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Pat Kenny on his first day in Newstalk. Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Newstalk: 'People moved the dial for Pat...and now they've discovered Ivan, Chris, Seán and George'

The radio station is hopeful that its radio personalities will continue to lure people over from RTÉ programmes.

DESPITE MIXED MEDIA reports from the last radio listenership figures, Newstalk is upbeat about Pat Kenny’s move and the prospects for the imminent JNLR results.

In a recent interview with TheJournal.ie, station manager Garrett Harte said that people have been ‘moving the dial’, just as its campaign urged last autumn.

“People moved the dial for Pat and now they are finding Seán, Jonathan and George, and Ivan and Chris. That’s part of the strategy of bringing him in from RTÉ,” explained Harte, who is optimistic about next month’s results.

“We are very confident of what we have seen so far that we are well on target to deliver our targets for the station.”

Figures in January showed that Pat Kenny was bringing in about 96,000 listeners during his 10am talk show but Seán O’Rourke, his replacement at RTÉ Radio One was still at 327,000.

But Harte insists the books cannot be read until a full 12 months has played out. That will not come through in the numbers until November this year.

He also mentioned the importance of Ivan Yates reunited with Chris Donoghue for the breakfast show. The programme added 5,000 listeners to 126,000 in January.

“I think for anyone who tunes in, you can see the great chemistry that both of them have. There is huge respect from Ivan for Chris and Chris for Ivan.

“It is [about] developing the breakfast show to be the agenda setting programme on radio that you’ve got this tenacious young journalist in Chris who is digging for stories and then you’ve got the old, wise former Minister who gives his perspective on what is happening behind the doors of power.

I think it is a very strong, alternative to Morning Ireland. We’re seeing that anecdotally with text messages and from reaction to the station.

He noted that there is a rivalry with Morning Ireland and a target to poach listeners from the RTÉ pillar.

“Radio is a very competitive market and you’ve got to make people smile in the morning, as much as bring them breaking news,” he adds, stating that Yates and Ivan bring all the elements of a functional news and current affairs programme, along with some entertainment.

There is also a push to bring music radio listeners across to the news station.

“They now need to know about interest rates, business, and other news,” he explained. The 30 to 55 age category is central to the strategy when planning content each week.

In terms of the station’s sports coverage, much was said of the departure of the five-strong Off the Ball team during March 2013.

Harte admits that the figures expected next month will be “bigger than we would have hoped this time last year”.

Ger Gilroy has built a team that has taken the programme from strength to strength, explained Harte.

In the January JNLR figures, Off the Ball gained 4,000 listeners, creeping up to the 43,000 mark.

Read: Newstalk lodges complaint over RTÉ’s refusal to run ad

More: RTE is refusing to run an ad for Newstalk, says Newstalk…

DailyEdge.ie: A psychic who reads arse-fortunes was on Newstalk today

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71 Comments
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    Mute Mary McDonagh Faherty
    Favourite Mary McDonagh Faherty
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    Mar 11th 2022, 8:31 AM

    The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. (Ghandi). Keep voting them in and there’s no hope of change. Just because it doesn’t affect you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something about it.

    92
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    Mute Mister Gooey
    Favourite Mister Gooey
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    Mar 11th 2022, 7:45 AM

    A disgrace

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    Mute Karen 'Polly' Johnson
    Favourite Karen 'Polly' Johnson
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    Mar 11th 2022, 7:56 AM

    My son was 4 when first assessed, he is now 9, finally a diagnosis of Autism, but forcing him into main stream schools last for years has damaged him, finally in special school, but for his behaviors and anxiety, nothing to do with his Autism, my son is destroyed from HSE, couldn’t tell you the amount of times they lost his file, HSE PAID FOR HIM TO BE PRIVATELY AS HIS ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS LAST 4YRS NOT 3MONTHS AS ACCORDING TO DISABILITY ACT

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    Mute Sinéad Archbold
    Favourite Sinéad Archbold
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    Mar 11th 2022, 8:07 AM

    @Karen ‘Polly’ Johnson: I’m in the same boat . My son was diagnosed last year but is in receipt of no services at presently, thankfully in an ASD unit that helps him immensely. My daughter has just joined the waiting list and I’m dreading the wait.

    49
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    Mute Gavin Mooney
    Favourite Gavin Mooney
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    Mar 11th 2022, 8:52 AM

    I feel for you guys in Ireland.
    Im Irish living in Australia.
    My son was diagnosed Autism at 3years of age.
    Almost straight away funding provided and early intervention programs in place.
    The difference in him has been amazing. Started main stream school in February and
    Has an Education assistance in class everyday,
    Seems very good system here .

    58
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    Mute Michael Curran
    Favourite Michael Curran
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    Mar 11th 2022, 8:16 AM

    Justice delayed is justice denied. Unfortunately you don’t represent a large enough voting block. And so politicians don’t give a hoot . You could be considered negligent for not becoming a more cohesive voting block , but you’re probably too tided up and worn out from looking after your children

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    Mute Larry Rawson
    Favourite Larry Rawson
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    Mar 12th 2022, 1:35 AM

    NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE,Bloated wages in Hse for a population the size of Manchester it makes me sick to the stomach to hear this avoidable Travesty.

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