Nova day coming up 37 years

Declan A Walsh

radiowaves wrote: »

I think Ger said that is one of his favourite episodes (he must've had my bits muted!) and only he could've thought of approaching the 1983 Raids from an anorak's perspective - making the listeners a very important part of the unfolding drama. As they/we were. It was as much about the government taking away OUR stations as it was about THE stations being taken away.

BTW there's loads more in our dedicated Anorak Hour archive section Declan, and we're adding more all the time.

http://radiowaves.fm/ire/blog/tag/the-anorak-hour/

I listened to that Anorak Hour over the years on Coast FM, Spectrum and, of course, Phantom! Before Ger Rowe came on board Coast FM with his recordings, Simon Maher/Pete Reid used to do a 15-minute bandscan and some radio news on Sundays at lunchtime. That was great fun and was like a warm-up for what became the Anorak Hour. The last 10 or 15 minutes of the Anorak Hour would include Simon's bit. When Phantom became legal, the bandscan bit was removed and it became a full hour of anorak memories from Ger Rowe, as far as I recall. Initially, during the temporary license phases, it was known as Media Beacon.

Infoanon wrote: »

............

As an aside the 50kw was switched on again for a few days in early '86 for Nova (Country) on 254 LW with transmission power circa 15 kw.

I did not know about that station. It was extremely rare AFAIK to have any pirate activity on long wave. Chris Cary broke the mold in so many ways.

SimonMaher

radiowaves wrote: »

I think Ger said that is one of his favourite episodes (he must've had my bits muted!) and only he could've thought of approaching the 1983 Raids from an anorak's perspective - making the listeners a very important part of the unfolding drama. As they/we were. It was as much about the government taking away OUR stations as it was about THE stations being taken away.

BTW there's loads more in our dedicated Anorak Hour archive section Declan, and we're adding more all the time.

http://radiowaves.fm/ire/blog/tag/the-anorak-hour/

John, Ger,

My memory is dodgy enough at the best of times but was the Nova special the last Anorak Hour on Pirate Phantom? Wasn't "Black Tuesday" that week?

17 years ago...I need a lie down.

Simon

Infoanon

SimonMaher wrote: »

John, Ger,

My memory is dodgy enough at the best of times but was the Nova special the last Anorak Hour on Pirate Phantom? Wasn't "Black Tuesday" that week?

17 years ago...I need a lie down.

Simon

Black Tuesday was indeed the same week as the 83 raids - I was expecting a thread about that particular day (s) - very different type of raid.

Ger Roe

SimonMaher wrote: »

John, Ger,

My memory is dodgy enough at the best of times but was the Nova special the last Anorak Hour on Pirate Phantom? Wasn't "Black Tuesday" that week?

17 years ago...I need a lie down.

Simon

Jaysus Mr Reid, your memory must be getting as fuzzy as mine... there was one more Anorak Hour before the pirate days ended.

The 2003 raids happened the Tuesday after the Nova edition prog when ComReg hit the Dublin south west TX sites and what we originally thought was a power cut, slowly made its way up Kiltipper Hill, taking out one site at a time.

The 3 rock sites were hit the following morning, but Phantom was already off air having removed the 3 rock TX late on Tuesday afternoon. I was waiting at the Blue Light car park that morning and watched the raid party arrive on the road and call in to each station site to remove equipment. Phantom came back on the following Saturday around noon (from 3 rock) with Dan Hegarty doing the return prog (I think).

I already had the next Anorak Hour ready to go (focus on the Sunshine raid and return) so it went out on the Sunday and that was the last pirate prog. You arose earlier than normal from your usual Sunday slumber, and came into the studio (instead of a phone in) and we had a good rant, explaining that Phantom was not going to engage in cat and mouse operations and so was closing that night to continue on the web.

I also remember Ian Dempsey and the Gift Grub gang on Today FM, getting a bit of grief over a comedy sketch that they did that week where they slagged off ComReg, expressed sympathy for Phantom being off the air and hoped that we would be back.

Fun times.

Infoanon

Hi Ger ,

I always thought that there where 2 raiding parties ?, with only Jazz on air on the Wednesday morning from the mountains before being raided ?.

A few stations had managed to remove their TXS before the raiding teams arrived iirc - Nova947/Sun 101 and Phantoms 91.6 ??

I seem to recall Cabra Choice being off air on the Tuesday evening yet getting a knock on the door and their equipment seized ??

