“ A difference is only a difference if it makes... Ocean FM - Making a difference in the North West...

Transcription

“ A difference is only a difference if it makes a difference “ - Gertrude Stein
Ocean FM - Making a difference in the North West since 2004
Ocean FM - Making a difference in the North West since 2004
An Application For
Provision of a Local Broad-Format
Sound Broadcasting Service for
Sligo, North Leitrim and South Donegal
1
SECTION
1.
2
Index
Section 2: Introduction to the Applicant
Page 3
Page 7
4.2: Shareholding Structure
25
i) Existing or proposed shareholding structure of the
25
ii)
Applicant, issued share capital and class/classes of shares
Loan stock
25
a) Applicant’s name and contact details
7
iii) Please state:
25
b) Main Contact (For Public Purposes)
7
a) Shareholders details
25
c) Proposed Station Name
7
b) Beneficial owners
26
d) Brief Description of Programme Service
7
c) Shareholding details
26
e) List of Advisors
8
d) Voting rights
26
e) Loan stock
26
f) Shares to be issued and loan stock to be subscribed
26
iv) Shareholder details where a shareholder of the 26
Section 3: Membership of the Applicant
Page 11
1.
SECTION
Section 1: Index
Applicant is a body corporate/entity
a) Members of the Applicant
11
v) Shareholder Information
26
b) When the Applicant was formed, its current legal 17
vi) Shareholders Agreement
27
status and financial standing
Section 4: Ownership and Control of the Applicant Page 19
4.3: Management Structure
27
i) Description of management structure
27
ii) Details, qualifications and experience to date
28
iii) Policies in respect of: Management remuneration; 29
4.1: Board of Directors
19
Employment contracts; Share options; Pensions and i) Director Details
19
benefits; Any other relevant commitments (financial or ii) Chairperson
25
otherwise)
iii) Directors to be appointed
25
4.4 Character of the Applicant
31
4.5 Additional Commitments
31
3
Index
Section 5: Programming
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1.
Section 6: Studios and Transmission.
Page 69
5.1 Programming Strategy
33
6.1 Studios
69
i) Ongoing strategies for: Programme research; Programme 33
6.2 Transmission Proposal
77
6.2.1 Negotiations with the owner/operator of site/s
77
6.2.2 Transmission plan and coverage
77
6.2.3 Technical characteristics of transmitter stations
77
production; Quality control; Compliance
ii) Criteria for success
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Page 33
35
5.2: Programme Policy Statement
36
6.2.4 Additional information
78
5.2.1 Broadcasting Philosophy
36
6.2.5 Coverage plots
81
5.2.2 Target Audience
39
6.2.6 Link network
86
5.2.3 Broadcasting day
39
6.2.7 Capital costs for transmission equipment
86
5.2.4 News
40
6.2.8 Technical expertise
88
5.2.5 Sport
43
6.2.9 Additional Commitment
88
5.2.6 Current Affairs programming
46
6.2.10 Technical conditions
88
5.2.7 Speech programming
49
5.2.8 Irish language and Irish Culture programming
53
5.2.9 Music Policy
57
5.2.10 Irish Music Policy
59
7.1 Analysis of Existing Marketplace
91
5.2.11 New Opportunities for Irish talent
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i) Performance of existing operators
92
5.2.12 Purchase and sale of broadcast material
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ii) Audience ratings
94
5.2.13 Other programming proposals
61
iii) Advertising revenue
95
5.3 Programme Schedule
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iv) Market trends
98
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v) Other relevant issues
Section 7: Market Analysis, Financial and Business Plan Page 91
102
Index
Section 8: Proposed Commencement of Broadcasting Page 127
7.2.1 Anticipated Performance of Service
106
8.1 Readiness Date
127
i) Target audience
106
8.2 Critical path analysis
127
ii) Nature of the market
108
iii) Projected listenership ratings
109
iv) Impact if listenership projections are not achieved
110
v) Advertising, sponsorship and other forms of revenue 111
potential
116
vi) Impact on existing services
7.2.2 Strategies for Achieving Proposed Listenership and
116
Section 9: Summary of Proposals
Page 129
9.1 Staff
129
9.2 Programming
129
9.3 Market Analysis
130
9.4 Financial
131
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7.2 Demand and Potential for the Type of Service Proposed Page 104
Revenue Targets
i) Channels of distribution
116
ii) Sales methods and representations
117
iii) Proposed rates
118
iv) Promotion and marketing policy
119
7.3 Overall Financial Strategy
121
7.4.Investment Proposal
122
7.5 Sources of Funding and Expenditure
122
7.6 Financial Projections
123
7.7 Staffing Matters
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2.
