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HEAD OF RTÉ 2FM, Dan Healy, has described a ‘battle royale’ between Today FM and his station as the latest JNLR figures are released.
There have been a tough few moments over the past couple of years for 2FM, which has undertaken a number of changes to boost listenership.
Today’s JNLR figures – which look at who’s listening to what on Irish radio – showed that RTÉ 2FM made a gain of 10,000 listeners when it comes to daily total reach. Its show Breakfast Republic is still the number one radio show in Ireland for people aged 15 – 34.
Things might be looking up, but the head of the station said that the battle isn’t won – particularly with new blood coming into rivals like Today FM to attract younger listeners.
“It’s a tough journey. [I'm] not going to pretend it’s not, we’ve taken a particular direction, we’ve lost audience over 45, and now it looks like we are starting to build,” said Healy.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Healy said of Today FM: “We’re going to have a battle royale, because the station that was Today FM is no longer Today FM, they’re becoming Comedy Central. From 9am to really 4pm you’ve got three versions of comedy and all very talented people, so we are now looking at a different thing.”
He also said that stations like Today FM are starting to appeal to younger listeners, like 2FM. “Communicorp are looking like they’re having two spaces going south, 98[FM] is looking like it’s going south, Today FM is going south. I don’t mean declining – I mean going to younger audiences, so we’re going to have a serious battle.”
But he said that events like the Jenny Greene 2FM RTÉ National Concert Orchestra collaboration has been boosting listener numbers. “There is obviously a lot of noise around that, from Stradbally to the 3 Arena twice, more that 30,000 people watched them,” said Healy. “That organic growth through content is actually rewarding because we don’t have a lot of money to market stuff. I mean Today FM are spending €1 million against our €100,000.”
Almost 2 million listeners tune into RTÉ Radio every week, with RTÉ Radio 1 pulling in a weekly reach of over 1 million.
Over in Today FM, the station said it had “big wins” in the latest JNLR figures, with shows from Dermot and Dave and Fergal Darcy getting a bump of 2,000 and 6,000 listeners respectively.
The station announced last week that Al Porter would be joining its roster of presenters – taking over the slot vacated by Anton Savage.
Notably, Savage’s listenership, according to the latest JNLR figures, had only seen a drop of 2,000 in the latest count. The Last Word with Matt Cooper saw a slight dip in listeners (-4,000), and Ian Dempsey dropped 6,000.
Despite the decline, the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show is still the number one breakfast show on commercial radio, according to Today FM. Alison Curtis, Phil Cawley and Hector Ó hEochagáin have also all seen an increase in listeners.
Top shows
The following shows the top 20 national radio programmes for adults aged 15+ in Ireland, with Morning Ireland and Liveline still top of the list.
A breakdown of the figures shows:
RTE Radio 1
2FM
Some of the main findings for 2FM include:
The figures show that 82% of adults listen to the radio every weekday, with local radio reaching more than 40% of the local adult population daily in some areas.
Some of the most popular stations include Highland Radio, MWR, Northern Sound and Raido Kerry, which all hold the majority share in their respective areas.
- Additional reporting Rónán Duffy
God love her. Rip
We have lived through this. I want to try to say how anyone contemplating suicide has usually no idea of the tsunami of pain shock grief mental health troubles and huge expense follows for the family left behind.
If you cannot function and are in severe pain shame exhaustion – be a hero and ask for help. It is not an easy road but once you acknowledge you are powerless over this – you can take the pressure off yourself – seek help to rest and recover. Your Family would prefer this rather than lose you. Be a hero and stay here with us – please.
@Eddie G: Help isn’t always readily available. Tbh most of society doesn’t care about others. If you read most of the journal comments it’s quite clear
@Eddie G: excellent advice Eddie, well said.
@Diddles Daffy: that is not true . but when one is unwell the behaviour can antagonise others , push them away. Its not obvious to even the closest families when someone is severely unwell. In our experience a good GP us the best port of call. The public services can be tough but thats why it takes courage – if they manage to help with symtoms – the person gets a breather and the family gets a real chance to understand and support. And we deserve that chance.
@Eddie G: Well said Eddie. Great advice.
@Eddie G: i feel sorry for the lady who did not feel comfortable asking for help , maybe she did and no one listened . .Mental health is not easy and living with it is very difficult ,.I am saddened that you think that people who take there life have sense to understand the sadness and the questions it leaves family and friend’s behind , the brain , the ability to allow them to think that way stopped working that in there own head only see life in a very different way, the disease taking there own life . forcing them to believe its best for every one if they were not around … the mental chemicals that tell us that it will be ok are so mixed up that it goes the other way .as each of us are individuals the dose and time needed to get it correct to make them better he health service drs and all people who do help do there best sadly some never get that ..
to say its the persons fault is sadly wrong , that is like asking a car run on diesel to run on petrol from time to time , honestly its never going to work . you as family members friends you cannot know the pain that person goes through and how out of control of the mental illness takes , all you want to do is get better yet some time you only get short bursts of feeling great yet always fearing when it will end ,,at the same time trying to enjoy the brief times when you feel ok in your self …
the real hero is the person living with the disease . shame on you for not recognizing the real person in there suffering … Mental illness changes daily and over time .. best for every one is to learn more about the disease and treat the people , with a bit more respect and love . ….
Just terrible news for some one’s family and friends Rest in peace.
Jesus,that’s tough..but at least the family have a body ..may she rip.respect to the recovery team..great service in a horrible situation.
@Mark Hurson: The “University of Life” teaches all of us some very unpalatable facts and how to try to deal with them… Like when my sister-in-law, suffering severe post-natal depression, threw herself in front of a speeding bus in its fast bus lane in Dublin, killing herself. Like when my friend found his neighbour’s body underwater, pulled off that arm and all that followed for all involved in both events…
Life may not be happy-go-lucky for everybody but it’s still got to be lived, warts and all
@Canny Jem: Not everyone obviously shares your opinion. If someone is in agonising mental pain and not getting help. Maybe this feels like their only option
@Diddles Daffy: My reply was to Mark Huron who commented on a previous post I made, which has been deleted (which I’m glad was deleted. In hindsight I should never posted it, too graphic in content and possibly distressing to some readers. For once I thank the Journo’s editors for deleting it).
Your response above is out of context to my original post. But I agree, in great sadness, with your sentiments. I knew four people in my life who believed they has no other option.
today its best we all educate our selves about mental health and be more caring a society .the next time some one sits down for chat and is still complaining about the same thing they were talking or worried about last time you met , don’t switch off , listen and for once start to help that person with the situation and that may be having to spend time helping them to look at solutions they cannot see and they don’t know how to even start on be there commit the time and stay in touch don’t be selfish say its not your problem ,actually it is all our problem because we hear the call for help yet never recognize it … just because you are ok and life is good does not mean that some one very close is in same position , they are not , educate your self about suicide mental illness and stress then listen so you can help others
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