday and Sunday from Saturday 5th September 2015 to Sunday 25th October 2015

Dublin City and County 94.3 FM
Cork City and Part County 106.7 FM
Limerick City and part County 105.5 FM
Galway City 89.5 FM

SimonMaher

Thanks for the post Antenna! Yep, back on FM again for another split run. 7 weekends now and then 8 more in the Autumn. Pushing the boat out this year to extend into Galway too. There are about 4500 installs on the 8Radio.com app at this stage but it's always good to get the publicity and simplicity of the FM runs - simple for the listeners that is, not simple for us!

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

Declan A Walsh

SimonMaher wrote: »

Thanks for the post Antenna! Yep, back on FM again for another split run. 7 weekends now and then 8 more in the Autumn. Pushing the boat out this year to extend into Galway too. There are about 4500 installs on the 8Radio.com app at this stage but it's always good to get the publicity and simplicity of the FM runs - simple for the listeners that is, not simple for us!

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

Simon, it's good to have 8Radio back again on FM. I have been listening to the test transmission on 94.3 - mainly in the car. It sounds good. The Stone Roses' first album is being utilized quite a lot!

I'm delighted to see you extend your FM coverage this year to the west. There is a lot of Ireland who just don't have the same choice of radio options as Dublin.... and the FM transmissions around the four cities is a good form of promotion and getting the name out there for 8Radio - others may download the app, etc. Perhaps the midlands next time!

I must say that I am looking forward to hearing Steve Conway's A to Z next week on FM - it's just too much hassle trying to do that online!! I must be the only person under a certain age who does not have a "smart" phone! I can listen to FM radio on my phone (including 8Radio!) but not download apps. This might sway me!

thesandeman

Listening now. First time as I'm in Galway. Seems professional with a good mix. Nice to have a change.

Poppin Fresh

Any chance of broadcasting to Waterford City anytime soon Simon? They have a good taste in music the folk in the south east.

SimonMaher

I'm slow with the replies Poppin Fresh! Lots of people asking about 8Radio.com possibly extending it's reach to Waterford. We had to take a budgetary decision this year on adding a new city and Galway (89.5FM) won out this time. We would love to do Waterford next year though - we'll work on making it work with the very decent transmission provider in that part of the world

If you want to learn more about 8Radio.com, the latest in State Magazine's Podcast series is me talking to Phil Udell about Radio, Sheds, Phantom and more:

http://tinyurl.com/ofwysz8

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

SimonMaher

Hooray for everything. 8Radio.com is back on FM for another run. We're broadcasting on:

89.5FM Galway
105.5FM Limerick
106.7FM Cork
94.3FM Dublin

for the next 6 weekends and this time we're including Fridays too so we'll be live from Thursday night at Midnight until Sunday night at midnight. All reception reports, requests, suggestions and the like are as always welcome.

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

SimonMaher

Hooray for everything. 8Radio.com is back on FM for another run. We're broadcasting on:

89.5FM Galway
105.5FM Limerick
106.7FM Cork
94.3FM Dublin

for the next 6 weekends and this time we're including Fridays too so we'll be live from Thursday night at Midnight until Sunday night at midnight. All reception reports, requests, suggestions and the like are as always welcome.

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

Fuzzy Clam

Hearing 8radio on 99.4. RDS reads The Rock :-0

Big Nasty

Sorry for bumping an old thread but I've questions for Simon.

As you know TXFM finished up last night and there's a lot of us looking to fill the void. Downloaded your app there and the music is certainly familiar however without presenters you may as well be listening to a spotify playlist.

I know it's early in the day but do you have presenters on live or is it just playlists? Checked your website and couldn't find any info on same.

I'd be happy to listen if there's presenters during the day but otherwise I'll probably just stick with my own spotify.

Cheers.

Declan A Walsh

They are back on 94.3 FM in Dublin this morning for yet another temporary license run. Steve Conway was doing has A to Z of music show with the usual eclectic mix. About an hour-and-a-half later, I heard Sinead Ni Chonaill with her own particular mix of alternative-oriented stuff.

Great to hear them on the car radio again. I might not like everything I hear but it's good to have 8Radio as an option.

Fuzzy Clam

Slight glitches on the FM audio. Sounds like the streaming audio link.

SimonMaher

Hello all,

Thanks for the feedback as always! Fuzzy Clam, the glitches are from the machine handling the playout. Plan to replace it this week so should (in theory!) be glitchless next weekend.

Big Nasty, we have live presenters every weeknight evening from 8 and all day at weekends. While we're on FM, we'll also be live from 6am on Friday morning too.

