New Developments on RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland’s most listened to radio station, today unveiled plans for an exciting and innovative new schedule starting in September 2006. The new changes are focused on the afternoon and evening daily schedules, and will bring a range of experienced and energetic radio talent to the daily Radio 1 schedule.
• The continued unparalleled success of Liveline with Joe Duffy will be built upon by extending the programme by fifteen minutes to 3pm.
• This will be followed by a new two-hour programme presented by Derek Mooney. With a working title of Afternoon Ireland, the new show will be a music and speech magazine programme reflecting the life and times of people throughout the country -bringing a range of crafted feature and taped items to a wide daytime audience. The highly successful Mooney Goes Wild on One programme has proven to be hugely popular in recent years and will continue on Saturday mornings.
• At 5pm, there will be a new three-hour Drivetime strand combining news, entertainment and sport. This new rolling concept in programming will begin with an hour and a half of news and current affairs followed by half an hour of sports hosted by Des Cahill. At 7pm Dave Fanning, an acknowledged authority on music and movies, presents an hour of popular culture, entertainment and music.
• Features, Arts and Drama remain key components of RTÉ Radio 1’s daily offering and will be broadcast, along with music feature programming, between the hours of 8pm and 10pm nightly.
• Tonight with Vincent Browne remains between 10pm and 11pm
• A new arts programme will air five nights a week from 11pm to midnight.
• John Creedon meanwhile will complete the new line-up taking listeners into the small hours with Late Date, from midnight to 2am.
• After 7 years, Mystery Train presenter John Kelly has decided to concentrate on other broadcasting commitments.
Commenting on these developments, Ana Leddy, the Head of RTÉ Radio 1 said
“Listeners have never had more choice. RTÉ Radio 1 has the people, talent and resources to bring the best of popular radio to our listeners. That’s what drives these changes. We aim to appeal to bigger audiences across the whole schedule whether in news, entertainment, sport, music or culture. Our plan is all about competition, integrity, choice and quality”
RTÉ 2 fm
Ireland’s number 1 music station, RTÉ 2fm today announced its 2006 autumn schedule, making key changes to daytime and evening programmes aimed at the key 15-34 year old age group.
Like its sister station Radio 1, 2fm is focussing on the afternoons and evenings.
• Nikki Hayes will anchor lunchtime on the station with a new show from 12 to 2pm.
• Rick O’Shea, moving back to daytime, will present with a new three-hour show every evening from 6pm
• Damien Farrelly will cover the new night time show from 9pm until midnight.
• Newsbeat becomes 1-4-7 with elongated news and information bulletins across the day at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm
• Avril Hoare will present a new Friday evening entertainment show Here Comes The Weekend.
• Dave Fanning will return to his musical roots with a new two-hour early Sunday evening show from 7pm.
Speaking today John Clarke, Head of RTÉ 2fm said:
“These changes will add further strength to the channel that is number 1 with 15-34 year olds nationally. The recent JNLR figures of May 2006 confirm that RTÉ 2fm has 12 of the top 20 programmes in this age group. These changes will be supported with a nationwide search for new talent and I am greatly excited about the prospects this could yield for 2fm.”
Further Information:
RTÉ Press Office
(01) 208 3434
Editor’s Note:
The new weekday schedules for RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ 2fm from September 2006 are detailed below. (Changes are in bold/italic)
RTÉ Radio 1
Monday to Friday
05.30 – 07.00 Rising Time with Maxi
07.00 – 09.00 Morning Ireland
09.00 – 10.00 The Tubridy Show
10.00 – 12.00 Today with Pat Kenny
12.00 – 13.00 Ronan Collins
13.00 – 13.45 News At One
13.45 – 15.00 Liveline with Joe Duffy (extended by 15 minutes)
15.00 – 17.00 Afternoon Ireland with Derek Mooney (working title)
17.00 – 20.00 Drivetime (working title) A three hour strand
incorporating:
17.00 – 18.30 – Drivetime (a new current affairs programme)
18.30 – 19.00 – Drivetime Sport with Des Cahill
19.00 – 20.00 – Drivetime Express with Dave Fanning
20.00 – 21.00 Features/Documentaries/Drama
21.00 – 22.00 Music Features
22.00 – 23.00 Tonight with Vincent Browne
23.00 – 00.00 Nightlines
00.00 – 02.00 Late Date with John Creedon
02.00 – 05.30 Through The Night
RTÉ 2fm
Monday to Friday
06.00 – 07.00 Dave Redmond
07.00 – 09.00 Marty In The Morning
09.00 – 12.00 The Gerry Ryan Show
12.00 – 14.00 Nikki Hayes
14.00 – 16.00 Larry Gogan
16.00 – 18.00 Ruth Scott
18.00 – 21.00 Rick O’Shea
21.00 – 24.00 Damien Farrelly
Longer news and information bulletins throughout the day at 1, 4 and 7pm.
Friday nights at 7pm will include Avril Hoare’s new Here Comes The Weekend programme.
The weekend schedule remains unchanged apart from a new Dave Fanning Show at 7pm on Sundays.