Great memories of the anorak shown and 'Petes' radio news - thanks to Ger and Simon there is a factual archive of historic and current for the time of radio events.

Declan A Walsh

Infoanon wrote: »

Hi Ger ,

I always thought that there where 2 raiding parties ?, with only Jazz on air on the Wednesday morning from the mountains before being raided ?.

A few stations had managed to remove their TXS before the raiding teams arrived iirc - Nova947/Sun 101 and Phantoms 91.6 ??

I seem to recall Cabra Choice being off air on the Tuesday evening yet getting a knock on the door and their equipment seized ??

Great memories of the anorak shown and 'Petes' radio news - thanks to Ger and Simon there is a factual archive of historic and current for the time of radio events.

The very last ever Anorak Hour was on fully licensed Phantom on April 1st 2007. I happened to be around that morning and heard it -by that stage, it was on 9-10am on Sundays. I remember Ger Rowe had to emphasize that it was not an April Fools joke! Being CEO of Phantom meant his time was taken up and, sadly, he had to drop his program. That was over twenty years with Simon Maher-connected stations, but Ger had been doing programs like this since the 1980s I believe.

radiowaves

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

The very last ever Anorak Hour was on fully licensed Phantom on April 1st 2007. I happened to be around that morning and heard it -by that stage, it was on 9-10am on Sundays. I remember Ger Rowe had to emphasize that it was not an April Fools joke! Being CEO of Phantom meant his time was taken up and, sadly, he had to drop his program. That was over twenty years with Simon Maher-connected stations, but Ger had been doing programs like this since the 1980s I believe.

A sad day indeed, and guess what...

http://radiowaves.fm/ire/blog/2007/04/01/the-anorak-hour-l22/

SimonMaher

Ger Roe wrote: »

Jaysus Mr Reid, your memory must be getting as fuzzy as mine... there was one more Anorak Hour before the pirate days ended.

The 2003 raids happened the Tuesday after the Nova edition prog when ComReg hit the Dublin south west TX sites and what we originally thought was a power cut, slowly made its way up Kiltipper Hill, taking out one site at a time.

The 3 rock sites were hit the following morning, but Phantom was already off air having removed the 3 rock TX late on Tuesday afternoon. I was waiting at the Blue Light car park that morning and watched the raid party arrive on the road and call in to each station site to remove equipment. Phantom came back on the following Saturday around noon (from 3 rock) with Dan Hegarty doing the return prog (I think).

I already had the next Anorak Hour ready to go (focus on the Sunshine raid and return) so it went out on the Sunday and that was the last pirate prog. You arose earlier than normal from your usual Sunday slumber, and came into the studio (instead of a phone in) and we had a good rant, explaining that Phantom was not going to engage in cat and mouse operations and so was closing that night to continue on the web.

I also remember Ian Dempsey and the Gift Grub gang on Today FM, getting a bit of grief over a comedy sketch that they did that week where they slagged off ComReg, expressed sympathy for Phantom being off the air and hoped that we would be back.

Fun times.

Ha! You warned me that once I had kids I would remember nothing. You were right

They were fun times although that was a stressful week. I remember the final pirate Anorak Hour well and the ranting too. Intense and all as it was at the time, I do recall there being a sense of it not being the end, just the beginning of the next chapter and what an adventure it turned out to be!

Apologies for taking the thread off topic by the way - back to 1983!

Simon

johnner64

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Myth. Cary and Phil Solomon had pulled out of Sunshine as a result of Cooke's nobbling the mast. I know that there was a watch on the replacement mast for a time but Chris was back in the UK by then and quite what he'd have gotten out of such an expensive bribe is anybody's guess.

Besides, I think that Robbie's daughter was in primary school at the time :pac:

I have often wondered how Cary was on Sunshine in (I think) November after he had pulled out. Amazed Robbie let him back on or had Robbie not raised the cash at that point?

Ger Roe

Infoanon wrote: »

Hi Ger ,

I always thought that there where 2 raiding parties ?, with only Jazz on air on the Wednesday morning from the mountains before being raided ?.

A few stations had managed to remove their TXS before the raiding teams arrived iirc - Nova947/Sun 101 and Phantoms 91.6 ??

I seem to recall Cabra Choice being off air on the Tuesday evening yet getting a knock on the door and their equipment seized ??

Great memories of the anorak shown and 'Petes' radio news - thanks to Ger and Simon there is a factual archive of historic and current for the time of radio events.