Cheers,

Simon
8Radio.com

SimonMaher

Back on FM from midnight tonight (Thursday) until Midnight on Sunday. 94.3FM in Dublin and online everywhere else.

Live from 6am tomorrow with Steve Conway. Must ask him the last time he did a breakfast show in the Wexford Street area, must be 13 years!

Anyway, plug aside we've had a lot of people asking about submitting music to the station. If your band is good then we would love to hear from you. Send tracks (192k MP3 minimum) and biog info to music AT 8Radio.com. Failing that, you can stick a CD in the post to 8Radio.com, 38A Camden Row, Dublin 8.

Cheers,
Simon
8Radio.com

Avatar MIA

Following this thread for two reasons.

1. To get a heads up on when it's available on FM. Although, quite happy to listen online.

2. Instead of the Nova thread, this would seem like an obvious choice to discuss what is wanted from a Phantom like station?


Currently listening to Bowie

Big Nasty

Good point MIA. I was asking Simon a question on that thread more suited to here:

So it's nigh on impossible to have a 'decent music' radio station under current BAI rules. I.e. if it doesn't appeal to the masses then you don't have the listenership and in turn don't have the revenue to survive. I presume that's why you didn't go after the TXFM licence Simon?

Any hope of the BAI revising / relaxing their requirements for alt stations? If not what's the plan with 8Radio, i.e. if it can never be commercially viable what's the long term hope with the current temp licence?

Avatar MIA

Big Nasty wrote: »

So it's nigh on impossible to have a 'decent music' radio station under current BAI rules. I.e. if it doesn't appeal to the masses then you don't have the listenership and in turn don't have the revenue to survive. I presume that's why you didn't go after the TXFM licence Simon?

Simon will be able to answer for himself, but my take is a follows:-

The BAI requirements can make it very expensive and hard to compete to bring a desired service to the public.

Whereas the spirit of the pirate stations, which most definitely served a need, was to be run on a shoe string you now have regional stations with €1m plus wages that are struggling. There are other significant costs as well, not to mention the BAI themselves.

Was there really such a difference in quality between the pirate stations and the BAI regulated stations. Why are these stations now not able to be self sustaining?

Okay, the pirates didn't pay levies to IMRO etc. But there's still something wrong between the pirate stations and the loss making stations of today.

The BAI are prescribing what stations can and cannot play. The logic here is that it's to force a service for an audience that may not be served otherwise, but surely that could be done in a more relaxed way. Station A needs to play 80s music at a certain time and another station needs to play rock at another time, instead of dedicating entire radio stations to a niche - which, apart somewhat for Sunshine of late, seems to be a broken model.

SimonMaher

Big Nasty wrote: »

Good point MIA. I was asking Simon a question on that thread more suited to here:

So it's nigh on impossible to have a 'decent music' radio station under current BAI rules. I.e. if it doesn't appeal to the masses then you don't have the listenership and in turn don't have the revenue to survive. I presume that's why you didn't go after the TXFM licence Simon?

Any hope of the BAI revising / relaxing their requirements for alt stations? If not what's the plan with 8Radio, i.e. if it can never be commercially viable what's the long term hope with the current temp licence?

Where do you start with this one?

It is very difficult indeed to operate a niche music Radio service on a commercial basis under the current rules and regulations and the current BAI beauty contest model of licence awarding. Both the regulations and the process hark back to another era and are very much in need of updating.

<soapbox> The BAI are currently undertaking a strategic review to assist in their plans for the next 3 years and I hope that the submissions they have received will at least give them an understanding of the reality on the ground in the industry. The (sad) closure of TXFM is more of a reflection on the business model than on the niche. If we decide that we want niche music services then we have to have business models to enable them to operate sustainably even if those models are radically different to the current ones. Failing that, we can just leave the niches to Spotify or TuneIn (or indeed online radio!) and watch as Radio listenership generally decays. </soapbox>

From 8Radio.com's perspective, obviously we would like to be on FM permanently but in the interim, we're continuing to develop the station online and via other digital platforms. After the current FM run finishes on December 18th, we're back on FM in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway every weekend in February and March. We'll just have to see what the BAI comes up with in their workplan at that stage. Nothing to be gained for us by waiting around indefinitely for them though, time and the industry is moving on very rapidly!

Simon

Big Nasty

Cheers Simon

thesaurus2

Really good Top 20 Irish albums of the year folks. A few I'd never heard of, and a few acts I'd forgotten about. Have been having an enjoyable few days listening to as many as I can find. Well done. Good to read you'll be on FM over weekends into the new year.