Classic Hits 80s on Temporary FM Licence

Declan A Walsh · 28-12-2022 08:49PM #1

Classic Hits 80s has been mentioned in a few other threads. I felt it deserved its own thread. It started a 30-day FM run as of midnight this morning and is covering four cities.

The attached article gives some more information about it:

https://irishtoday.news/new-80s-music-channel-from-irelands-classic-hits-31222.html

As CEO Kevin Branigan points out, this station has been around as an online, digital companion station to Classic Hits Ireland for a while. Having heard it today, it is hard to miss that it is related to Classic Hits Ireland, as the latter was mentioned frequently! In the article, it mentions some people are newcomers to the station. I would clarify that Emily Brew is a presenter on sister station Radio Nova, as indeed is Paul McGuinness who I heard presenting earlier today. Matt Dempsey, "network executive", is also a presenter on Radio Nova. Incidentally, "newcomers" Emily Brew and Declan Ralph have presented on Christmas FM, who had kept 105.2 warm for Classic Hits 80s in Dublin!

Declan Ralph and fellow newcomer Dave Daly are both involved with community station Near FM.

Incidentally, having just checked Robbie Kane on Linkedin now, it is incorrect to describe him as a "newcomer". He used to be a presenter on Classic Hits 4FM, as it was called then!

Mr. Brannigan has run plenty of temporary licences at this stage: 2 each for Choice FM and 949 The Rock and at least 2 (possibly more) for The Rock (non-Dublin regional version of 949)!

its_steve116 · 29-12-2022 12:59PM

Read the article. Sounds like half or three quarters of the Nova line-up are involved!

kazoo106 · 30-12-2022 10:36AM

As a listener to Heart 80s during my every workday. I have been tuning in to this station instead over the last few days.

I've often asked the reason for these temps before and I have no need to ask this time, the station is clearly an "advertisment" for Classic Hits 4FM in the areas that it serves, which I have to say is very clever, considering Christmas FM closed down only a few hours before on the same PI code. This also explains why only Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick and not the rest of the Christmas FM frequencies

The Music is well curated and they seem to have sorted out the skipping audio which was prevelant for the first day or so - there are some gems in there which you'd never hear on Heart 80s like Aslan etc.

All in all well put together and congratulations to all involved - would be a nice permanent addition to a digital multiplex (see my other posts !!)

zoobizoo · 30-12-2022 05:41PM

Playing the usual 80s hits.....

Nothing unique or different about it which is a pity as presumably they're not relying on ad revenue and can play what they want.

With myriad tunes from that decade, I can't understand why they can't play a few that haven't been overplayed over the last 3 decades.

StreetLight · 30-12-2022 08:07PM

All 80s is much better. It pops up on FM in Dublin every now and then. A lot of lesser known songs and a good few Irish ones too. I don't know of any other 80s station that plays Bagatelle and Johnny Logan.

Declan A Walsh · 30-12-2022 09:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120047473#Comment_120047473

All80s is an online station. Every so often it has been relayed on 94,3FM from Dublin by a pirate operation. I agree about its music selection.

ITV2 · 31-12-2022 05:34PM

Had a listen today, mostly the usual Now80's CD tracks no gems to be heard. As for imaging just a big advert for Classic hits radio. I'll stick to timewarp radio online.

Sheep Shagger · 31-12-2022 10:28PM

Will give it a shot, strange them going to FM for a genre when the likes of Heart in the UK and even Today FM and Q102 80s are online stations only.

Matt Dempsey is going to be a busy boy with his Nova shifts plus breakfast on this and he is station manager!

https://radiotoday.ie/2022/12/classic-hits-80s-radio-service-launching-on-fm-in-four-locations/

80s · 01-01-2023 12:09PM

It would be good if they played some lesser heard songs from the big artists eg.Duran Duran Skin Trade.

Also maybe some songs from lesser played artists eg. Belle Stars, XTC ect.