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Introduction to the Applicant
North West Broadcasting Ltd t/a Ocean FM
Tim Collins, CEO
Ocean FM Broadcast Centre
North West Business Park
Collooney
Co. Sligo
Tel: 00 353 71 9118100
Fax: 00 353 71 9118101
Email: [email protected]
Main Contact (For Public Purposes)
Tim Collins, CEO
Ocean FM Broadcast Centre
Collooney
Co. Sligo
Tel: 00 353 71 9118100
Fax: 00 353 71 9118101
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Programme Service.
Ocean FM is a full service local radio station providing
programming that appeals to all adults, with a particular focus
on people aged 25 years and older. Our service is based on
a philosophy of “local first” with local news, sport, current
affairs and talk programming forming the backbone of our
programme schedule.
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Applicant’s name and contact details.
Our daytime programmes reflect our deep roots in communities across the North West with content of relevance
to a wide range of tastes and interests. Our general music is
a mix of current and older music from the 60’s to the present
day. We have a significant commitment to specialist country
music with almost 17 hours per week.
We are the leading station in the country for playing Irish music
across all genres and have received the IMRO Award for the
past two years.
Although we are the smallest local station in the country, our
commitment to high quality content has made us one of the
most decorated, with five gold awards at the most recent PPI’s
and the 2013 Prix Europa Award for radio drama.
Proposed Station Name.
Ocean FM
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Advisors.
Market Research:
Interactions Ltd, Beach Court, Kilcoole, Co.Wicklow
Market Analysis:
Joe Dalton, Ard Righ Place, Arbour Hill, Dublin 7
Transmission coverage:
Radio Services Ltd, 9 Arbour Vale, Oola, Limerick
Transmission Support:
Aisling Communications, Muff,
Co. Donegal
I.T.
IThink Technology, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo
Architects:
Haran and Associates, 50 Lwr John St, Sligo
HR and Health and Safety Services:
Peninsula, East Point Business Park, Dublin 3
Graphic Design and Marketing:
Sean Grant, 21 Orchard Grove, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Auditors:
Mulhern Leonard, Mail Coach Rd, Sligo, Co. Sligo
Solicitors:
McEnroe Solicitors, John St, Sligo, Co. Sligo
Bank:
Ulster Bank, Pearse Plaza, Pearse Rd, Sligo, Co. Sligo
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“To me, Ocean FM is both informative and entertaining, which is the essence of
public service broadcasting in my opinion. Throughout the course of the day I tune
into Morning Ireland, Bloomberg and Sky News but never miss Ocean’s North West
Today programme. I find it has its finger on the pulse when it comes to highlighting
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2.
local & regional issues of importance. It sounds professional and organised in its
production and delivery. In my experience it sets a high standard in its coverage
of community, social and political matters. This is sadly lacking in many of the
broadcast and print media organisations of our time”
Ray MacSharry
“Ocean FM’s Margaret Carr Flynn and Kevin Blessing have worked tirelessly in
relation to highlighting the issue of suicide, removing the stigma, highlighting the
services available and indeed support fundraising activities which allows G.R.A.S.P
Life Foundation continue to provide the much needed services in the North West.
I have absolutely no doubt that their efforts have saved many lives over the past
years and will continue to do so in the future.”
Mary Mc Tiernan, Director of Services, G.R.A.S.P Life Foundation
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3.
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Membership of the Applicant
“Ocean FM has been
an amazing support
to North West Hospice
throughout the years.
As an integral part of
our community, Ocean
FM’s ongoing support
has helped us continue
to raise the funds
required to provide our
specialist palliative care
services throughout
the North West. We are
tremendously grateful
to all the staff and
team at Ocean for their
ongoing support of our
work and look forward
to working with them
for years to come.”
