Who is funding Spirit Radio ?

John Joe Jones · 20-04-2015 9:00pm #1

Who is really bank rolling that farce of a radio staion ? Why have the bai allowed them get away with so much

Geniass · 20-04-2015 9:01pm

Get away with what?

They have sponsors and don't pay as much for the infrastructure AFAIK.

tessat · 20-04-2015 9:04pm

Get this, from the wiki page they are a registered charity and survives on donations and volunteers.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_Radio

John Joe Jones · 20-04-2015 9:14pm

Geniass wrote: »

Get away with what?

They got their licence on the basis of being an national Medium wave station in the republic of Ireland, yet their only mw transmitter has better coverage in another jurisdiction.

Expunge · 20-04-2015 9:49pm

According to this.. http://www.spiritradio.ie/about/public-financial/

SPIRIT costs 37,000 a month to run.
Cheap as chips with all those FM transmitters, I would have thought.

Remember, spend spend and God will send!:)

SpaceTime · 20-04-2015 10:28pm

Cork is a bit overloaded with religious radio. We've Spirit and Life FM.

parasite · 20-04-2015 10:57pm

http://bocktherobber.com/2013/06/what-exactly-is-the-iona-institute/ some clues there

Expunge · 21-04-2015 9:12am

Again from the Spirit website..........

"Our board of directors are unpaid and represent a broad spectrum of the Christian community. Spirit Radio is a Not For Profit organisation and has charitable status."

Also, all the directors names and images are there for all the world to see, including Dermot Mannion (Aer Lingus fame) and Sean Ashmore (4FM/Sunshine) and many others.

It's not so much their existence that bothers me. It's what sort of an audience are they trying to attract? As I write this, I'm hearing Olly Murs and piss poor presentation. They also play a lot of annoying US Contemporary Christian music.

What is Spirit Radio? A station for US style Christian Evangelicals or Irish Catholics?
'Cause I don't think you can super serve both in this country.

L1011 · 21-04-2015 10:12am

Expunge wrote: »

What is Spirit Radio? A station for US style Christian Evangelicals or Irish Catholics?
'Cause I don't think you can super serve both in this country.

Its definitely not aimed at Catholics.

Geniass · 21-04-2015 10:20am

L1011 wrote: »

Its definitely not aimed at Catholics.

It's aimed at Christians, of which Catholics are a subset.

Expunge · 21-04-2015 10:26am

L1011 wrote: »

Its definitely not aimed at Catholics.

Well, that might be the problem so.
A bit more Rosary reciting and 'Faith of Our Fathers' type content might bring a bigger flock - old time religion, you might say.

All that Protestant Scripture quoting and Christian Rock from Georgia and Alabama will do nothing for the underserved traditional Catholics in the Rep of Ireland.

Likewise, bonging bells and auld wans (of both sexes) on their knees reciting Catholic prayers will not entice the Evangelicals.

There's probably a larger audience to be had chasing older Catholics than Evangelicals in the Republic of Ireland. Although, the age profile would be high.

Expunge · 21-04-2015 10:28am

Geniass wrote: »

It's aimed at Christians, of which Catholics are a subset.

Bit more than a subset in the Republic of Ireland, I would have thought.

Still 85 per cent (nominally) RC, according to the last Census.

L1011 · 21-04-2015 10:36am

Geniass wrote: »

It's aimed at Christians, of which Catholics are a subset.

Its very much evangelical, which Catholics are not though.

Catholics are much less likely to open their wallets to fund a niche media service than any evangelicals are, as can be seen in the US where its pretty common yet there's minimal Catholic religious channels - EWTN being the exception.

Geniass · 21-04-2015 10:40am

L1011 wrote: »

Its very much evangelical, which Catholics are not though.

Catholics are much less likely to open their wallets to fund a niche media service than any evangelicals are, as can be seen in the US where its pretty common yet there's minimal Catholic religious channels - EWTN being the exception.

I seem to recall that at least one major funder/infrastructure provider is an Irish Catholic.

Geniass · 21-04-2015 10:40am

Expunge wrote: »

Bit more than a subset in the Republic of Ireland, I would have thought.