From my memory... Jazz was indeed still on air from a house just up from The Blue Light pub. I watched from a safe distance while the raid party went in and switched off the rig before taking it out. They then went to the other TX sites on the road and knocked in - even those that were not broadcasting at the time. They may have removed equipment too, but I can't be sure - some, as you say had already been removed.

I remember that Choice was hit later that day too.

Damian F

Ger, have you ever considered bringing back the anorak hour as a podcast ?

Antenna

Infoanon wrote: »

There is a picture - probably DXArchive - where you can see Treble TRs wire antenna and in the background Novas massive free standing tower. Novas AM at that stage was a mere 3kw on 846/891 .The RF interference must have been huge (and add in the FM at 5kw erp).

How long were they on 891kHz for ?? with BBC R. Wales on 882 it probably caused issues in areas within north-west Wales so they had to move

Infoanon wrote: »

True story - I recall a parish priest getting very irate at the breakthrough on his churches audio system with his sermons being interrupted by pop music and blaming RTE 2FM. I pointed to the mast a few hundred feet away - the Q102 AM mast......the issue was resolved quickly (by RTE according to the parish priest !)

There may well have had been an issue with another church close to the RTE 2FM Dublin 1278kHz which that priest heard about and (wrongly) assumed was due to the same source? (just speculating)

Infoanon

Antenna wrote: »

How long were they on 891kHz for ?? with BBC R. Wales on 882 it probably caused issues in areas within north-west Wales so they had to move
)

882 operated at 100kw back then so no interference issues in Wales imho.

I don't have dates but I believe 891 was used briefly (possibly influencedby those 'mighty 890' jingle before 846 was chosen as the AM frequency.

The 'mighty 890' jingles where also used when Nova where on 819.

Re the Church - Q operated very clean transmitters but when you are in close proximity of an AM transmitter, loose wiring on an amplification or telephone system will pick up interference (even at 1kw).

As an aside the 1278 installation was known to drift every so often causing widespread interference on that part of the AM band.

Losty Dublin

Infoanon wrote: »

882 operated at 100kw back then so no interference issues in Wales imho..

Mad fact; the main tx for BBC Wales is actually located in Somerset. At one stage it was whacking out 750,000 watts yet it still had three booster in Wales; so Nova would not have had a chance to interfere with it!! Today 882 isa more modest 100,000kw though it still has an extra 10KW booster from Penmon in Anglesey.

Antenna

Ger Roe wrote: »

Just as an aside, this comment reminds me of the time I met someone who told me of his experience of living at a pirate radio mountain site.

When he was a teen, he lived somewhere around the ticknock/3Rock/kilakee area and his dad was approached one day to use their adjacent workshed as a TX site. A payment amount was decided and the legal situation was agreed so that he would not be told what station it was and the people dealing with him would say that they told him it was legal equipment being housed at his property. He reckoned his dad did know, but the family were never told, to keep the ignorance defense valid and to stop them talking.

The mains power lead for the transmitter was plugged into this guy's bedroom double power socket (switched) and sent to the shed through a hole drilled in the window frame.

The teenager was an avid Nova fan and he listened in his room at night from a mains powered radio on his bedside locker. Late one night, he reached out to switch off the radio (using the socket switch) and it fell silent, except that the lights on the radio were still on. After a few minutes of trying to figure out what was happening, he realised that the radio was indeed still on, but not receiving - he had flicked the wrong socket switch (shed power) and had turned off Radio Nova - the secret was out.

Just as he turned the power back on, the phone rang to ask if there had been a power cut in the area (not uncommon), he said that there had been a very brief interruption, but all was back now... and then he put some masking tape on the Nova power socket switch, to prevent any more accidental 'drop out'.

I don't remember exact date, location, frequency used etc... but I do remember having a good laugh about it with the person concerned as he recalled the night he put Nova off the air.

Surely this relates to another subsequent station that used the name Nova ? , what know of the original Nova (Chris Cary) it would be too substantial to have had FM transmission from someone's shed beside a house and power taken from a 13A socket in a bedroom ?

Maybe that relates to the dance music station Nova 94.7FM broadcasting in the early 2000s around the time of the unlicenced Phantom FM ?

interesting video of the original Nova and some views of FM transmitter site they used 6:52 in (and later in the video):

https://vimeo.com/384483637


Also 10:40 in, that thing on the desk! , is an FM transmitting tube (valve) for several kilowatts. Though that one is probably one which had failed. Unlikely to leave a good one around like that.