Bernadette McGarvey,
Community Relations
Manager, North West
Hospice
There are 24 shareholders of North West Broadcasting Ltd,
(t/a Ocean FM). More than 85% of the shares are held by eight
individuals.
Background and experience:
John Keon
John is former Managing Director of Donegal Creameries
and current Chairman of Ocean FM. John has a wide range
of business interests and is a Director and founder of Erne
Enterprise Development Company. This local enterprise
company was established with the objective of revitalising the
economic, social and cultural life of Ballyshannon, Rossnowlagh
and the surrounding area. John has a passionate interest in
sport in Co.Donegal and is closely involved with Aodh Ruadh
GAA Club in Ballyshannon, as well as being a keen golfer.
Tim Collins
Tim has been CEO of Ocean FM since the station came on air in
2004. He is also a founder shareholder and Director of Northern
Media Group which owns and operates the Q Radio Network
consisting of six local stations in Northern Ireland. He is a
shareholder and Director of River Media which owns six local
newspapers in Co.Donegal, Co. Derry and Co.Kildare.
He has served on the Boards of a wide range of organisations
over the past 10 years including The Irish Hospice Foundation,
Music Network, The Passion Machine Theatre Company and The
Independent Broadcasters of Ireland.
From 1997 to 2003, Tim held the position of Director of Public
Affairs at Drury Communications. During this time, he was
the principal regulatory affairs consultant to the Independent
Broadcasters of Ireland as well as advising public sector
organisations including The Referendum Commission. Prior
to joinging Drury, he worked as full time Special Advisor to
Brendan Howlin TD while he was Minister for Environment and
Local Government and Minister for Health. His involvement
with broadcasting began in 1989 when he presented science
and environment programmes at RTE. He is a graduate of
Trinity College and Kings Inns and a native of Co.Sligo.
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SECTION
(a) Please name the members of the Applicant and
describe their background and experience.
Martin Reilly
A native of Lacken, Co. Mayo, Martin has been living in Sligo
for the last 35 years. Having worked in many different sales
positions for different companies, Martin finally settled on the Motor Industry and has been operating as a franchised dealer
for the last 28 years.
He established Martin Reilly Motors in 1985 and has held
various franchises over the years. Martin Reilly Motors currently
represents BMW, Hyundai and MINI and is one of the premier dealerships in the North West.
Martin is also heavily involved in many initiatives in the Sligo
area. He currently serves on the committee of the RNLI, Sligo
Yacht Club and Sligo Racecourse. He is also actively involved with the Model Niland Centre, the Sligo Carers Association and
Sligo GAA.
Pat Clifford
Pat Clifford is CEO of Clifford Electrical, one of the largest
trade and consumer electrical wholesalers and retailers in
Co.Sligo. Clifford Electical were the sponsors of the Sligo
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Football Team for over 10 years and Pat has served as Treasurer
of the Rosses Point GAA Club. He was President of Sligo
Chamber of Commerce in 2002. He served as Chairman of
Ocean FM from 2004 to 2013.
Padraig O’Dwyer
Padraig is CEO of River Media which owns six local papers
in Co.Donegal, Co.Derry and Co.Kildare. He has led the
development of River Media during a time of extreme
turbulence in the newspaper industry and the group is trading
profitably. Last year the flagship paper, The Derry News, was
awarded UK Local Newspaper of the Year. He is also a founder
shareholder and Director of Northern Media Group which
owns and operates the Q Radio Network consisting of six local
stations in Northern Ireland.
Padraig has gone on to build a career in the communications
industry where he has worked with Ireland’s leading business
and public sector organisations as an advisor and mentor in
a commercial environment for over 25 years. Padraig also
has extensive business management experience and was
Managing Director of leading public relations firm, Drury
Communications, from 2003 to 2010. He is also a non executive
director of specialist HR advisory company, Adare HRM, and
was previously a Director of the Forum on Public Procurement.
He is a consultant to Ocean FM where he advises on local direct
sales. He has over 20 years experience in local media, having
begun his career at Highland Radio and Radio Kerry.
In addition to his business interests, Padraig is a Director of
Dublin Simon and is a member of the Governing Authority of
DCU.
