Staff lay offs at Phantom

paulbok · 23-02-2014 2:10pm

Keith Walsh, John Caddell & Claire Beck I think

Greyham · 23-02-2014 2:12pm

paulbok wrote: »

Keith Walsh, John Caddell & Claire Beck I think

Probably not Keith Walsh as he now works from the 2fm breakfast show...

Greyham · 23-02-2014 2:15pm

PaulieBoy wrote: »

There was never a cash cow to be milked, just a very small niche market that needed to be let play the music it liked, by people who would happily do it for little or no reward, as a hobby which in time may have payed the bills.

That's a very noble way of looking at it, but it just isn't realistic. Phantom was attempting to be commercially successful in the last few years and it's AQH was at something like 2k per day. Even that wouldn't keep anyone going. If you made he music even more nice and specialist I wonder who much lower that 2k figure would fall.

You cannot possibly run a successful commercial operation with those numbers. Otherwise you might as well make it a community radio station, but NOBODY is going to show up 30 hours a week to work on a community radio station for free.

This goes back to my original point above, people cry out for niche programming but nice programming isn't viable in a country this size.

Declan A Walsh · 23-02-2014 2:20pm

paulbok wrote: »

Keith Walsh, John Caddell & Claire Beck I think

The names I saw mentioned were Joe Donnelly, John Caddell and Claire Beck. What is not clear is if they will be the only presenters throughout the week, or if they will be the only presenters weekdays Monday to Friday and if there might be others over the weekends.

Keith Walsh is part of the new 2FM Breakfast Republic team.

Infoanon · 23-02-2014 2:23pm

Greyham wrote: »

That's a very noble way of looking at it, but it just isn't realistic. Phantom was attempting to be commercially successful in the last few years and it's AQH was at something like 2k per day. Even that wouldn't keep anyone going. If you made he music even more nice and specialist I wonder who much lower that 2k figure would fall.

You cannot possibly run a successful commercial operation with those numbers. Otherwise you might as well make it a community radio station, but NOBODY is going to show up 30 hours a week to work on a community radio station for free.

This goes back to my original point above, people cry out for niche programming but nice programming isn't viable in a country this size.

Niche programming cannot be successful where on the finance side very high overheads have to be covered, where on the programming side a considerable amount of airtime has to be given to speech content and on the playlist side where the BAI require strict observance of requirements on the type of music played.

Greyham · 23-02-2014 2:29pm

Infoanon wrote: »

Niche programming cannot be successful where on the finance side very high overheads have to be covered, where on the programming side a considerable amount of airtime has to be given to speech content and on the playlist side where the BAI require strict observance of requirements on the type of music played.

Even if all those things were eliminated, a high quality radio station would still need about 12-15 full time employees (minimum)

Supposing they all get 25k a year that's still 375,000 annual wage bill + the other costs of running a radio station you're talking 500k a year to keep that place open and running properly.

More Music · 23-02-2014 3:25pm

As a pirate operation they would not have had the overheads of a licensed operator.

BAI levy, music royalties, insurance, higher transmission costs, state levies/taxes, pensions, higher building running costs, health & safety requirements, audits etc.

The list is almost endless when compared to a pirate setup.

A radio station will have a minimum cost base regardless of size or TSA.

ghostdancer · 23-02-2014 4:13pm

Greyham wrote: »

That's a very noble way of looking at it, but it just isn't realistic. Phantom was attempting to be commercially successful in the last few years and it's AQH was at something like 2k per day. Even that wouldn't keep anyone going. If you made he music even more nice and specialist I wonder who much lower that 2k figure would fall.

it would probably rise, given that they got far more listeners in 2010 when the music was more niche and specialist, than after they were taken over and management decided they would become a vaguely indie version of TodayFM.

a lot of people who turned off over the last few years would probably still be listening if the music wasn't so bland, repetitive and had shifted so much to the mainstream.
some will try claim that they needed to become more mainstream to be commercially viable, but it's blatantly obvious that moving in that direction alienated lots of listeners, and drew in very few new ones, so was pretty much a total disaster, which continued for 4 years, and has led to the situation today.
maybe if Phantom had stuck to what they were good at they'd still be on the 40k daily listeners they had a few years ago, instead of 15k today....

Greyham · 23-02-2014 4:21pm

More Music wrote: »

As a pirate operation they would not have had the overheads of a licensed operator.

That's great, but I'm sure I could run a business if i didn't pay employees or tax either. That's not how life works though. A pirate is exactly that. Something operating outside the law that everyone else has to adhere to.

Infoanon · 23-02-2014 4:53pm

More Music wrote: »

As a pirate operation they would not have had the overheads of a licensed operator.

The list is almost endless when compared to a pirate setup.

