FáilteDAB: Coverage, Tests and Services

Nice to hear Rewind on 95.0 FM here in Sligo even though I realise it will soon be replaced by Christmas FM.

They are both dance tracks man, imo!

Christmas FM officially launches for 2025 on Friday the 28th at midday and DAB is listed as one of their broadcast methods.

You'd think it would be a good time for FailteDAB to extend nationwide as there's likely to be a lot of people travelling by car (and resultant trafffic jams) done over the Christmas period

Here's your answer: "Christmas FM will be broadcasting live on FM and DAB+ from midday this
Friday 28th November - but you can also listen online RIGHT NOW via our web player, our free app or on your Smart Speaker. Our presenters help spread joy and fun, keeping the nation’s spirits merry and bright as we count down to the big day!"

It will replace Rewind, because there is no space for another station on the mux.

Are rewind costing them selfs listeners to ghr or onic gold by switching over to Christmas FM like there already available all over Ireland on FM

I’d imagine they’re not overly concerned about losing listeners given that Failte DAB or anyone else has done anything to promote or publicise the service. It’s also only a trial due to end in April with no guarantee of any extension or what if anything comes next. Will be interesting to see if Christmas FM continues after the 27th December on DAB as they’re not time limited to 30 days as is the case with FM? A good opportunity on the 27th to transition listeners from FM to DAB so maybe method in their madness.

The limited playlists and rotation rules on some of these genre based DAB stations is absolutely shocking. Same songs repeated endlessly, even sometimes after a short period of time.

They simply aren't going to get any momentum with listeners without a solid and varied playlist. They know they are competing with Spotify & Apple Music, right? 🤯

I have DAB tuner in my car, i have tried to scan a few times when in the Eastern side of the country but never have any luck. Should a DAB tuner work or would it have to have DAB+?

The webstream is playing a different Christmas stream, also branded, confusingly, "Christmas FM". https://play.christmasfm.com/rewind/

Enough pushback…. or contractual obligations? Gold still has some RTE staffers involved. There are some established names there that would generate a heap of unfavourable publicity for RTE if they were cut loose. RTE has been through the PR wars in recent years, could that be a factor too?

While I would accept that RTE Gold is probably the biggest digital radio station in the country, I wonder how big that actually is and how much of a pushback its closure could generate?. The closure of mainstream FM radio stations wouldn't generate as much pushback these days, as my aging anorak outlook would like to think. Blow your car horn for RTE Gold? I don't think so.