Noel Shannon
Noel has over 20 years experience as a broadcast journalist. He
worked at Midlands Radio 3 and CKR before becoming Head of
News at Today FM. In 2001, he led the Today FM news team to
a P.P.I. Award for it’s coverage of the 9/11 attack on the World
Trade Centre. He was part of the team that established KFM
and presented the daily current affairs programme, Kildare
Today, for five years.
Throughout his career, Padraig has maintained a very active
role in the Sligo community. He was part of the backroom team
for the Sligo county gaelic football team for many years. He
is currently Chairman of the Sligo Live music festival and is a
very active member of Team Sligo, a joint public and private
sector initiative to support the development and promotion of
economic activity in the Sligo region.
He has been a key part of the team at Ocean FM since its
inception and a founder director on the Board of Learning
Waves. Since 2010 Noel has been a judge in the annual P.P.I.
awards.
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Padraig McKeon
A native of Riverstown, Co.Sligo, Padraig was educated in
Summerhill College, Sligo, Dublin City University where he
studied Communications and with the ACCA where he received
a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance.
Padraig was a founding shareholder of Ocean FM and joined the
board in 2013.
“We have been
advertising our Hotel,
Spa facilities and Night
Clubs on Ocean FM for
over five years. We
find it a very effective
means of reaching the
people with all aspects
of our business.”
Seanie McEniff,
Holyrood Hotel,
Bundoran
He joined Abbott Ireland in 1989 and served in a number of
roles including Financial Controller and Operations Manager in
both the Donegal Town and the AIDD Plant in Sligo. In 2006, he joined Boston Scientific in Letterkenny as Plant Controller.
In 2009 he went into Public Practice, when he took over
as Managing Partner in S MacRory & Co., a firm of auditors
and accountants. In October 2013, he was authorised by
the Insolvency Service of Ireland as a Personal Insolvency
Practitioner (PIP).
Well known in sporting circles, Paul had a lot of success with
various teams, the highlight being an All-Ireland Senior Football
Medal with Donegal in 1992. Currently Chairman of St Eunans
GAA Club in Letterkenny, he has devoted a lot of time to both
underage coaching and administration in a number of Clubs in
the North West over the past 20 years.
Niall McEvoy
Niall is Head of Innovation at IT Sligo and has been living
in Drumcliffe, Co Sligo since 1977. A former Army Officer,
he served from 1973 to 1996, retiring with the rank of
Commandant. Upon leaving the Defence Forces, he took up a
position with IBEC as Employee Relations Executive, based in
Donegal town. In 2001, he joined Masonite Ireland where he
held the role of HR Manager Ireland and was later promoted
to HR Director, Europe, in November 2006. In his HR role, Niall
promoted an innovative learning partnership, which brought
the IT Sligo’s Campus to the Masonite factory in Carrick-on-
Shannon. To date, in excess of 50 Masonite students have
gained degree level qualifications through IT Sligo.
Niall was appointed to the position of Head of Innovation in
IT Sligo in April 2008. This position is the institute’s link with
enterprise, enterprise networks, community groups and State
development agencies. Over time, the role expanded and he
now heads up the Institute’s marketing and Career Services
functions in addition to his enterprise liaison roles.
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Paul Carr
From Letterkenny, Paul attended St Eunans College and NUIG
where he studied Commerce. He trained as a Chartered
Accountant with T.J. McBride and Co in Letterkenny, qualifying
in 1989.
As Head of Innovation Niall has led and overseen a number
of strategic initiatives in promoting innovation and
entrepreneurial skills.
Niall recently retired from a 10 year stint as a director of
North West Hospice. Over that period, the Hospice expanded
operations twice, resulting in a newly commissioned 10 bed
state of the art unit.
Evanna Kearns
A native of Beltra, Co. Sligo and living in Collooney, Evanna is
a seasoned marketing executive with 20 years of experience
marketing in a variety of industries. She is currently Director
of Marketing with Jaspersoft, a Business Intelligence Software
company.
Before Jaspersoft, Evanna co-founded a marketing consultancy
company called Eval Partners with responsibility for the
Company’s Marketing and Public Relations Services.
Prior to founding Eval Partners, Evanna was Head of Marketing
with Valista, the leading provider of digital commerce
solutions, with responsibility for developing the Company’s
Global Marketing Strategy.
