The Gradual Takeover of Radio Nova by Former Phantom Staff

Declan A Walsh

Okay, the title of the thread is a wee bit dramatic!

What I want to discuss is the various ex-Phantom FM staff who are now involved with Radio Nova and future possibilities.

The first name I became aware of is Fiona Scally. She was a producer, presenter and, ultimately, Head of Programming on Phantom for a few years. She used to take the calls for Random Access when Steve Conway presented it. How do I know that? Take a wild guess!! As far as I know, Fiona left Phantom during 2011. She is now Head of Production on Nova and also has been known to do some voiceovers for gig guides.

Some time late last year or early this year Sinead Ni Mhordha started presenting on Radio Nova. She was with Phantom from 2003 to 2010: two temporary licenses and the full license.

This autumn I heard Jack Hyland for the first time on Radio Nova, having heard him shortly before on related temporary license The Rock. Mr. Hyland goes back a long way with Phantom. In fact, he was there from its very beginnings as the pirate Spectrum in 1996 through to its relaunch as Phantom and all the way through until March 2014, when time was called on that name and on Jack's position. He was more than a presenter - he was part of Phantom's management team using his real name of Moss Breathnach.

Tonight, no less, I heard Laura Lee Conboy for the first time on Radio Nova and is still on as I type this. Ironically, she is standing in for Sinead Ni Mhordha! Laura was a presenter (largely one show - Spiral Stares) and Advertising Traffic Manager with Phantom. She was involved with Phantom from at least the start of its full license in 2006 until she was dropped like Jack Hyland above in March 2014. There is a possibility that she was involved before its full license, but I'm not sure when.

It is good to see ex-Phantom getting on, especially those who were victims of Phantom's last blood-letting before the name change (TXFM). Are there any more ex-Phantom involved with Nova, possibly behind the scenes? Regardless, it is an interesting turn of events and maybe over time a significant proportion of the Radio Nova staff could indeed be former Phantom staff. Interesting times!

TallGlass

Where did the name TXFM come from and why did they drop the Phantom name, when it was years in the making?

wandatowell

Isn't TX short for Transmit?

byte

Was it for Today Xtra FM?

Tx does mean transmit too.

Max Headroom

I'm not suprised at this at all...I've noticed a lot more indie music appearing on shows, even the up-to-date stuff.....trying to appeal to "the kids" maybe rather than their oul fellas.....:)

MikeyTaylor

I've been hearing Kieran McGuinness on Nova a good bit lately. First covering for Gavin Glass on Locals Only, and on Saturday night he was on after Peter Devlin with Nova Saturday Nights.

its_steve116

Cathal Funge can be added to the list.

Max Headroom

It's almost like they feel guilty. .....or rubbing salt into Simons wounds....