Winding up petition against 4FM.

PeteF

I see the Collector General has filed a winding up petition against Choice Broadcasting Limited, which is Classic Hits 4FM.

I know they were loss making, but didn't think it would end in a liquidation. Anyone know what's going on?

Connemara Farmer

Nuts! The only radio station I like!!

Apart from the talky bits which were rubbish.

fryup

bit strange? as lately they've seemed to have strengthened their signal in the mid-west

xMallx

Im sure they will pull through, At least they have a good few listeners now in Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Loafing Oaf

when I saw the thread I though for a second the OP was starting a petition to get Gareth O'Callaghan off the airwaves...:P

frankiebouy

my favourite music station on radio station. pity if it goes . this is the first i heard of it . your man niall boylan with his talk show at 1pm and 9pm can be very good at times.

Connemara Farmer

PeteF wrote: »

I see the Collector General has filed a winding up petition against Choice Broadcasting Limited, which is Classic Hits 4FM.

I know they were loss making, but didn't think it would end in a liquidation. Anyone know what's going on?

Is there info online about this, just for a read, not being picky.

Leilak

get rid of boylan and it will get back on its feet

frankiebouy

Leilak wrote: »

get rid of boylan and it will get back on its feet

he is their" jewel in the crown". i enjoy his show.

L1011

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

Is there info online about this, just for a read, not being picky.

http://www.insolvencyjournal.ie/notices/petition-to-wind-up-choice-broadcasting-limited

lertsnim

frankiebouy wrote: »

my favourite music station on radio station. pity if it goes . this is the first i heard of it . your man niall boylan with his talk show at 1pm and 9pm can be very good at times.

Twice a day is probably why people aren't listening.

mrsoundie

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

when I saw the thread I though for a second the OP was starting a petition to get Gareth O'Callaghan off the airwaves...:P

I was going to say get rid of the breakfast show bunch!

Losty Dublin

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

Is there info online about this, just for a read, not being picky.

If it's Revenue who are petitioning the windup, it's probably a case of them putting on the squeeze to get overdue VAT and PAYE monies. The little bit that I know about the station's going on's is that there are a fair few other creditors of the station out there. Doubtless the cash will be found to sort this out but it appears to be more can kicking by what is clearly an ailing station.

Trick of the Tail

Like any station, whether they have many listeners or not isn't what makes it viable.

It's whether they can sell their product.

It doesn't matter how good your product is if you can't sell it. Now IF they can't sell enough ads at respectable prices to pay their bills, especially those to the Revenue, then they're in trouble.

I hope it gets sorted, I'd hate to see any station go pop, as it just leads to less choice on air, and 4fm, as a station, is quite good IMO.

Bard

Here come Bay Broadcasting to save the day, apparently.

L1011

http://radiotoday.ie/2015/01/more-transmitters-plans-for-classic-hits-4fm/ Seems like an attempt to deflect attention, announcing this today.

Radio is for life

L1011 wrote: »

http://radiotoday.ie/2015/01/more-transmitters-plans-for-classic-hits-4fm/ Seems like an attempt to deflect attention, announcing this today.

It seems they inherited a lot of debt from the previous shareholders of the radio station. In the first years of its birth 4FM was destroyed by management and over spending and Ashmore and co have been left to pick up the pieces and must be applauded for growing a failing product against all the odds. Looking at the losses in previous news stories it does seem that the millions lost all happened its first 2 years, which is quite telling really. I have no doubt they will survive this chapter in their financial life but it still has the old debts created by what can only be described as the reckless spending of the people who set it up all those years ago. Its a great sounding station for the budget they survive on and although they are growing very slowly, they are still growing which is more than can be said for many radio stations in the market and maybe it proves the product is right and just needs good marketing and Ad revenue to survive. i do hear them on in shops and garages more in more in Cork city as i travel around. I do wish them the best of luck in surviving the storm and im sure they will live to fight another day. Its easy for those on here to take the opportunity to have a sneaky dig at those working there but radio people should support radio people and knock them while they are down. Today's news is not good for PR but i am sure today's papers will be tomorrows toilet paper.

Trick of the Tail

It's not merely older debts, much of that was sorted when the current owners took over. But since then, despite radical cost cutting, it's never really been able to sell itself very well.

Which is a shame, since the current incarnation is quite good.

xMallx

Trick of the Tail wrote: »

since the current incarnation is quite good.

I totally disagree, Niall Boylan with 6 hours a day of troll callers and Gareth o'callaghan sounding fed up with another "classic song Investigation"

smcgiff

There's no fear of 4fm. They have backers with deep pockets. The backers wont write a blank cheque (that lesson was learned from the lauch debacle), but will see them through the Revenue petition.

Harry Palmr

Never heard it. Oh yes it's not in Waterford is it?(yet I can listen to Spirit!)

smcgiff

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Never heard it. Oh yes it's not in Waterford is it?(yet I can listen to Spirit!)