That's more to do with your lack of understanding of what a subset is.

Chloris · 21-04-2015 10:55am

The worst part of my day driving is when I have to hurriedly flick by Spirit and Life FM without letting any freaky indoctrination seep out.

Expunge · 21-04-2015 10:56am

Geniass wrote: »

That's more to do with your lack of understanding of what a subset is.

Oh right, thanks for your correction. Subset: part of a larger set. Great!

It's more to do with the dominant profession of Christians in this country being Roman Catholic, with culturally very little in common with small (but growing) other Christian sects.
Next largest Christian group would be Church of Ireland at around 2 per cent of the population.
There's not much for either of those two groups on Spirit Radio, in my view.
But if ya like happy,clappy Christian Rock from American South - it's just the thing!

But yes, you are correct. There do seem to be a number of Catholics funding or supporting Spirit Radio.

radioland · 21-04-2015 12:41pm

John Joe Jones wrote: »

Who is really bank rolling that farce of a radio staion ? Why have the bai allowed them get away with so much

My recollection is that the funding of this station is transparent with donations from listeners and some resources put in by Christian faiths. I don't have an issue with. Id personally be far more concerned about the amount of Irish radio and newspapers owned by Denis O'Brien

If you don't like Spirit , switch it off

Losty Dublin · 22-04-2015 11:45pm

tessat wrote: »

Get this, from the wiki page they are a registered charity and survives on donations and volunteers.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_Radio

When they started off, they had full time paid on and off air staff and a commitment to partake in the JNLR.

They stopped paying the majority of staff after 8 months of going on air after they took in next to no advertisement income. At a staff meeting to break the bad news it emerged that all their wages had been drawn from a cash bond put forward before they went on air.

They also mysteriously pulled out of a book 2 years ago within days of it's release and currently provide no credible researched listenership figures. It is a condition of their licence that they must provide same should they opt out of the JNLR.

On their regular donation pledges, it would be interesting to see how much of their income comes from same and crucially, a cash breakdown of same. As it stands we can't be sure what they say comes in actually comes in. Unlike many charitable bodies who solicit donations Spirit don't have any published accounts so its very hard to find out what income and outgoings they have.

joseph brand · 25-04-2015 12:46pm

"Spirit Radio is a Not For Profit organisation and has charitable status."

All their earnings (donations) are tax free? Sweet.

Christians – Working Together

Spirit Radio is bringing Christians together from a wide range of backgrounds. At the heart of the Christian Gospel is the message that God has sent his son Jesus Christ to redeem us and bring us into a relationship with himself – this is the Good News that Spirit Radio seeks to communicate to people across Ireland.

It's a lot easier than knocking at doors, looking for suckers converts.

Personally I prefer some adult radio, so I'll be sticking with Newstalk.

SpaceTime · 25-04-2015 1:03pm

I hope they're being monitored for referendum balance compliance.

I'm not suggesting that they're not making a big effort to be balanced but it's just that religious groups and the No campaign seem to go hand in hand so I would imagine being a Christian radio station couldn't be an easy task for the next few weeks.

I think one might have to just avoid discussing the topic entirely!

Ferrier · 25-04-2015 1:28pm

I think they're doing a great job. More interested in making a difference than making a profit. Don't know any other Irish radio station you can say that about.

Losty Dublin · 25-04-2015 1:34pm

Ferrier wrote: »

I think they're doing a great job. More interested in making a difference than making a profit. Don't know any other Irish radio station you can say that about.

They have that little in the way of ad revenue coming in that making a profit will never ever be something they will have to worry about

joseph brand · 25-04-2015 2:18pm

Ferrier wrote: »

I think they're doing a great job. More interested in making a difference than making a profit. Don't know any other Irish radio station you can say that about.

Never trust the 'holier-than-thou' types, would be my advice. Take it or leave it. It always transpires that they have ulterior motives, usually money. It's not rocket surgery. Just look at the big 'Donation' banners on their website along with tax exemption and the words 'filling their pockets' comes to mind.