Lord Nelson · 02-01-2023 12:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051997#Comment_120051997

Agreed. While I’m a fan of the 80’s, I find the lazy music selection disappointing to say the least. Sounds like a couple of “Now” albums on constant repeat. Five days in, I’ve heard the likes of “Maneater”, Baby Jane” & “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” played umpteen times daily. Can’t see myself lasting 30 days unfortunately.

Gold7 · 02-01-2023 01:20AM

I've had a listen to this 80s Station, it is a bit of the same songs that you would on other Oldies Stations. Interestingly since Classic Hits 80s went on air RTE Gold are now playing a lot more 80s songs than before.

zoobizoo · 02-01-2023 10:33AM

If it was NOW 80s at least you might get some Thomas Dolby or Fiction Factory.

Or what about all the Next U2s .... the Irish bands from the 80s.....

Or some 80s Hip Hop

Or some 80s House

Or Matt Bianco 😀

Infoanon · 02-01-2023 07:46PM

Exceptionally disappointing so far , the same 80s hits on high rotation, they even managed to repeat the same Kim Wilde show at 10am on both Saturday and Sunday.

The objective is to raise the profile of Classic Hits 80s , the problem is that this is an online service in amongst many hundreds of '80 stations.

What is the usp of CH 80s , a missed opportunity imho

Losty Dublin · 02-01-2023 11:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120054399#Comment_120054399

30 days? More like 30 songs from the 80's.

Insidethetent · 03-01-2023 09:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120047742#Comment_120047742

Agree, I came across this on FM last year and listen on my Roberts radio. 80s gems you don't find elsewhere and obviously curated by an enthusiast. all80sjukebox.com and the tunein app on the smart tv.

Declan A Walsh · 03-01-2023 02:12PM

Plenty of pirate radio experience involved (including the behind the scenes people here): Kevin Brannigan, Dave Kelly, Matt Dempsey, Colm Hayes, Brian Walsh, Declan Ralph and Dave Daly. The two Daves and Matt were involved with various iterations of Capitol Radio during the 1980s. Colm and Dave Daly were both with Radio City in the late 1970s and/or early 1980s. The two Daves were also with ARD in the late 1970s. Colm and Dave Kelly both did stints with superpirate Q102.

03-01-2023 02:21PM

I don't understand the idea behind this having a temporary license since the 80s is already a major part of Classic Hits proper, not to mention Q102 and Today FM have even recently reinstated an 80s show. A 50s, 60s, or 70s temp station would be something that isn't catered for elsewhere on the FM band

Declan A Walsh · 03-01-2023 03:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120059625#Comment_120059625

A former pirate Premier FM ran with three temporary licences during the '00s playing oldies from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Something like that, or what has been suggested in the quoted post, could have been interesting. As regards stations regularly covering those decades on traditional radio, as opposed to online stations, you have to rely these days on part-time weekend pirate operations. Maybe the operators concerned might consider doing that yet. More or less all of the people involved with those pirates have previously been on temporary licensed stations, including some with Premier FM!

As suggested in other posts, the temporary licence for Classic Hits 80s may well be a promotional tool for itself and/or Classic Hits Ireland. It may also be a way to test the skills or experience of certain individuals for future possible projects.

marno21 · 04-01-2023 12:41AM

As explained above, very shrewd move from Classic Hits. Xmas FM goes off air in the 4 cities on the 27th and this pops up on the 28th with the same PI code so everyone with Xmas FM stored will automatically have this station presetted. It's an excellent opportunity to pick up some accidental listenership and raise awareness of the main Classic Hits station

Declan A Walsh · 04-01-2023 01:11PM

* Everybody mentioned so far has been with local Dublin stations, if you include Radio Nova, which is licensed for the commuter belt, and community stations. Community stations that some have been involved with include Dublin City FM, Liffey Sound and NEAR FM. Almost all of the commercial Dublin stations are certainly represented: Radio Nova, Sunshine 106.8, 98FM, FM104 and Q102. The only possible exception is Spin1038.

