Radio boss raises concerns over Ryan Tubridy's simulcast show being on Irish airwaves 

Alongside being broadcast on the UK's Virgin Radio, Ryan Tubridy’s new show will be broadcast simultaneously on Dublin’s Q102.

The chief executive of Classic Hits Radio has raised concerns with Coimisiún na Meán (formerly the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland) over the streaming of the new Ryan Tubridy show on a Dublin station.

Kevin Brannigan said he did not believe it was appropriate for a UK programme to be broadcast on Irish radio.

Tubridy kicked off his new radio career in London this week, presenting the mid-morning show on London station Virgin Radio.

Alongside being broadcast on Virgin Radio, Tubridy’s show will be broadcast simultaneously on Dublin’s Q102.

“The decision to allow this has caused huge concerns in the industry,” Mr Brannigan said.

“I have raised concerns with the regulator because they have always prided themselves on Irish radio content.

“It is the quality of Irish radio content that has helped the Irish radio industry thrive and that has always been underlined by BAI regulations.

The problem is that they are allowing English radio programmes to be re-broadcast as live and that opens the floodgates for anything to be considered, in my opinion.

“The problem to me is, we are in an age where almost all of the major radio stations here are owned by foreign companies — regulations have always protected the Irish audience, so that foreign companies can’t simply broadcast foreign content at the expense of Irish content and now this has changed, and the floodgates could open.

“It is broadcast at the same time in Dublin, so it is simulcast but the fact is, it is a UK radio programme first and foremost, even though it is being made available here."

 

Classic Hits is owned by Bay Broadcasting — an Irish-owned radio company which has been in operation since 2008.

The organisation also owns Radio Nova and holds under half of the shares in Sunshine Radio.

Mr Brannigan added: “If the BAI said yes to this, how can it say no to other stations doing this?

Is the future when you turn on the major radio stations, is it all going to be UK radio content? Maybe some people might like that, but the bottom line is it could have a dire impact here.

“We might not always like regulation, but it does have to be said, that regulation is what has made radio in Ireland more powerful. It makes us invest in Irish content.

“Up to 94% of people listen to the radio in Ireland every week, we have all invested in our content.

“Now all of a sudden it could have the rug pulled out from under it”.

Kim Wilde show 

Classic Hits radio has a daily programme hosted by British singer Kim Wilde — however, Mr Brannigan said it was different from the Ryan Tubridy show.

“This show is specifically made for Classic Hits radio; we are aware she makes a syndicated radio programme but that is not the programme we run. We get a customised radio programme made specifically for Classic Hits," he said.

“I don’t have anything against Ryan Tubridy or Q102 but what will stop the BAI doing this again or telling someone else that they can’t”.

In a statement, Coimisiún na Meán told the Irish Examiner: “Despite recent press coverage, nobody has contacted Coimisiún na Meán with evidence to suggest that the return of Ryan Tubridy to the Irish airwaves could be a breach of Dublin Q102’s contractual programming commitments.

"We will take any such representations seriously. Coimisiún na Meán is committed to a thriving, diverse and safe media landscape.

“Dublin’s Q102 operates under a contract for a music-based service for an audience aged 35-55 years in Dublin City and County, under a commercial sound broadcasting contract entered into in 2020. Dublin’s Q102 is part of the Wireless Group, which in turn is owned by News Corp UK and Ireland Limited.

"The station does not require any additional licence to broadcast the recently announced new weekday music and entertainment show”.