A radio station will have a minimum cost base regardless of size or TSA.

That is true, going legal means additional costs BUT that should be offset by the additional revenue streams that should open up.

There is a minimum cost base but perhaps Niche stations should be allowed to avoid the incremental costs of 20% news etc

paulbok · 28-02-2014 12:17am

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

The names I saw mentioned were Joe Donnelly, John Caddell and Claire Beck. What is not clear is if they will be the only presenters throughout the week, or if they will be the only presenters weekdays Monday to Friday and if there might be others over the weekends.

Keith Walsh is part of the new 2FM Breakfast Republic team.

I heard Claire Beck this evening on about her last show for phantom, I wonder what has changed?

Declan A Walsh · 28-02-2014 1:10am

paulbok wrote: »

I heard Claire Beck this evening on about her last show for phantom, I wonder what has changed?

Perhaps she looked elsewhere rather than continue in an uncertain situation. Maybe, in so doing, she has bought someone else time instead. This is just pure speculation by me.

JamesReeves · 28-02-2014 10:21am

Phantom FM to be rebranded as TXFM as it aligns with Today FM @JOEdotie
“They are the Resurrection,” to paraphrase the Stone Roses…
The Stone Roses, they’re a cool band, right?
We recently brought you the unfortunate news that as many as 20 staff at Phantom FM had been laid off due to cuts “to ensure (the station’s) long-term viability.” The news has now broken, according to a story in The Irish Times, that the Dublin alternative rock station is to be rebranded next month as TXFM in a bid to turn around the station’s flagging fortunes.
The article went on to clarify that the station’s staff were told that the move will align Phantom more closely with national station Today FM, with both stations having a common owner in businessman Denis O’Brien.
A statement released to the paper also explained that TXFM would retain its own targets, budgets and “market ambitions” and would work in “greater unison with Today FM” to capitalise on its “commercial strength and presence in the Irish radio market.”
The new, rebranded station will be launched in March 2014.

room_149 · 28-02-2014 12:00pm

JamesReeves wrote: »

Phantom FM to be rebranded as TXFM as it aligns with Today FM @JOEdotie
“They are the Resurrection,” to paraphrase the Stone Roses…
The Stone Roses, they’re a cool band, right?
We recently brought you the unfortunate news that as many as 20 staff at Phantom FM had been laid off due to cuts “to ensure (the station’s) long-term viability.” The news has now broken, according to a story in The Irish Times, that the Dublin alternative rock station is to be rebranded next month as TXFM in a bid to turn around the station’s flagging fortunes.
The article went on to clarify that the station’s staff were told that the move will align Phantom more closely with national station Today FM, with both stations having a common owner in businessman Denis O’Brien.
A statement released to the paper also explained that TXFM would retain its own targets, budgets and “market ambitions” and would work in “greater unison with Today FM” to capitalise on its “commercial strength and presence in the Irish radio market.”
The new, rebranded station will be launched in March 2014.

Still not sure what to make of this..
I am worried that 'greater unison' with Today FM could likely mean more Joe Donnelly & Eamon Fennell types polluting the airwaves at the expense of people like the two Richies, Wil St Ledger, Derek Byrne, Ray Mcgowan & your Cathal Funge's & Nadine O Regans etc

ThisRegard · 28-02-2014 12:14pm

Texas FM/Tex FM is how I read that. Yeeee Haww cowboy !

Five Lamps · 28-02-2014 12:36pm

room_149 wrote: »

Still not sure what to make of this..
I am worried that 'greater unison' with Today FM could likely mean more Joe Donnelly & Eamon Fennell types polluting the airwaves at the expense of people like the two Richies, Wil St Ledger, Derek Byrne, Ray Mcgowan & your Cathal Funge's & Nadine O Regans etc

Not sure if you have to worry about hearing any new voices at all.

squonk · 28-02-2014 12:53pm

It's an odd choice of name! I read it as Texas FM myself also! It seems ill thought out. RTE has 2XM which is the useful version of 2FM so it sounds like whoever came up with TXFM was thinking along similar lines. The problem is that the name doesn't say alt rock from what I can see!

Liam92 · 28-02-2014 3:19pm

room_149 wrote: »

Still not sure what to make of this..
I am worried that 'greater unison' with Today FM could likely mean more Joe Donnelly & Eamon Fennell types polluting the airwaves at the expense of people like the two Richies, Wil St Ledger, Derek Byrne, Ray Mcgowan & your Cathal Funge's & Nadine O Regans etc

I agree. The likes of Kelly-Anne Byrne, Will St.Leger, Cathal Funge, Derek Byrne etc, were the reasons why I listened so much to Phantom. If the likes of Eamon Fennell, who I feel was hired just because he won an All-Ireland medal, are spared over genuine radio talents, my faith in humanity will never be restored.