Knock yourself out...

http://classichits.ie/listen-live/

Trick of the Tail

And it's unlikely to be in Waterford. The reasons have been much discussed before, as it's strange that it's the only city that the multi-city station doesn't cover.

In fact both licensed stations that cover Waterford are owned by the same company.

soc160

xMallx wrote: »

I totally disagree, Niall Boylan with 6 hours a day of troll callers and Gareth o'callaghan sounding fed up with another "classic song Investigation"

Regardless of the quality of the output they do have some amount of listener and provide a mutlicity operation, be a shame to see them go under but I do feel that license could be used by someone better. Communicorp and UTV would like it. Any idea when there license expires? Can't look good for renewal

xMallx

soc160 wrote: »

Any idea when there license expires? Can't look good for renewal

Feb 2019

marno21

Not sure what transmission expansions they can make. In Cork, their transmission coverage is equal to the commerical operators and there isn't much room for expansion apart from an expensive TX to cover the Beara peninsula on 95.0. In Limerick the whole county is pretty much covered thanks to overspill from Clare & Cork TX's. In Clare they could add a TX on Knockanore to add coverage to the Kilrush/Kilkee area. Galway has loads of blackspots out west but these can't be dealt with without lots of small TX's, which are costly. Galway Bay FM only have 1 TX in west Galway to cover Clifden. Dublin could do with a relay in north County Dublin, perhaps co-sited with FM104 & 98FM's 97.4 & 103.1 TX's

Little room for expansion that would yield meaningful results.

xMallx

marno21 wrote: »

Not sure what transmission expansions they can make. In Cork, their transmission coverage is equal to the commerical operators and there isn't much room for expansion apart from an expensive TX to cover the Beara peninsula on 95.0. In Limerick the whole county is pretty much covered thanks to overspill from Clare & Cork TX's. In Clare they could add a TX on Knockanore to add coverage to the Kilrush/Kilkee area. Galway has loads of blackspots out west but these can't be dealt with without lots of small TX's, which are costly. Galway Bay FM only have 1 TX in west Galway to cover Clifden. Dublin could do with a relay in north County Dublin, perhaps co-sited with FM104 & 98FM's 97.4 & 103.1 TX's

Little room for expansion that would yield meaningful results.

It seems like they just put that story out there to disguise the fact that they can't afford to pay their debts.

L1011

soc160 wrote: »

Regardless of the quality of the output they do have some amount of listener and provide a mutlicity operation, be a shame to see them go under but I do feel that license could be used by someone better. Communicorp and UTV would like it. Any idea when there license expires? Can't look good for renewal

Communicorp have licenced stations in two of the cities covered (Limerick and Dublin)

UTV have them in all bar Galway.

Neither would be allowed get the licence.

Redlake

Classic Hits 4FM could improve coverage in East Galway, better coverage of Ballinasloe and Portumna which could bring in listeners from outside the franchise area, towns like Athlone and Nenagh

Losty Dublin

marno21 wrote: »

Not sure what transmission expansions they can make. In Cork, their transmission coverage is equal to the commerical operators and there isn't much room for expansion apart from an expensive TX to cover the Beara peninsula on 95.0. In Limerick the whole county is pretty much covered thanks to overspill from Clare & Cork TX's. In Clare they could add a TX on Knockanore to add coverage to the Kilrush/Kilkee area. Galway has loads of blackspots out west but these can't be dealt with without lots of small TX's, which are costly. Galway Bay FM only have 1 TX in west Galway to cover Clifden. Dublin could do with a relay in north County Dublin, perhaps co-sited with FM104 & 98FM's 97.4 & 103.1 TX's

Little room for expansion that would yield meaningful results.

4FM can't just decide to turn on extra transmitters or up their power output unless the BAI and COMREG identify decide that they are justified and warranted. Even if they were granted any additional transmission coverage, it's a long way off before any of them will go on air and make a difference. The €1.5 million investment is little more than a smoke screen and bluff on the stations behalf and it's unlikely to see any improvements in the stations fortunes.

More Music

Exactly. Although they did say they were only looking to expand coverage within their franchise, not expand it more.

Ashmore said the Revenue bill was less than a months turnover.

It's all bluster to make the station sound like a solid performer and all's well.

The original owners really went to town on the launch and studios . A lot of money was put into that, which I suppose you can't fault them for.

Losty Dublin

More Music wrote: »

Exactly. Although they did say they were only looking to expand coverage within their franchise, not expand it more.

Ashmore said the Revenue bill was less than a months turnover.

It's all bluster to make the station sound like a solid performer and all's well.

The original owners really went to town on the launch and studios . A lot of money was put into that, which I suppose you can't fault them for.

The unpaid taxes that led to this winding up order are those which are overdue from 2012. Call me a doubting Thomas here but I can't imagine that their tax affairs from 2013 and 2014 are paid up.

On the TX issues, they still need to apply for permission to increase their outputs for their current allocated frequencies. 200 watts into small valleys isn't going to make inroads into the JNLR's.

spillit67

Does Boylan actually do 2 shows a day or is one a repeat?

