Download figures reveal impact of Ryan Tubridy's new UK radio show

Ryan Tubridy’s return to the airwaves in the UK coincided with 8,000 downloads of an app to listen to his show.

According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, the total downloads of the apps for the Q102 and Virgin Radio stations from last Monday to last Friday was more than triple the total for the preceding five days.

Both of the apps were among the five most downloaded apps in Ireland in the Apple charts on one day last week.

However, Tubridy's new UK programme has already drawn criticism from the industry in Ireland.

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 Tubridy show on local radio stations in Ireland.

As reported in the Irish Examiner, Kevin Brannigan said he did not believe it was appropriate for a UK programme to be broadcast on local Irish radio because it ate into the airtime of local talent. 

Mr Tubridy's RTÉ1 morning show had around 340,000 listeners each morning before he left in August.

He did not have his contract renewed by RTÉ following the revelations surrounding secret payments made to him, which led to his departure in August.

It was revealed that the station under-reported the salary paid to Tubridy and failed to disclose additional payments between 2017 and 2022.

The Ryan Tubridy Show began broadcasting live last Tuesday on Virgin Radio in the UK from 10am to 1pm, with the station describing Tubridy as “our new king of mid-morning”.

Today, also sees the launch of a new weekend show, The Ryan Tubridy Show on Sunday.

Broadcast from London, it is being aired across Q102, Cork’s 96FM, Limerick’s Live 95 and LMFM.

However, one of Cork’s most popular radio shows has been slashed in half to make way for the new show.

From today, the Oldies and Irish programme on Cork’s 96FM — which had an audience reach of 60,000 people on Sundays in the most recent JNLR figures - will be broadcast for two hours only, instead of four as has been the case for over 30 years.

Presented by veteran broadcaster Derry O’Callaghan, the show features a mix of opera and Irish favourites, and has had a regular slot on the radio station’s Sunday morning schedule since 1991.