Five Lamps · 28-02-2014 3:22pm

squonk wrote: »

It's an odd choice of name! I read it as Texas FM myself also! It seems ill thought out. RTE has 2XM which is the useful version of 2FM so it sounds like whoever came up with TXFM was thinking along similar lines. The problem is that the name doesn't say alt rock from what I can see!

Since they registered xfm and txfm on the same day they obviously couldn't make their minds up.

The t in txfm is supposed a nod to today fm. Tx in radio engineering is also stands for transmission. Both would be meaningless to the audience.

The creative teams were in overdrive.

Birneybau · 28-02-2014 4:14pm

paulbok wrote: »

I heard Claire Beck this evening on about her last show for phantom, I wonder what has changed?

She's on right now

paulbok · 28-02-2014 4:54pm

Birneybau wrote: »

She's on right now

Last show tonight,

twinklerunner · 28-02-2014 5:10pm

Five Lamps wrote: »

Since they registered xfm and txfm on the same day they obviously couldn't make their minds up.

The t in txfm is supposed a nod to today fm. Tx in radio engineering is also stands for transmission. Both would be meaningless to the audience.

The creative teams were in overdrive.

TX MUSIC would be better .. with a hint towards 6 MUSIC .. though miles apart resource wise. I don't like FM in the name of any station.

jrmb · 28-02-2014 6:03pm

"TXFM 105.2" is a real mouthful, although "Tx" might not be so bad.

Nodster · 28-02-2014 7:42pm

ThisRegard wrote: »

Texas FM/Tex FM is how I read that. Yeeee Haww cowboy !

Texas Radio and the Big Beat....The Doors

Trick of the Tail · 28-02-2014 7:45pm

Today Xtra FM is what they want it to sound like I guess.

Alternative rock? I think you can say goodbye to that.

Turn the radio on · 28-02-2014 9:17pm

I reckon today fm presenters like, Paul Mcloone, Ed Smith and Colm O Sullivan will be doing voice tracked shows on the station ?

paulbok · 28-02-2014 11:05pm

paulbok wrote: »

I heard Claire Beck this evening on about her last show for phantom, I wonder what has changed?

She cleared up the confusion as the Hot Sprockets were giving her a leaving gift, only going on holidays from today for a while. Not leaving.

Seren_ · 28-02-2014 11:44pm

Turn the radio on wrote: »

I reckon today fm presenters like, Paul Mcloone, Ed Smith and Colm O Sullivan will be doing voice tracked shows on the station ?

That's what I assume will happen too.

Wonder will any of the people losing out get picked up by other stations? The likes of Nova could do well if they picked up some of the more established shows e.g, Metal Notes etc.

AlanDeGenerous · 07-03-2014 5:38pm

jane82 wrote: »

Better get this in before station folds Im gonna miss it if it does.
Anybody know who does the songs:
Nothing to lose but your head
and
The one with yer man saying thou shakt not drink coca cola though shalt not etc etc. If I say hey thou shall not say ho.
You dont get songs like that anywhere else.

RichieMc wrote: »

Hey Jane

That is Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip and "Thou Shalt Always Kill". They played Vicar Street last night and thanked us for the very reason you mentioned.

Glad you've enjoyed the tunes.

Richie

That first song is by Augustines, it's called "Nothing to Lose"

jane82 · 07-03-2014 9:23pm

Yeah I found it thanks. I just turned phantom on there. I dont normally listen to the radio at this time. Whats with the dance music?
Has this always been going on?

Cicconne · 11-03-2014 6:15pm

The most staggering thing about all of this is that Joe is staying!

He’s a horrendously bad presenter and has turned people in droves away from the station. People started tuning out when him and his, almost as ****, mate Keith took over in the morning. It’s a kamakazi move for the station keeping Donnelly on board as a presenter in my opinion.

(I’m not saying sack him, keep him behind the scenes if necessary - but a million miles away from a mic. He’s rubbish).

StaticNoise · 12-03-2014 3:02am

You could possibly blame contractual obligations on this. He was, somehow, seen as a big addition, so be probably has a good contact and a departure clause that would earn him money. Maybe a chunk that it shareholders aren't willing to cough up.

Who knows.

Five Lamps · 13-03-2014 1:11am

Rumour has it that they are recruiting staff at the moment for weekend shifts.

Weekends have always been strong for Phantom (despite the last round of chops) so they should have live presentation.

Anybody confirm?

readyletsgo · 13-03-2014 11:46am

So whats happening with the Breakfast show? Joe and Keith were terrible together! I dont know what Phontom were thinking. But when Keith left it got better with just Joe and Charlotte.

I remember Joe being the producer of the Tom Dunne show on Newstalk while that was going, he was pretty good I thought.

