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Cork's RedFM

County Cork Ireland
Frequencies	104.2–106.1 MHz
RDS	RedFM
Programming
Language(s)	English, Irish
Format	Contemporary hit radio
Ownership
Owner	Bauer Media Audio
Sister stations	Today FM Newstalk Dublin's 98FM SPIN 1038 SPIN South West iRadio
History
First air date	16 January 2002 (2002-01-16)
Links
Website	www.redfm.ie

Cork's RedFM is an Irish radio station which broadcasts to Cork and the surrounding area, and is aimed at a youth audience. The station commenced broadcasting on 16 January 2002" and was awarded Ireland's first youth radio licence. Its target market is the 15-35 age group in Cork city and county.

On 1 March 2023, the radio station was acquired by Bauer Media Audio and became one of the group's stations in the country. It adopted a new branding kit in early 2024, to closer align with sister stations across the Bauer network. This included a new tagline, Cork's Good Times, taken from the network's similarly formatted 98FM in Dublin.

History

Some of RedFM's key personnel had previously worked with "Longwave, Atlantic 252 which ceased broadcasting on Thursday 20 December 2001. RedFM's first Chief Executive, The late Cork native Henry Condon and former presenter Charlie Wolf, a Boston native, were both well known voices on Atlantic 252.

Adrian Bodenham was Red FM's Production Director at launch, and moved to Ireland to join the team from the UK's Virgin Radio. The station has picked up 13 PPI Radio Awards since first broadcasting, including winning the "Best Breakfast Show" award two years in a row, in 2008 and 2009.

In 2014 the station signed up a well known Cork Presenter Neil Prendeville. Neil had previously been a staple of rival local station Cork's 96FM. Listenership to RedFM has improved since the transfer.

In December 2017, a sale was agreed of the 17.5% of Red FM owned by Landmark Media Investments to The Irish Times pending regulatory approval. In July 2018, the 17.5% stake in the station to The Irish Times was complete.

In November 2022, the station reached a deal for acquisition by Bauer Media Audio, completed in March 2023. The acquisition resulted in sweeping changes to the station's weekday and weekend schedules, with the resignation of many veteran presenters. The station has since adopted a new branding kit shared by stations across the Bauer network in Ireland, including the tagline from similarly formatted 98FM in Dublin. The station also regularly features cross-promoted competitions from across Bauer stations under a local moniker.

In July 2023, the station saw the departure of both its afternoon and drivetime veteran presenters, Philip Bourke and Dave MacArdle, who had each worked at the station for over 20 years. They both later joined national station Ireland's Classic Hits Radio. Their departure was quickly followed by weekend presenter Isabel Bartak-Healy, leaving for rival station Cork's 96FM after 12 years. The next month saw the return of Keith Cunningham to host a new flagship Breakfast show, following the station's dismissal of local Olympian Rob Heffernan and comedian Laura O'Mahony.

Business

Siteridge Limited currently hold a licence from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for Cork City and County and broadcast as Red FM. Shareholders in Siteridge Limited included Thomas Crosbie Holdings. Thomas Crosbie Holdings went into receivership in March 2013. Their stake acquired by Landmark Media Investments.

In March 2013, Dublin born Diarmuid O'Leary, the then Advertising Sales Director of the Irish Daily Star, joined RedFM as CEO.

News

RedFM's Head of News is female, and all newsreaders are female, with the exception of some male sports readers who occasionally read news.

In early 2024, the station's weekend local news bulletins except for sport news were axed, with Red FM now airing network news bulletins from Newstalk.

Frequencies

References

1. "Dúisigh le Lauren Ní Loingsigh – Red FM".
2. Murphy, David (16 January 2002). "Cork pop station goes on air today". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 19 August 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
3. "Bauer Media Audio Completes Acquisition of Cork's Red FM". Bauer Media Audio. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
4. "Listnership improves at Cork's RedFM". TheCork.ie. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016.
5. "The Irish Times to acquire Landmark Media business". Irish Examiner. Cork. 6 December 2017. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
6. "Irish Times completes purchase of Irish Examiner". RTÉ.ie. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
7. "Irish Times complete purchase of Landmark Media; Pledge to protect 'identity and independence' of titles". Irish Examiner. Cork. 10 July 2018. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
8. "Bauer Media Audio agrees deal to buy Cork's Red FM". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
9. Healy, Alison (1 March 2023). "Bauer Media Audio Completes Acquisition of Cork's Red FM". Bauer Media Audio Ireland. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
10. O'Callaghan, Gavin (7 July 2023). "Dave Mac presents last RedFM show while Philip Bourke also set to leave". Cork Beo. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
11. Fitton, Daire (23 July 2023). "Cork radio host Izzy Showbizzy says farewell to RedFM after 12 years on air". Cork Beo. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
12. http://www.bai.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/20130117_EOI_Ad_Tabloid_24Jan_v.Final_AC.pdf
13. "Our media". Thomas Crosbie Holdings. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
14. "Receiver appointed to publisher of Irish Examiner". RTÉ.ie. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
15. "New CEO for Red FM". RadioNation. 15 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2013.

External links

• Red FM
• Market comment on Red FM launch in 2002

• Contemporary hit radio stations in Ireland
• Mass media in County Cork
• 2023 mergers and acquisitions
• Radio stations established in 2002
• 2002 establishments in Ireland