Spirit Radio plays the best contemporary Christian music

Personally, I find 'contemporary Christian music' lacking in originality and quality whilst also being a bit creepy. Maybe that's just me.

On the subject of religious radio, I discovered Taliban FM! Not much to it, just deafening silence.

Technocentral · 27-04-2015 10:00pm

As they say "The Devil has all the best radio stations"

Fuzzy Clam · 05-05-2015 10:10pm

549 AM silent carrier for the last couple of days and now off air completely.

Infoanon · 05-05-2015 11:15pm

Fuzzy Clam wrote: »

549 AM silent carrier for the last couple of days and now off air completely.

Nothing on their website,AM is costly to run but would Spirit really risk upsetting the BAI and switch off AM ? And would the BAI have the guts to pull the plug on Spirit for breaching its licence?

Antenna · 06-05-2015 3:53pm

Fuzzy Clam wrote: »

549 AM silent carrier for the last couple of days and now off air completely.

Just checked on caradio and its back on

comparing the two, the audio on 549kHz is lagging Spirit's Cork 90.9 FM by about 1 second.

Infoanon · 06-05-2015 4:00pm

Antenna wrote: »

Just checked on caradio and its back on

comparing the two, the audio on 549kHz is lagging Spirit's Cork 90.9 FM by about 1 second.

Thanks,no need to have AM and FM in sync

Fuzzy Clam · 06-05-2015 4:03pm

Antenna wrote: »

Just checked on caradio and its back on

comparing the two, the audio on 549kHz is lagging Spirit's Cork 90.9 FM by about 1 second.

Yes, came back late morning or early afternoon. Must have been a technical glitch

Still seem to be on lower power than when they first came on though. My guess about 6 Kw now.

Fuzzy Clam · 06-05-2015 4:07pm

Infoanon wrote: »

Thanks,no need to have AM and FM in sync

No need but it's good practice.

I've heard RTE's 252 at various latency times over the years, compared with FM. Sometimes as much as 2 secs behind.

fryup · 06-05-2015 6:05pm

joseph brand wrote: »

Personally, I find 'contemporary Christian music' lacking in originality and quality whilst also being a bit creepy. Maybe that's just me.

billy doesn't like it either...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cfWRQPcE8A

Keepan Eye · 06-06-2015 8:59am

parasite wrote: »

http://bocktherobber.com/2013/06/what-exactly-is-the-iona-institute/ some clues there

I guess there are always people with Strong beliefs who support groups that represent their point of view -- God knows the YES supporters for the 34th amendment to the constitution got money from "Some secret places". Massive amounts. €5 million from Atlantic Philanthropy its reported [Hidden support from Impact Union and other trade unions. [ without asking permission of their Members ].

Keepan Eye · 04-11-2015 7:42pm

I dunno -- Spirit Radio plays some great songs from a musical perspective. Its positive and offers the only media to give the other view to all the commercial stations. Much of the money comes from the public. I feel bombarded by TV Radio and Newspapers who offer nothing but depressing news. Some of the lyrics and dialogue on commercial stations seems to advocate Self centredness and carry a seedy content. A bit of spice if you are mature enough to process it might be ok but you have to realise that acting on such suggestions will only eventually cause you grief. Lets be Liberal about Spirit radio. Theres room for all.

L1011 · 04-11-2015 9:29pm

Keepan Eye wrote: »

Its positive and offers the only media to give the other view to all the commercial stations.

They carry the exact same network news as every other commercial station and have done so for some time.

Why the BAI hasn't pulled it off air for massively failing to meet its licence conditions (transmission wise) I don't know.

Losty Dublin · 05-11-2015 12:43am

Spirit have recently added a webpage that briefly breaks down their income and expenditure. One wonders if they are doing this more an beal bocht than in the interests of transparency. Either way it makes for dour reading as the gap between income and expenditure is massive.

They still don't seem to provide verified up to date audience figures from a reputable M+R company as per their contractual requirements. With just €5,000 a month income from advertisements its fairly clear that the listeners aren't there in volume enough to attract sales.

http://www.spiritradio.ie/about/public-financial/

Trick of the Tail · 05-11-2015 1:52am

37 grand is a hell of a lot to raise from donations and sponsorship every month.