He was entertaining on 98fm when I was 13 in fairness.:pac:

end of the road

spillit67 wrote: »

Does Boylan actually do 2 shows a day or is one a repeat?

He was entertaining on 98fm when I was 13 in fairness.

2 shows a day.

end of the road

soc160 wrote: »

Regardless of the quality of the output they do have some amount of listener

they have a few. but it seems not enough to bring in the money.

soc160 wrote: »

provide a mutlicity operation, be a shame to see them go under but I do feel that license could be used by someone better.

it would be a shame, but if they continue to be unable to pay their debts then what else can happen eventually? only so much money can be put in before the backers say enough is enough. i hope it doesn't get to that stage.

soc160 wrote: »

Communicorp and UTV would like it. Any idea when there license expires?

Communicorp and UTV have enough licences

soc160 wrote: »

Can't look good for renewal

i believe the type of licence they have is viable, but it needs to cover all the cities and the other stations will just have to lump it. but we'l just have to wait until 2019 to see if you are indeed right.

thejuggler

I wonder could this become a century radio scenario where the station will switch off suddenly if Revenue get their wish and a winding up order is issued.

Rubberchikken

While the music is good the presenters leave a lot to be desired.
Too much talking.
Those guys in the morning are tiresome.

Gareth o Callaghan is gone past his sell by date.

Boylan should only be on once and decide if he wants to rival Joe or appeal to the nutjobs lateat night.

I have tried sticking with it just for the music but I just can't hack it.

end of the road

thejuggler wrote: »

I wonder could this become a century radio scenario where the station will switch off suddenly if Revenue get their wish and a winding up order is issued.

if it gets that far, i'd imagine so.

Losty Dublin

thejuggler wrote: »

I wonder could this become a century radio scenario where the station will switch off suddenly if Revenue get their wish and a winding up order is issued.

Century went belly up when Capital Radio gave up pumping money into the station after the then IRTC refused to allow them take a larger shareholding in the station. Revenue moved to wind up the company long after the station had closed down. The BAI won't let a station go off air if it can be helped; it's one lesson the powers that be learnt from that sorry tale.

If they went fully national all over Ireland on FM and done a marketing and promotional campaign,then they may improve listener ship.I believe there is a market for a national 'GOLD' type station on FM for listeners in the 40 plus age group who aren't into the local 'country music' type of stations!

L1011

zorro2566 wrote: »

If they went fully national all over Ireland on FM and done a marketing and promotional campaign,then they may improve listener ship.I believe there is a market for a national 'GOLD' type station on FM for listeners in the 40 plus age group who aren't into the local 'country music' type of stations!

With the exception of adding Waterford City which was always an odd exclusion (but is very financially depressed and hence not a great advertising market), there's minimal other areas where they'd get great gain from having coverage. Even matching Newstalk's coverage would probably be a waste

Getting the Midlands (Athlone/Tullamore/Mullingar, but you'd probably get a lot more coverage due to terrain), Sligo, Letterkenny and maybe Ballina/Castlebar would probably do the job.

Trick of the Tail

It wasn't for economic reasons that the South East wasn't included.

It has been suggested that it's because of the vulnerable nature of the incumbent local station in Waterford, and it's co-owned regional station, which for some reason was decided to be protected from any competition.

Captian Swashbuckle

Do they really think adding a few extra relays around the place is going to solve this problem? The fact of the matter is the radio station hasn't preformed particularly well in any of the markets it covers, with the exception of Cork which has shown some encouraging signs but after 6 years on-air I feel it may be a case of 'too little, too late'.

Mismanagement has been rife from day 1 and continues to be to present day. I have been told stories of employees and creditors not being paid, not being paid on time and being paid from other radio stations including Radio Nova and East Coast Fm. It doesn't paint a pretty picture for the management involved and I am surprised Revenue has not looked into this highly questionable business structure further.

Riverireland

Is this still going ahead today or has it been sorted out?

end of the road

Riverireland wrote: »

Is this still going ahead today or has it been sorted out?

i don't know

TheLonelyOne

There any word on this yet?

It is not only the taxman who they owe money too.... Countless members of staff being paid either late (sometimes taking months) or being paid through other stations which the directors are involved in.

Is this even legal? A 4fm employee recently told me that his wages came via east coast fm?

L1011

Can be assumed that no news is good news in this case - if there had been an appointment of a receiver or liquidator it would have been publicised.

However, if there are other unpaid creditors with the wherewithal to go to court this may not be the last trip we see...

Loafing Oaf

TheLonelyOne wrote: »

There any word on this yet?

Maybe it was all just a wind-up:P....


I'll get me coat...

radioland

Bard wrote: »

Here come Bay Broadcasting to save the day, apparently.

Well signalled I thought. If there's a settlement Revenue are unlikely to proceed with the order. Happens all the time I'm told and good to hear of a station not going out of business . To be fair to those involved apparently we're coming out of the worst recession ever seen in Ireland and they're always be pressure on cash flow. I admire those who set up businesses in ties of recession