TheBMG

Antenna wrote: »

Surely this relates to another subsequent station that used the name Nova ? , what know of the original Nova (Chris Cary) it would be too substantial to have had FM transmission from someone's shed beside a house and power taken from a 13A socket in a bedroom ?

Maybe that relates to the dance music station Nova 94.7FM broadcasting in the early 2000s around the time of the unlicenced Phantom FM ?

interesting video of the original Nova and some views of FM transmitter site they used 6:52 in (and later in the video):

https://vimeo.com/384483637


Also 10:40 in, that thing on the desk! , is an FM transmitting tube (valve) for several kilowatts. Though that one is probably one which had failed. Unlikely to leave a good one around like that.

You’d be amazed! I have my suspicions it may have been the original Kiss 102.7 site at Murphys Quarry (behind the Blue Light in Barnacullia).

There was also the elusive Magic 103/Nova 100 site around Kilmashogue that still seems to be shrouded in mystery!

Infoanon

I would agree with Antenna on this one - I am open to correction but Novas 3kw FM from Murphys Quarry would have used 3 phase electricity ? , and you would not want to be sleeping near the 24kw erp output .

It could have been one of the Nova Satellite relays?

As an aside Kiss was originally from Woodtown.

There has always being a question of where exactly the 99.9 / Magic 103 5 site was - Kilmashogue and a couple of hundred metres from property is what I have heard.

TheBMG

Infoanon wrote: »

I would agree with Antenna on this one - I am open to correction but Novas 3kw FM from Murphys Quarry would have used 3 phase electricity ? , and you would not want to be sleeping near the 24kw erp output .

It could have been one of the Nova Satellite relays?

As an aside Kiss was originally from Woodtown.

There has always being a question of where exactly the 99.9 / Magic 103 5 site was - Kilmashogue and a couple of hundred metres from property is what I have heard.

I thought the very first Kiss site was simply a couple of stacked dipoles on a disused crane nesr the quarry (not the proper site that would subsequently be developed)

Infoanon

TheBMG wrote: »

I thought the very first Kiss site was simply a couple of stacked dipoles on a disused crane nesr the quarry (not the proper site that would subsequently be developed)

That is very possible - a picture of the link antennas from Herbert Street would answer the question

Interesting aside - Nova couldn't link directly to Murphys Quarry from Stocking Lane

TheBMG

Infoanon wrote: »

That is very possible - a picture of the link antennas from Herbert Street would answer the question

Interesting aside - Nova couldn't link directly to Murphys Quarry from Stocking Lane

I’d well believe it. When Anna Livia used that site they were effectively inaudible over a lot of Dublin 24

Declan A Walsh

It is interesting to see where those ex-Radio Nova presenters are now.

Colm Hayes, Greg Gaughren and John Clarke - the current unrelated Radio Nova

Mike Maloney - as we speak, involved with online oldies station Music One Ireland.

Declan Meehan - Wicklow's East Coast FM

Chris Cary, Bob Gallicoe, Tony Allen, Tony Fenton (think he was a bit later) - that great radio station in the sky. RIP

Brian Dobsin (Nova newsreader) - RTE Radio One (Morning Ireland)

Anna Cassin (Nova newsreader) - RTE One (Nationwide)

Phl Cawley (came a bit later to Nova - well after the events referred to) - Today FM

Aidan Cooney (came a bit later) - Q102

Gareth O'Callaghan (had left Nova before all this) - retired - last heard him on Classic Hits (4FM)

Jason Maine - retired

Hugh O'Brien - solicitor - has been known to pop up in stations. Last one I heard him on was Christmas FM

Dave Harvey - media executive and chairman of National Library of Ireland - last heard him on Classic Hits 4FM

Tom Hardy - radio broadcast consultant

Declan A Walsh

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

It is interesting to see where those ex-Radio Nova presenters are now.

Colm Hayes, Greg Gaughren and John Clarke - the current unrelated Radio Nova

Mike Maloney - as we speak, involved with online oldies station Music One Ireland.

