Expiring BAI licenses

radiotrickster

The licenses for more than ten stations are due to expire in the next two years.

Has a station ever applied to have its contract renewed but it’s been denied and given to someone else who has put in an application?

https://www.bai.ie/en/broadcasting/licensing-2/licensing-plans/

Glaceon

CKR was another one. Lost out to KFM and KCLR.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119305257#Comment_119305257

That’s an interesting one. CKR (Carlow Kildare Radio) had a licence for Carlow and Kildare. Radio Kilkenny, who also lost out, had the commercial license for Kilkenny. The licenses were changed to be for Kildare - KFM - and Kilkenny and Carlow - KCLR (Kilkenny Carlow Local Radio). Radio Kilkenny came back with a community radio license.

L1011

Tipp Midwest also lost their commercial licence in the 04 rounds, but are long re-established as a community station.

TheBMG

Not quite the same thing but there was the notorious case of Limerick 95FM (RLO) having its licence yanked during its run back in the mid 1990s.

California Dreamer

New applicants have the odds stacked against them.

For a start there is a €25k 'application fee'.

There is a point system and the target number is 700.

Based on what you promise you can deliver on your application and subsequent application thats the most basic way you 'win'

The incumbent station starts with 40 (or higher) points before they do anything so the odds are stacked in their favour.

radiotrickster

€25k just to apply is ridiculous. It would discourage practically anyone from making an application. I wonder if Bauer or Wireless have enough money to throw at applying for some though.

If a station applied to renew their contract and nobody else applied for that contract, would they be awarded the contract automatically because there’s no competition?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119320263#Comment_119320263

It's not automatic, but it's an expedited renewal without the full cost and effort.

Antenna

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119306123#Comment_119306123

I well remember the controversy over the closure of Radio Kilkenny. Nearly everyone lamenting the closure of the station mentioned one name in particular - Johnny Barry - who presented a night-time Irish country music show which was hugely popular in Kilkenny and areas of surrounding counties the station could be received. His 'down to earth' style of presentation was certainly a change from local radio in other areas, and was all part of the attraction of his show and perhaps had people with litttle interest in the music also tuning in!

Public opinion saw him return to the airwaves on the replacement station KCLR

It was sad to hear Johnny Barry passed away last week RIP

NWR lost the Sligo/south Donegal/north Leitrim license back in 2003 to Ocean FM despite having broadcast for the prevous 13 years. They tried to have the decision overturned in the courts but failed.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/radio-station-in-north-west-takes-legal-action-over-loss-of-licence-1.1304364

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/silence-as-nwr-is-pulled-from-the-airwaves-1.1160087

Ironically they won the local radio station of the year award in 2003 despite knowing they would lose their license!

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/top-award-for-radio-station-that-lost-its-franchise-26236335.html

turbocab

Well the two Dublin licences arent worth going for.Especially the 104 one targeting 15 to 35 year age group .They have long gone from listening to fm radio.The smartphone and internet has seen to that.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119510043#Comment_119510043

Your point is well made. The projected audience has moved on. I would say, though, that there are more than two commercial radio licenses for Dublin - maybe you mean two aimed at a younger audience: Spin103 and FM104 perhaps. But you also have 98FM, with a relatively young target audience these days, Q102 and Sunshine 106.8. Radio Nova is largely a Dublin license too, with the "commuter belt" tagged on to it. Then, of course, you have the minority interest license of Dublin City FM, the first licensed community station, and a number of local community licenses, e.g. Dublin South FM, Near FM, Phoenix Radio and Liffey Sound.

But, yes, it seems like the youth are lost to local radio (and national for that matter).

Another potential problem for radio stations, which may be an issue already, is the competition between them for the middle-aged audience who like their music. I mentioned some of them already, but then you can add in Today FM (to some extent), Classic Hits and music programmes on RTE Radio 1.

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119510658#Comment_119510658

I would largely believe that all of the Dublin radio stations will get their licenses renewed, if they choose to reapply for it. However I don't have the insight into that especially if it's a possible bureaucratic process riddled with political considerations..... Then it could go either way.

The audience changing and listening habits changing are just a natural occurrence. I'd say online internet streaming on smart phones is the top choice for today's youth.

Also the stubborn resistance to DAB technology in Ireland will hurt radio listening figures in the long run. FM radio simply won't be able to satisfy the future listening trends and habits.