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Evanna holds a First Class Honours Masters Degree in
Journalism and a First Class Honours Degree in Communications
from Dublin City University. She was also recently a finalist in
the Stevie Awards (International Business Awards) for Women
in Business and was honoured by the Blackberry Women in
Technology Awards for ‘Best Woman in Technology’.
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3.
Sean Grant
Originally from Derry, Sean attended St Columb’s College and
the University of Ulster before moving to the North West of
England University in Bristol where he completed an Hons
Degree in Graphic Design.
Sean returned to Derry and opened the first design studio
in the North West, Design Point, before joining forces with
Dick Phillips from the BBC. They opened Planned Media
Communication in 1987, a Multi Media Company with offices in
Derry and Belfast. He then became a director with the Manley
Group where he was Regional Director for the North West. Sean
later moved to Letterkenny where he opened Grant Design
and went on to establish a successful local business which
advocated good design practice.
He has lectured at the University of Ulster and at present is a
lecturer in the Department of Design and Creative Media at the
Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
Since moving to Letterkenny, Sean has maintained a very active
role in the community, coaching in both Soccer and Gaelic at
underage, and is presently an active member of both the local
hill walking and cycling clubs.
Sean was a founding member and shareholder of Ocean FM and
has served on the board ever since.
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Stanley Hunter
Stanley was born in Sligo, and is married with 4 young children.
He was educated at Sligo Grammar School and studied
Agriculture at Gurteen Agricultural College, Co. Tipperary.
He is currently dairy farming at Carraroe Sligo. He has been
involved with the Irish Farmers’ Association since the 1980’s
and helped revive his local branch where he has served as
Chairman or Secretary since then. He was a member on the
County Executive for 4 years as Rural Development Chairman
which entailed membership of a National Committee.
He has been involved with Sligo Rugby Club since 1982 and
played for Connaught Schools in 1981. He has served on
many committees and captained the club for 3 seasons. He
is currently coaching juvenile level, having spent 2 years
previously coaching youths.
He took up running at the age of 45 and has completed 5
marathons raising money for the Irish Heart Foundation and
Austism Ireland.
He is also starting his 3rd year as Chairperson of Carbury
National School Parents’ Association.
Stanley has been a board member and shareholder of Ocean FM
since 2004.
Michael Leydon
Michael runs a successful bed and breakfast in Sligo Town. He
is a former Chairman of Sligo Rovers and is well known for his
commitment to soccer in the Town. He is an active member
of the Lions Club. He served on the Board of North West
Broadcasting Ltd from 2004 to 2013.
Sean Dunnion,
Cathaoirleach,
CLG Dhun na nGall.
Gerard Kelly
Gerard is a well known business man in the North West having
established a chain of successful pharmacies. He has been an
active member of Ballyshannon Enterprise Committee and
has extensive links in the region. He is currently retired from
active business.
Emma Burke
A native of Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Emma was educated in Scoil
Clríost and studied as an accounting technician in the Institute
of Finance Training in Sandyford, Dublin.
Emma worked for Ryanair Direct in Dublin in the sales and
finance sector before returning to the North West to join R.J.
Shannon & Co, Accountants and Tax advisors in Boyle, Co.
Roscommon, where she was based for five years.
Emma joined the team in Ocean FM in May 2005, and has been
Head of Finance and HR ever since. In this time she has taken
courses in Media Law, Human Resources, ‘What you Need to
Lead’ and Health and Safety.
She has been at the centre of the success of Ocean FM and
is heavily involved in the overall vision for the business as it
grows and develops into new areas of revenue growth from
events to tours and training.
In addition to her business interests, Emma has a keen interest
in cookery and recently appeared on the cookery television
show on TV3 called Head Chef. Out of hundreds of applicants,
Emma was chosen to compete and placed fifth on the show.
She was the only participant in the show that did not have
training in the food sector.
Emma has now settled in Ballincarrow, Co. Sligo and is getting
married next year to a native Sligo man with whom she shares
a great interest in the outdoors.
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“I would like to
acknowledge the great
working relationship that
Donegal G.A.A. County
Board has enjoyed with
Ocean FM over the past 9
years. Ocean FM have given
tremendous coverage to
Gaelic Games in the county
and indeed to every event
that we needed publicity
for during that period.