Declan Meehan - Wicklow's East Coast FM

Chris Cary, Bob Gallicoe, Tony Allen, Tony Fenton (think he was a bit later) - that great radio station in the sky. RIP

Brian Dobsin (Nova newsreader) - RTE Radio One (Morning Ireland)

Anna Cassin (Nova newsreader) - RTE One (Nationwide)

Phl Cawley (came a bit later to Nova - well after the events referred to) - Today FM

Aidan Cooney (came a bit later) - Q102

Gareth O'Callaghan (had left Nova before all this) - retired - last heard him on Classic Hits (4FM)

Jason Maine - retired

Hugh O'Brien - solicitor - has been known to pop up in stations. Last one I heard him on was Christmas FM

Dave Harvey - media executive and chairman of National Library of Ireland - last heard him on Classic Hits 4FM

Tom Hardy - radio broadcast consultant

While I am at it, here's a few more!

Chris Barry - as we speak, involved with online oldies station Music One Ireland

The following two spent brief periods with Radio Nova, long after the events of 37 years ago.

Paul Kavanagh - MD of Kavanagh Media and DG of Riviera Radio.

Ernie Gallagher - Freelance radio presenter and voice over artist - last heard him on the current Radio Nova

Declan A Walsh

I looked up Andy Archer, one of the influential offshore pirate individuals in the early years of Radio Nova. He was the Programme Director for Radio Nova. The most recent station that I found associated with him was North Norfolk Radio, as a presenter.

alzer100

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

While I am at it, here's a few more!

Chris Barry - as we speak, involved with online oldies station Music One Ireland

The following two spent brief periods with Radio Nova, long after the events of 37 years ago.

Paul Kavanagh - MD of Kavanagh Media and DG of Riviera Radio.

Ernie Gallagher - Freelance radio presenter and voice over artist - last heard him on the current Radio Nova[/quote

I think that there imaybe some confusion out there in the radio history circles when referring to Paul Kavanagh of Radio Riviera. This is the former PD of Sunshine 101 (August 1987 - December 1988) and the early years of Atlantic 252.

The Paul Kavanagh that was associated with the original Nova (around 84- 86) is NOT the same Paul Kavanagh.

Losty Dublin

TheBMG wrote: »

I’d well believe it. When Anna Livia used that site they were effectively inaudible over a lot of Dublin 24

At one stage estate agents used this as a sales pitch for selling property in Tallaght.

TheBMG

alzer100 wrote: »

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

While I am at it, here's a few more!

Chris Barry - as we speak, involved with online oldies station Music One Ireland

The following two spent brief periods with Radio Nova, long after the events of 37 years ago.

Paul Kavanagh - MD of Kavanagh Media and DG of Riviera Radio.

Ernie Gallagher - Freelance radio presenter and voice over artist - last heard him on the current Radio Nova[/quote

I think that there imaybe some confusion out there in the radio history circles when referring to Paul Kavanagh of Radio Riviera. This is the former PD of Sunshine 101 (August 1987 - December 1988) and the early years of Atlantic 252.

The Paul Kavanagh that was associated with the original Nova (around 84- 86) is NOT the same Paul Kavanagh.

You sure about that? I’m 99 percent certain that the Sunshine Paul Kavanagh did actually have a brief spell on Nova in 85/86.

alzer100

TheBMG wrote: »

alzer100 wrote: »

You sure about that? I’m 99 percent certain that the Sunshine Paul Kavanagh did actually have a brief spell on Nova in 85/86.

If you Google Paul Kavanagh Archives Radiowaves.FM
There is a link to archived Radio Nova programs which includes a piece from Paul Kavanagh but it is not the same Paul Kavanagh from Sunshine 101/Atlantic 252

Ger Roe

TheBMG wrote: »

alzer100 wrote: »

You sure about that? I’m 99 percent certain that the Sunshine Paul Kavanagh did actually have a brief spell on Nova in 85/86.

Me too.

There is confusion somewhere, not sure where though. I can't seem to find the 'other' Paul Kavanagh recording on Radiowaves, to take a listen.

alzer100

Ger Roe wrote: »

TheBMG wrote: »

Me too.

There is confusion somewhere, not sure where though. I can't seem to find the 'other' Paul Kavanagh recording on Radiowaves, to take a listen.