I alluded in my first post to previous temporary licence involvements by Kevin Branigan, Emily Brew and Declan Ralph. To that list you can add Matt Dempsey (949 The Rock) and Brian Walsh (Easy Radio and Christmas FM).

* Except Kim Wilde of course!!

Antenna · 04-01-2023 09:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120045804#Comment_120045804

Though four of "the rest of the Christmas FM frequencies" would have expanded availability across the Classic Hits (ex 4FM) service areas: the two for 'commuter belt' areas of counties near Dublin (88.1/99.5), north Cork, and the one in Clare. A total of 8 transmitters of what XMAS used, though I presume 4 was a compromise.

Declan A Walsh · 06-01-2023 03:39PM

I happened to have it on online this afternoon and heard Brendan Murphy of the Four of Us promoting a Classic 80s Irish Album programme on Sunday at 7pm. He will be presenting it going through their album Songs for The Tempted track by track. At least that is something slightly different in the station's programming. Presumably others will be analysing other albums over the following Sundays.

Edit: Left out the word Irish!

odyssey06 · 10-01-2023 09:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120056937#Comment_120056937

It was the same weekend just gone... repeating the same Kim Wilde show. Whatever about repeating it say, Saturday morning and Sunday night, to repeat two mornings in a row is poor programming.

Glaceon · 13-01-2023 03:25PM

Heard this for the first time today. It's not offering anything different, just seems to be a shop window for the main station. Very disappointing.

Lord Nelson · 14-01-2023 01:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120103358#Comment_120103358

Indeed. It certainly is a poor advertisement for the main station with constant repetition and a playlist of songs that have been flogged to death for the last forty years. There was a lot more to the 80’s than a couple of “Now” albums on repeat. Wasted opportunity.

behanator · 14-01-2023 02:53PM

Another example of the BAI rolling over and allowing themselves to surrender to regulatory capture. Is there any backbone in the BAI or will they continually allow the small number of commercial licencees just do what they like without consultation?

What is the purpose of the 30-day licence? Is it to stimulate choice and enable groups evaluate the potential audience/demand for a service or is it simply a cheap stunt opportunity for existing licencees?

Not taking away from CH cheekiness and opportunism, it's an efficient and cheap stunt but a real regulator would have no truck with it. Interesting to see if they'll get away with it next year.

Who am I kidding. Of course they'll get away with it. Another voicetrack station in a broom closet with even less regulatory oversight than Sunshine.

Sheep Shagger · 15-01-2023 09:49AM

One of the news bulletins yesterday morning starter with 'Good Evening'....

The dreaded Colm and Lucy were on during breakfast yesterday, there was a lad on later who said he was on till x time bit given nobody ever quotes a time assume it is 100% voice tracked?

Anyone know what's happening after 30 days?

Losty Dublin · 15-01-2023 02:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120110576#Comment_120110576

They'll turn off the transmission network and the same crap will continue to go out online.

ford fiesta · 15-01-2023 06:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120106081#Comment_120106081

At least the "Now" albums have some lost classics on them

Declan A Walsh · 16-01-2023 09:59AM

I happened to be driving yesterday evening and I heard a good bit of U2's 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire, being played track by track by Declan Ralph. At least that was different from the normal playlisting.

Antenna · 20-01-2023 12:52AM

Regarding Now 80s TV channel mentioned above, some unusual stuff pops up on that, I flicked it on this evening and playing was 'The Chicken Song' !

It's Free To Air satellite but has to be manually tuned in on Sky boxes in ROI (not on EPG), search for tuning details

Another 80s music channel has recently appeared, also FTA, called That's 80s and a sister channel called That's 60s with 60s music. The ad breaks happen on both these at the same time with the same ads!

Classic Hits 80s on Temporary FM Licence

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