Whats going to happen to Charlotte Flood? Shes funny.

The weekend shifts are awesome! I know its (good) dance music and disco but god damn its great to have on in the background.

Turn the radio on · 13-03-2014 4:13pm

Five Lamps wrote: »

Rumour has it that they are recruiting staff at the moment for weekend shifts.

Weekends have always been strong for Phantom (despite the last round of chops) so they should have live presentation.

Anybody confirm?

Hiring staff ? Haven't they just laid off 20 ?

RockLady · 13-03-2014 11:10pm

Five Lamps wrote: »

Rumour has it that they are recruiting staff at the moment for weekend shifts.

Weekends have always been strong for Phantom (despite the last round of chops) so they should have live presentation.

Anybody confirm?

God I hope that it's just a rumour.

If it is true, would it be a money-saving measure? Like, get rid of the old staff and get new people in so you can pay them less? ('cos radio is so well paid to start with, of course.....)

end of the road · 13-03-2014 11:22pm

RockLady wrote: »

If it is true, would it be a money-saving measure? Like, get rid of the old staff and get new people in so you can pay them less?

would that be legal though? surely if they get rid of most of the staff it would be because the job is no longer there?

room_149 · 13-03-2014 11:25pm

Was fairly welling up towards the end of the two Richie's show this evening. Felt like a friend was emigrating forever. Sad stuff. Listening to Spiral Stairs now.

soc160 · 13-03-2014 11:29pm

Five Lamps wrote: »

Rumour has it that they are recruiting staff at the moment for weekend shifts.

Weekends have always been strong for Phantom (despite the last round of chops) so they should have live presentation.

Anybody confirm?

What do you mean strong? and what are you basing the rumour on?

Declan A Walsh · 13-03-2014 11:40pm

room_149 wrote: »

Was fairly welling up towards the end of the two Richie's show this evening. Felt like a friend was emigrating forever. Sad stuff. Listening to Spiral Stairs now.

Listened too and listening now! Laura Lee Conboy and her pals are treating the occasion as a celebratory wake!

RockLady · 13-03-2014 11:58pm

end of the road wrote: »

would that be legal though? surely if they get rid of most of the staff it would be because the job is no longer there?

I thought that after I posted.

Job Bridge? ;-)

Five Lamps · 14-03-2014 1:20pm

soc160 wrote: »

What do you mean strong? and what are you basing the rumour on?

Their JNLR's have always been healthier at weekends than weekdays (relatively speaking).

Just heard rumours about other presenters. Could be nothing more than that.

WindmillWarrior · 14-03-2014 2:37pm

readyletsgo wrote: »

Whats going to happen to Charlotte Flood? Shes funny.

.

I agree. I love her accent too. She deserves better. And Joe this morning constantly interupting her when she was trying to say a decent goodbye

room_149 · 14-03-2014 2:47pm

WindmillWarrior wrote: »

I agree. I love her accent too. She deserves better. And Joe this morning constantly interupting her when she was trying to say a decent goodbye

The man's an ass.

Birneybau · 14-03-2014 6:13pm

room_149 wrote: »

The man's an ass.

Yeah, his constant "Listen in next week".

There was a term for men like him a few years ago-SCAB.

Turn the radio on · 14-03-2014 6:24pm

Rumor is Joe Donnelly will be pd of today fm and txfm. Big Denny sure knows how to pick his yes men

Slutmonkey57b · 14-03-2014 6:49pm

WindmillWarrior wrote: »

I agree. I love her accent too. She deserves better. And Joe this morning constantly interupting her when she was trying to say a decent goodbye

That's ****ing disgraceful but all you'd expect of the man.

Liam92 · 14-03-2014 9:50pm

I listened to Phantom Breakfast all this week surprisingly and Joe kinda grew on me, but he still isn't the best presenter on Phantom that's for sure. I agree with the interrupting Charlotte thing, he did it all week and she is actually a very good presenter who knows her stuff.

My commiserations go out for the specialist DJs like Will St.Leger, Derek Byrne etc, who made Phantom very interesting, engaging, and different.

soc160 · 14-03-2014 9:59pm

Five Lamps wrote: »

Their JNLR's have always been healthier at weekends than weekdays (relatively speaking).

Just heard rumours about other presenters. Could be nothing more than that.

Oh ok, suppose that makes sense. You mean you heard of people they might be hiring? Cant imagine anyone ust going to work weekends, especially when they just culled most of the staff.

Infoanon · 29-03-2014 1:48pm

Turn the radio on wrote: »

Hiring staff ? Haven't they just laid off 20 ?

So TX were hiring staff.....the released line up has a lot more on air voices then originally suggested, I wonder did the BAI intervene?

Staff lay offs at Phantom

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