I suspect there are other, hidden benefactors involved, maybe connected with foreign religious broadcasters.

Losty Dublin · 05-11-2015 12:08pm

Trick of the Tail wrote: »

37 grand is a hell of a lot to raise from donations and sponsorship every month.

I suspect there are other, hidden benefactors involved, maybe connected with foreign religious broadcasters.

And with €5,000 per month being the ad revenue, they are almost totally dependent on donations, subscriptions and hand outs. It's all too easy for any body to donate large sums of money to the station and this can be done at no risk of scrutiny or obligation to declare same. The potential is there to unduly influence the stations editorial stance should a body or person wanted to. It is my opinion that their use of subscribers and donations needs to be more transparent and open to scrutiny in case such abuses arise.

Keepan Eye · 06-11-2015 10:03pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Spirit have recently added a webpage that briefly breaks down their income and expenditure. One wonders if they are doing this more an beal bocht than in the interests of transparency. Either way it makes for dour reading as the gap between income and expenditure is massive.

They still don't seem to provide verified up to date audience figures from a reputable M+R company as per their contractual requirements. With just €5,000 a month income from advertisements its fairly clear that the listeners aren't there in volume enough to attract sales.

http://www.spiritradio.ie/about/public-financial/

Its a great station that I find very relaxing. I swop around but when I want to chill I like to listen to SR. If only it was nation wide. 700,000 ready listeners I'd say in the Republic and Cross border another huge listenership. Sure RTE rips us all off for a hefty licence fee that is used to pay very large [ undisclosed ] salaries. If only they'd pay a few decent guests for their Friday Night and Saturday night talk shows. GAYBO in his day used to have some fab International guests. In the last analysis I say lets be sincerely Liberal -- there is room for all of us on the Island.

Losty Dublin · 07-11-2015 12:16pm

Keepan Eye wrote: »

700,000 ready listeners I'd say in the Republic and Cross border another huge listenership.

Even if you put radios into every grave in Ireland Spirit still wouldn't have 700,000 listeners.

PopePalpatine · 07-11-2015 12:36pm

Trick of the Tail wrote: »

37 grand is a hell of a lot to raise from donations and sponsorship every month.

I suspect there are other, hidden benefactors involved, maybe connected with foreign religious broadcasters.

Tom Monaghan, perhaps? After all he does fund the Legatus lackeys (Jugendschutz, Iona, Mothers & Fathers Matter/Provisional Iona etc.).

Keepan Eye · 08-11-2015 9:42pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Even if you put radios into every grave in Ireland Spirit still wouldn't have 700,000 listeners.

Maybe you're right but sure why worry about SR so? Its impact against the overwhelming effects of the rest of Irish Media surely can hold no threat to you.

L1011 · 09-11-2015 11:58am

Keepan Eye wrote: »

Maybe you're right but sure why worry about SR so? Its impact against the overwhelming effects of the rest of Irish Media surely can hold no threat to you.

What impact?

Its news comes from Newstalk. It doesn't create any new content.

Keepan Eye · 10-11-2015 9:20pm

L1011 wrote: »

What impact?

Its news comes from Newstalk. It doesn't create any new content.

I find its Impact very relaxing. Cheers people up. Counteracts the negativity of the other stations. You need a bit of balance, a little bit of Hope. An anti dote to the Religion of Noreligion I suppose.

gadget_hq · 16-11-2015 5:32am

L1011 wrote: »

What impact?

Its news comes from Newstalk. It doesn't create any new content.

what's your big issue? you say the news only comes from Newstalk, which isn't true, I hear they carry their own news during the day and I've even heard Spirit Radio sourced news on Newstalk also. Spirit carries it's own news during the day, and evenings and weekends its network news like many other radio stations in ireland.

L1011 · 16-11-2015 11:43am

gadget_hq wrote: »

what's your big issue? you say the news only comes from Newstalk, which isn't true, I hear they carry their own news during the day and I've even heard Spirit Radio sourced news on Newstalk also. Spirit carries it's own news during the day, and evenings and weekends its network news like many other radio stations in ireland.