The You Tube file is over an hour long, but the last time I listened to it I was able to hear the "Nova" Paul Kavanagh presenting and believe me it's NOT the same "Kavo"

Declan A Walsh

alzer100 wrote: »

Ger Roe wrote: »

The You Tube file is over an hour long, but the last time I listened to it I was able to hear the "Nova" Paul Kavanagh presenting and believe me it's NOT the same "Kavo"

Well, I remember hearing and/or reading about Paul Kavanagh doing a brief spell in Radio Nova before Sunshine Radio. I think it possibly cropped up on one of Ger Rowe's Anorak Hours recordings - not sure about that. Could there have been more than one Paul Kavanagh? Over the years, we have had Mark Kavanagh, Conor Kavanagh and Conor Mark Kavanagh!!

alzer100

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

alzer100 wrote: »

Well, I remember hearing and/or reading about Paul Kavanagh doing a brief spell in Radio Nova before Sunshine Radio. I think it possibly cropped up on one of Ger Rowe's Anorak Hours recordings - not sure about that. Could there have been more than one Paul Kavanagh? Over the years, we have had Mark Kavanagh, Conor Kavanagh and Conor Mark Kavanagh!!

Well, by the sounds of it there were definitely two.

The Sunshine 101 Paul Kavanagh started on Sunshine just after it radically changed its format in July 1986. He was just a kid at the time, I think around 16 years of age.

Infoanon

alzer100 wrote: »

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Well, by the sounds of it there were definitely two.

The Sunshine 101 Paul Kavanagh started on Sunshine just after it radically changed its format in July 1986. He was just a kid at the time, I think around 16 years of age.

That's not correct. As previously posted Paul Kavanagh was on Sunshine afternoons , moved to Nova and then back to Sunshine. When Bill left Paul took over PD duties

Declan A Walsh

Infoanon wrote: »

alzer100 wrote: »

That's not correct. As previously posted Paul Kavanagh was on Sunshine afternoons , moved to Nova and then back to Sunshine. When Bill left Paul took over PD duties

I knew there was something about him going to Sunshine, then Nova and back again - he got great experience at a young age! It was your good self, and I think Ger had a recording of him on Nova as well.

Alzer100 is adamant that the recording he heard of Paul Kavanagh on Nova was not the same Paul Kavanagh - was there another Paul Kavanagh on Nova?

TheBMG

alzer100 wrote: »

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Well, by the sounds of it there were definitely two.

The Sunshine 101 Paul Kavanagh started on Sunshine just after it radically changed its format in July 1986. He was just a kid at the time, I think around 16 years of age.

PK was on Sunshine prior to the Hot Hits format as this video shows at about one hour in.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LTD3cM7CSVU

Declan A Walsh

The quotes are all mixed up above and have you read it carefully to see who is quoting who! From Post 77 on.

alzer100

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

The quotes are all mixed up above and have you read it carefully to see who is quoting who! From Post 77 on.

Paul Kavanagh obviously did work on Sunshine before the HotHits format was introduced but the point being and as I far as I know, that particular Paul Kavanagh did not work on Radio Nova and I believe he listed the stations that he had being involved with in that particular video prior to his work on Sunshine.

Quote from Radio Today interview: "He (Robbie Robinson) gave me a job at 16 and my first management job when I was 18 years old, he said you have 3 months to prove yourself and I have never looked back. We grew the audience, won in a head on battle and it's a shame we did not get the licence for Dublin".

That quote is referring to the presenter role and then the PD position he was promoted to after Bill Cunningham's departure and the head on battle is referred to Sunshine vs Super-Q from May 1988 to the closedown of both radio stations in December 1988.

alzer100

Posts are bit messed up. I was not replying a quote.

Infoanon

alzer100 wrote: »

Paul Kavanagh obviously did work on Sunshine before the HotHits format was introduced but the point being and as I far as I know, that particular Paul Kavanagh did not work on Radio Nova and I believe he listed the stations that he had being involved with in that particular video prior to his work on Sunshine.
.

The Paul Kavanagh on Radio Nova in 85 is the same Paul Kavanagh who worked on Sunshine pre and post his Nova stint.

To be precise Paul worked on Zoom before going back to Sunshine

Quick history - Nova had Greg Gaughran swiped by Q so turned to the afternoon star of Sunshine and hired Paul

Pauls afternoon slot on Sunshine was taken by Mark Byrne iirc.

There are recordings on line and indeed features on Ger Roes anorak hour of Paul on Nova

alzer100

Infoanon wrote: »

The Paul Kavanagh on Radio Nova in 85 is the same Paul Kavanagh who worked on Sunshine pre and post his Nova stint.

To be precise Paul worked on Zoom before going back to Sunshine

Quick history - Nova had Greg Gaughran swiped by Q so turned to the afternoon star of Sunshine and hired Paul

Pauls afternoon slot on Sunshine was taken by Mark Byrne iirc.

