Irish language programming

radiotrickster

I remember hearing that providing a certain amount of hours of Irish language content was written into each stations license agreement. Is that still the case and if it is, do the BAI care? I can think of a couple of stations with none or a few with only one or two hours across the week.

Yes it's a requirement but radio stations have always gotten around it by either sticking their one token Irish language program on at 6am on Sunday mornings, or else they just have 2 minute inserts on during ad breaks.

Furze99

If I want to hear Gaeilge I just switch to RnaG. Very easy and often do this, guaranteed Irish language content during the most of the day anyway.

Can't figure why the state would insist on Irish language content on any station.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117779551#Comment_117779551

There was kind of a logic to it in 1989, back then in those pre internet days, a radio licence was a very important asset so the government wanted the holder to do something in return. Nowadays radio is so old hat, hardly anyone under 30 listens, I think it's time for full deregulation.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117779883#Comment_117779883

The research disproves what you say.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/digital-fails-to-usurp-fm-as-main-way-to-consume-irish-radio-1.4480478

L1011

Unlike news/current affairs and Irish produced music, there's no statutory Irish language content requirement - but good luck getting a programme policy without some nod to it (inserts or 2/3 hours a week) approved by the BAI or get a new licence without it.

Lots of stations used to use the DAP Irish language charts show as a cheap way to tick that box; not sure if that even exists now.

All those requirements are outdated now and are a significant contributor to the cost base that makes niche stations unviable. Allow a music-only service without the cost of carrying a news service or a requirement to play Irish artists (good luck doing that in classic rock, jazz, dance etc without boring your audience with the same tracks over and over) and they can probably keep going on 1% in Dublin - throw the usual requirements on them and it's not going to happen.

Declan A Walsh

Phantom FM used to have an alternative rock show in Irish called Carraig Crua (translates as Hard Rock but very literally!) on Sunday mornings! That was a good way to do it. Incidentally, Phantom/TXFM promoted Irish indie music frequently - it was no issue for them and was above the required quota. The same applies to online station 8Radio.com owned by founder of Phantom Simon Maher.

Lord Nelson

If I want to listen to news, I put on Newstalk. If I want oldies, 4FM, Rock, Nova. If I want to listen to Irish then it’s RnaG. When RnaG is forced to play oldies, rock etc then there might be a logic to these type of stations being forced to broadcast Irish. In any event, it’s usually done begrudgingly because like school, it’s being rammed down your throat.

dxhound2005

I never noticed anything begrudging about the Newtalk Irish programmes.

Elmo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117786752#Comment_117786752

RnaG used to share space with Lyric (Then know as 3fm) and at night it has an alternative music show, a dance show AFAIK or at least it did and also Radio RiRa. I think RTÉ could easily have late night hour of GOLD on RnaG with an Irish Language presenter. Just a thought.

tv3tg4

Splanc on Friday nights on newstalk deserves mention.

Furze99

The point is that RnaG serves the market well and does a good job. It's reliably there during the day when you want a bit of Gaeilge and/or a few tunes. No need for the other stations to replicate this on a occasional basis - requiring the listener to know exactly when to tune in. Whilst other listeners just tune out.

Elmo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117807870#Comment_117807870

The idea would be to bring an Irish Language show to listeners who would normally tune to RnaG, you have to remember that RnaG during the day is largely speech driven, you don't get many of the "zany" DJ types on the station.

Anyway if you are not listening to RnaG how do you know it serves the market well?

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117808219#Comment_117808219

That's the point - if I want a bit of Gaeilge often with a bit of trad, then I tune into RnaG. A relief from some of the rubbish that fills out other RTE stations and Newstalk etc. So it's there, that's where you find it.

dxhound2005

Another all Irish language station is Raidió Na Life on 106.4. It's target area is Dublin, but I can hear it in Dundalk.

ford fiesta

mid west radio in mayo do a 1 hour reeling in the years type Irish show on a Friday night.

this was previously a current top 40 show up until a few months ago.

Elmo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117811833#Comment_117811833

The same top 40/30 show airs across Beat, Spin SW, Spin 103 and probably iRadio.

As I say Late Nights RnaG could easily introduce an hour or 2 Gold, Pulse and 2XM with those shows repeated on those stations, this would fix the idea that Gold should replace RnaG on FM.

SPDUB

Is RnaG now allowed to play english language music ?

I know at one point it was legally not allowed to play them

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117818682#Comment_117818682

They have been playing English songs after 9pm since 2005. English songs are still forbidden in daytime hours AFAIK

Elmo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117818709#Comment_117818709

I don't think this is an actual law, I think it is a policy that RTÉ RnaG have. And prior to 1999 and the setting up of LyricFM, RnaG shared space with RTÉ 3FM.

Spin 1038

Spin also has a Irish language chart show Hit 30 na hÉireann Sundays