The issue is the (inaccurate) claim that it provides any alternative news-wise. Their "own news" during the day is their own reader working off Newstalk content. You get the same news everywhere else.

Keepan Eye · 17-11-2015 3:33pm

L1011 wrote: »

The issue is the (inaccurate) claim that it provides any alternative news-wise. Their "own news" during the day is their own reader working off Newstalk content. You get the same news everywhere else.

Not true L1O11. For example when all other commercial stations [ 99.9%] promote the same slant on the 34th and the 8th; Spirit Radio gave both an airing. Persons who try to muzzle debate [as widely accepted during the 34th even by my friends with gay children ]; ....the people trying to muzzle debate are not true Liberals and provide no useful contribution to the development of a true liberal pluralist society.

L1011 · 17-11-2015 4:03pm

Keepan Eye wrote: »

Not true L1O11. For example when all other commercial stations [ 99.9%] promote the same slant on the 34th and the 8th; Spirit Radio gave both an airing. Persons who try to muzzle debate [as widely accepted during the 34th even by my friends with gay children ]; ....the people trying to muzzle debate are not true Liberals and provide no useful contribution to the development of a true liberal pluralist society.

The BAI has found absolutely nobody in breach, to date, on balance during the referendum debate. I don't think many people have the viewpoint that anyone was muzzled.

Screaming from every rooftop that you've been silenced doesn't mean you have, you know.

If you want to talk about balance, Spirit is flagrantly in breach of its licence conditions as regards coverage and valid audience research but is not even told off for it; whereas commercial stations do get warned.

Keepan Eye · 18-11-2015 7:06pm

L1011 wrote: »

The BAI has found absolutely nobody in breach, to date, on balance during the referendum debate. I don't think many people have the viewpoint that anyone was muzzled.

Screaming from every rooftop that you've been silenced doesn't mean you have, you know.

If you want to talk about balance, Spirit is flagrantly in breach of its licence conditions as regards coverage and valid audience research but is not even told off for it; whereas commercial stations do get warned.

'G'way outta dat' your havin' a laugh. " Screamin from the roof top" --Please send me the links to any Irish Indo or Irish Times articles from journalists on this. OR RTE broadcasts by Duffy, Finnucane et all ........99% of Irish Media went out of its way NOT to give a balanced view. Count the articles in the Irish Indo for months before the 34th. BIASED
Sure even on the day of the Ref the Indo was writing articles pro one side.

Now look at RTE, every chance they get, out comes the 'soft soap' to propangadize for RTE's view only. This gets around the BAI as they mask the propaganda in "Candy floss fauning". Not a debate but a Love in with a rep from RTE's point of view.
When GAY people are saying it was a perfect Management of Media spin [ for which they are to be applauded] I think its a QED.
Sadly when you muzzle one side from my and your experience ;the outcome is not good.
There is nothing wrong with admitting the MEDIA is biased and corrupt on many issues. Its the starting point of recovery for democracy and a return to our liberal equal accepting country.
SR is a beautiful oasis of calmness positivity and good orderly direction for you and me.

L1011 · 19-11-2015 7:31am

Keepan Eye wrote: »

'G'way outta dat' your havin' a laugh. " Screamin from the roof top" --Please send me the links to any Irish Indo or Irish Times articles from journalists on this. OR RTE broadcasts by Duffy, Finnucane et all ........99% of Irish Media went out of its way NOT to give a balanced view. Count the articles in the Irish Indo for months before the 34th. BIASED
Sure even on the day of the Ref the Indo was writing articles pro one side.

You are aware that the print media isn't regulated for balance, right? Utterly irrelevant to a thread on a broadcaster.

Keepan Eye wrote: »

SR is a beautiful oasis of calmness positivity and good orderly direction for you and me.

"orderly direction" - erm, no thanks. I don't take direction from radio stations.

Losty Dublin · 11-02-2017 5:23pm

Sorry to drag this one up from the grave. Spirit raised €40,000 this week in another drive. All of this was with no mention of the fundraising drive on their Facebook, Twitter or website :rolleyes:

Who is funding Spirit Radio ?

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