There are recordings on line and indeed features on Ger Roes anorak hour of Paul on Nova

You are correct, please except my apologies. On first listen of the Radio Nova excerpt from November 1985 his presenting style sounds different. On first listen, for me it really does not sound like him.

The reason he did not list Radio Nova in the list of radio stations mentioned in the video posted here is because that video was taken in the summer of 1985 and the Radiowaves.FM piece was taken from November of that same year. He had obviously moved to Nova at that stage.
The Radio Today interview is a bit confusing though as it makes it look like Robbie Robinson gave him his first job at 16. Sunshine was obviously not his first DJ role and which also makes him extremely young when he got involved in radio.

Again folks, sorry for the confusion.

TheBMG

alzer100 wrote: »

You are correct, please except my apologies. On first listen of the Radio Nova excerpt from November 1985 his presenting style sounds different. On first listen, for me it really does not sound like him.

The reason he did not list Radio Nova in the list of radio stations mentioned in the video posted here is because that video was taken in the summer of 1985 and the Radiowaves.FM piece was taken from November of that same year. He had obviously moved to Nova at that stage.
The Radio Today interview is a bit confusing though as it makes it look like Robbie Robinson gave him his first job at 16. Sunshine was obviously not his first DJ role and which also makes him extremely young when he got involved in radio.

Again folks, sorry for the confusion.

No need to apologise, I think most people on the thread (myself included!) love to discuss this stuff!

He does sound quite different on the Nova clips but what a voice at such a young age.

Also shows how strong the line ups were; Greg, Paul, Mark Byrne!

alzer100

TheBMG wrote: »

alzer100 wrote: »

PK was on Sunshine prior to the Hot Hits format as this video shows at about one hour in.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LTD3cM7CSVU

alzer100

alzer100 wrote: »

TheBMG wrote: »

I know this question is not Nova related and it's definitely NOT Paul Kavanagh related! but just looking at some of the video footage from "The Irish Era", I think it's in part 6 or 7 of those videos in which Martin Block is being interviewed at the Q102 studios in Upper Mount St circa 1987 (I think). He states that he believes that Q102 are on top of the ratings etc and he is questioned about Sunshine, in which he he gives his opinion.
Fast forward to a later video in which they revisit 8 Upper Mount St in which it's about a year later and Q102 has had a format change. Martin Block is interviewed again but the video that is available on YouTube has no sound.
I am just curious to know what he is saying, what questions are being asked (considering the previous interview) and how he responded.
Does anyone know if that video is available out there on the net with sound?

TheBMG

alzer100 wrote: »

alzer100 wrote: »

I know this question is not Nova related and it's definitely NOT Paul Kavanagh related! but just looking at some of the video footage from "The Irish Era", I think it's in part 6 or 7 of those videos in which Martin Block is being interviewed at the Q102 studios in Upper Mount St circa 1987 (I think). He states that he believes that Q102 are on top of the ratings etc and he is questioned about Sunshine, in which he he gives his opinion.
Fast forward to a later video in which they revisit 8 Upper Mount St in which it's about a year later and Q102 has had a format change. Martin Block is interviewed again but the video that is available on YouTube has no sound.
I am just curious to know what he is saying, what questions are being asked (considering the previous interview) and how he responded.
Does anyone know if that video is available out there on the net with sound?

I’ve seen the video (with sound). Several years ago now but briefly ... Martin doesn’t seem to be a fan of the new format but points out that it’s now worked twice.

He also says a version of what Bill Cunningham does could be done for the new ILR stations. I think he was being as diplomatic as possible but he clearly detests the new format.

alzer100

TheBMG wrote: »

alzer100 wrote: »

I’ve seen the video (with sound). Several years ago now but briefly ... Martin doesn’t seem to be a fan of the new format but points out that it’s now worked twice.

He also says a version of what Bill Cunningham does could be done for the new ILR stations. I think he was being as diplomatic as possible but he clearly detests the new format.

Well I'm sure he wasn't too happy with Cunningham moving into his role at that time. I wonder what position that may have put him in at that radio station?
On the last day of Q102, they did make reference to a BC dartboard!
Funny, though, it was that format (or a Martin Block version) in which he himself and Mike Hogan used to launch Capital 104.4

Thanks!

Declan A Walsh

Martin Block has been around the block! First Sunshine and then Q102. Years later after he had left Capital Radio (now FM104), he was the first boss of 4FM (now Classic Hits).