The live broadcasts of
the Ulster Senior Football
Championship and AllIreland Final homecomings
to Donegal Town in 2011
& 2012 were particularly
very much appreciated
and added greatly to those
historic occasions.”
Packie Bonnar
Packie is from Gweedore in Co.Donegal. He is a legend in the
soccer world having won four Scottish titles with Celtic and
played 80 times for Ireland. Since retiring from football, he has
held a range of coaching roles in Ireland and abroad.
Kevin Blessing
A native of Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, Kevin was educated in
Drumshanbo Vocational School and then Liberties College
Dublin, where he studied radio production.
He has established himself as one of the hardest working and
best respected production managers in Irish radio. Kevin has
been the breakfast show presenter, programme and production
manager at Ocean FM since its inception in 2004. Prior to
joining Ocean FM, Kevin was the breakfast show and Production
manager at Dublin’s Country and before that, Saturday morning
breakfast show presenter on Shannonside Radio.
Since he started working with Ocean FM he has been at the
centre of fundraising activities for North West Hospice, GRASP
Suicide, MS Northwest, Special Olympics Connacht, Irish Guide
Dogs for the Blind, Sligo Hospital Oncology Unit Trust, The
Alzheimers Day Care Centre in Dunally Sligo, STOP Suicide, The
Sligo Cancer Support Centre and Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
From lending his experience to these charities, Kevin has
helped each of them raise tens of thousands of euro.
Kevin has also been a founding member of the Jerome Mc
Kiernan Memorial weekend in Dumshanbo which has been
running since 2011. Over the past two years the money they
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3.
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have raised has provided a family room to the Oncology
Unit at Sligo Regional Hospital and a garden room at The MS
Northwest Respite House, Woodhaven House, in Strandhill.
Kevin’s love for sport and fundraising has also helped local
organistions in the Ocean FM franchise area such as St
Molaise Gaels, Sooey Childrens Playground, Culfadda Agri
Show, St Michaels GAA Club, Bunninaden Community Centre,
Ballygawley Celtic, The Sligo GAA County Board, Gurteen
Markee Summer Festival, Castledargan Ladies Golf Club,
Bunninaden Community Park, The An Tostal Festival and his
local GAA club Allen Gaels.
In 2013, Kevin was the brains behind a fundraising Mayoral
Campaign drive which raised over 50K for his debt ridden local
club.
Niall Delaney
Niall Delaney is a native of Longford Town, who has been
involved in the independent local radio industry since
its inception, in the late 1980’s. He is a graduate of
Communications Studies at Dublin City University. He’s
married, and has two teenage daughters.
He began his media career in local newspapers in 1988,
eventually being appointed Deputy Editor of The Longford
News. He was appointed as the first ever News Editor of
Shannonside FM when it was granted the licence for the
Longford/Roscommon/South Leitrim franchise area in 1990.
A year later, he was appointed as News Editor of North West
Radio, which was granted the licence for the Sligo/North
Leitrim/South Donegal franchise area, a position which he
retained for 14 years, until the transfer of the licence in 2004.
He was then appointed as News Editor with Ocean FM, the new
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franchise operator, and was promoted to Station Manager a
year later, in 2005.
Niall is currently the presenter of the flagship daily current
affairs show on Ocean FM, “North West Today”.
He has been the recipient of nine national journalism and radio
awards as follows;
•
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PPI winner, 2002 - Best News Coverage
PPI winner, 2013 - Specialist Speech Programme
PPI winner, 2013 - Music Event
ESB Local Radio Journalist of the Year, 2000
ESB Local Radio Journalist of the Year, 1998
AT Cross Local Radio Journalist of the Year, 1990
European Local Radio Journalist of the Year, 2001
John Healy Journalism Award for Local Broadcasting, 2003
Justice Media Award for Local Radio, 2013
His “North West Today” show was nominated as Best Current
Affairs Show in the PPI Radio Awards, 2012, and also in 2013.
Niall is involved in a number of local community and sporting
organisations in a membership capacity, and is on one of the
Committees organising the 2014 All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil
in Sligo. He’s also a former member of the joint policing
committee in the Sligo-Leitrim Garda Division.
