Is the Car Radio Becoming the Last Bastion and Saviour for Traditional Radio in Ireland?

Declan A Walsh · 22-04-2023 1:31pm #1

I was reading another thread where there were references to some younger adults still listening to FM on car radios. Is the car radio turning into the final place where traditional radio is actually listened to in Ireland? I am talking about FM and AM radio. The latter includes Medium Wave and Long Wave, not there are many car radios with LW these days and there is far less on it lately! Listening to Irish FM radio online or via digital tv does not count, because it is not by traditional means! With the absence of licensed DAB in Ireland and therefore not available on the car radios, that still gives hope to traditional radio stations. It is the convenience factor. I often listen to the kitchen radio before I go to work but I suspect that I am in a small minority these days. Outside of the car, it is increasingly the smartphone of course.

What do people think?

its_steve116 · 22-04-2023 7:54pm

There's no radio app on my phone.

Declan A Walsh · 22-04-2023 9:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120509229#Comment_120509229

Good point, but, if it happens to be a smartphone, you still have access to the internet.

22-04-2023 10:03pm

I know that due to the housing crisis, not as many 20/30 something yo couples are setting up home together these day but for the ones that are and the ones that will in the future, I can't imagine many of them will have a radio/boombox/Hi-fi on their shopping list.

lintdrummer · 22-04-2023 10:18pm

I often listen to the radio via a smart speaker in my kitchen. No it's not a traditional FM reception but the principle is the same isn't it? A signal transmitted and decoded into audio. I almost always listen to FM in the car, though occasionally I put music or a podcast on via bluetooth. I was using a shower FM radio in the bathroom for a while but that stopped working a few months ago.

I don't even have a stereo in my house these days. I have a record player for my vinyl, but that is standalone. I do intend to get a decent quality HiFi at some point, though FM radio would not be on the list of things that I would be looking for. Times have moved on I guess.

Hurrache · 26-04-2023 12:48pm

Only time I listen to FM in either my or my wife's car is when I forget my phone. With Android Auto and Apply Carplay it's aways one of the streaming services or radio from the web.

Being in my car is one of the few places I get to listen to what I want as loud as I want when alone so I'm not going to waste it to listen to nothing but radio ads or soccer results from a different country.

lertsnim · 27-04-2023 10:35am

I don't have a radio in my home so it's only the car that has one and even then I rarely bother as there's nothing worth listening to most of the time in my part of the country.

Montage of Feck · 27-04-2023 10:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120509686#Comment_120509686

My main reason for aspiring to own my own home is to have the room for copious electronic gubbins. Not that that's going to happen anytime soon.

banie01 · 27-04-2023 10:59am

If I'm making a short hop then yep, 10 or 15 minutes of radio. Anything else? And it's a Spotify playlist, the song radio option on there or if my Mrs isn't with me? A podcast.