Martin could be heard doing ads during the superpirates era. Fellow Englishman Robbie Robinson, aka Robbie Dale, was of course the man behind Sunshine. Nova, of course, had plenty of UK voices: Chris Cary (its boss), Tony Allen, Andy Archer, Tom Hardy amongst others.

alzer100

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Martin Block has been around the block! First Sunshine and then Q102. Years later after he had left Capital Radio (now FM104), he was the first boss of 4FM (now Classic Hits).

Martin could be heard doing ads during the superpirates era. Fellow Englishman Robbie Robinson, aka Robbie Dale, was of the course the man behind Sunshine. Nova, of course, had plenty of UK voices: Chris Cary (its boss), Tony Allen, Andy Archer, Tom Hardy amongst others.

You could see that there was a kind of a trend as far as the early superpirates were concerned. You would get your start and cut your teeth on Sunshine Radio and then move to Nova because that was the "station". It happened in both directions too but I think it p****d off Robinson to a degree. I think Robinson felt betrayed by a few key people who moved on from Sunshine especially at a manergerial level, but that's business I suppose.

Declan A Walsh

One more word on Martin Block: he was the original chief executive of Lite FM. It is now called Q102, which is ironic considering his involvement with the superpirate of the same name! Robbie Robinson and Martin are among a very rare number of UK voices in Dublin in the 1980s that were not involved with Nova!

Richard Jackson was one of the later UK voices on Nova - this would have been after the events of 37 tears ago. I'm pretty sure I saw something about one of the presenters on Quasar The Album Station (online UK station)being a presenter on Radio Nova, but I can't find it now.

alzer100

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

One more word on Martin Block: he was the original chief executive of Lite FM. It is now called Q102, which is ironic considering his involvement with the superpirate of the same name! Robbie Robinson and Martin are among a very rare number of UK voices in Dublin in the 1980s that were not involved with Nova!

Richard Jackson was one of the later UK voices on Nova - this would have been after the events of 37 tears ago. I'm pretty sure I saw something about one of the presenters on Quasar The Album Station (online UK station)being a presenter on Radio Nova, but I can't find it now.

I thought Martin Block moved to Nova before his involvement with Q102 in 1985. The Irish Times has stated in an interview that he did??

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/business/in-tune-with-the-listeners-1.710681%3fmode=amp

Infoanon

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

One more word on Martin Block: he was the original chief executive of Lite FM. It is now called Q102, which is ironic considering his involvement with the superpirate of the same name! Robbie Robinson and Martin are among a very rare number of UK voices in Dublin in the 1980s that were not involved with Nova!

Richard Jackson was one of the later UK voices on Nova - this would have been after the events of 37 tears ago. I'm pretty sure I saw something about one of the presenters on Quasar The Album Station (online UK station)being a presenter on Radio Nova, but I can't find it now.

Richard Jackson was also the first voice on Nova unofficial spin off Zoom 103.

Iirc Martin Block also held the rights to the name 'Q102' in ROI.

Re the earlier query on the video - iirc Martin was saying that the fact that Q and Sunshine had the same format and where both successful showed the potential for 2 similar stations post legislation. Iirc he also pointed to where all the ex Magic studio equipment was.

One little known fact is that Bill Cunningham had been contracted to work at what became classic hits 98FM

alzer100

Infoanon wrote: »

Richard Jackson was also the first voice on Nova unofficial spin off Zoom 103.

Iirc Martin Block also held the rights to the name 'Q102' in ROI.

Re the earlier query on the video - iirc Martin was saying that the fact that Q and Sunshine had the same format and where both successful showed the potential for 2 similar stations post legislation. Iirc he also pointed to where all the ex Magic studio equipment was.

One little known fact is that Bill Cunningham had been contracted to work at what became classic hits 98FM

Apparently that turned into legal action brought about by Bill Cunningham.

Although he was part of a consortium which included Pierre Doyle amongst others for one of the Dublin licences in 1989 he had also "allegedly" completed a deal with Radio 2000 to manage that franchise if it were successful.

After Radio 2000 won the licence, Bill Cunningham returned to the US but was never contacted with respect to returning for the job. He took legal action against Radio 2000 in 1993, apparently it was settled out of court.

Bill did a couple of golden oldies shows for FM104, I think around this time period but was unfortunately killed in a car accident in Indiana in February '96, at the age of 56.