Tony Porter
Tony is a native of and was educated in Sligo. He studied
Accountancy in Dublin and worked with a large Accountancy
firm but moved back to work in a practice in Sligo some years
later. He is currently the Principal of Porter & Co, a long
established Accounting and Business Advisory firm in Sligo.
He is a Board member of a number of successful companies
and is a founding Shareholder and Director of Ocean FM
Billy Mulhern
Billy lives in Naas, Co. Kildare. He is a Fellow Member of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and has been in
practice in Naas since 1985. He is a former Chairman of County
Kildare FM Radio Limited which he helped to launch in 2003.
Billy has been a leading member of the Chamber of Commerce
in Naas, serving in different roles including President. He
also launched the Festival of Naas which co-incides with the
National Hunt Festival in April every year.
In his spare time Billy enjoys walking and cycling and Gaelic
Football. He follows the Lily Whites.
James Barrett
James has been in business in Donegal for over 30 years and
has been involved in a wide range of community activities. He
is curently a Director of a successful building supplies business
in Dungloe. He is a keen Gaelic games supporter.
Richard Kervik
Richard is an accountant with his own practice that specialises
in business start ups, systems design and control systems
implementation. He is a registered member of the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants. He has a background
in a number of industries including media, manufacturing and
retail. He was an investor and financial director at Channel 9 in
Derry.
Philip O’Brien
Philip is a graduate in Business Studies at IT Sligo. He has
been employed in sales at Ocean FM since 2004, becoming
Sales Manager in 2007. He has a keen interest in rugby and
closely follows the fortunes of Connacht Rugby. He currently
volunteers at Sligo Rugby RFC where he helps in fundraising
and coaching roles. He also volunteers for Sligo Tidy Towns and
is a keen amateur photographer. He is in his second year in a
Masters in Marketing at IT Sligo.
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He has a keen interest in taxation and was a lecturer in
Taxation to professional students at the Sligo Institute of
Technology.
Eamon O’Hara
Eamon works at one of the largest employers in the North
West, Abbott Pharmaceuticals. He has been a central part of
Gaelic Football in Sligo for almost 15 years. He has been an All
Star and represented Ireland in the Compromise Rules Series
against Australia in 2000. More recently, he has appeared as a
Gaelic Games analyst on RTE.
(b) Please indicate when the Applicant was formed, its
current legal status and financial standing.
North West Broadcasting Ltd is a private company, limited by
shares. It was formed in 2003. The company registered number
is 365920.
The company is in good financial standing and has had a clean
audit report in each of its 10 years of existence. The company
has significant cash assets, no borrowings and is up to date
with all its creditors including the Revenue Commissioners.
17
SECTION
4.
18
Ownership and Control of the Applicant
All our main shareholders are represented on our Board and are
“Local radio is the
lifeblood of regional
news in Midlands-NorthWest. Without radio
stations like Ocean
FM I simply could not
communicate my work in
Europe. Ocean FM is an
excellent radio station
serving a key part of my
constituency, namely
Sligo, South Donegal
and North Leitrim. I
work with Ocean FM on
a regular basis, they’re
extremely professional
and they run a good
ship! Ocean FM are a
gem of a radio station
and I look forward to
continuing to work with
the internationally
renowned team long into
the future.”
Jim Higgins, MEP
very much involved in the success of the company.
They encompass a range of expertise and experience in media,
business, accounting, sport, farming and education. All were
original investors in Ocean and have supported the company
through the turbulent waters of the past five years.
While all our Directors, without exception, have been
supportive of the business of the station, they have been
respectful of the editorial independence of Ocean FM at all
times.
Our Directors are well known in the region and deeply involved
in their local communities. They have no substantial interests
in, or control, over other media and their main focus is on the
continued success of Ocean FM.
i) Please provide the following details in relation to each
Director: Name, home address, age, nationality and current
occupation;
John Keon, Chairman.
Home address:
Allingham Road, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Age:
72
Nationality: Irish
Current occupation:
Businessman
Background, media and other relevant experience:
John is former Managing Director of Donegal Creameries
and current Chairman of Ocean FM. John has a wide range
of business interests and is a Director and founder of Erne
Enterprise Development Company. This local enterprise
company was established with the objective of revitalising the
economic, social and cultural life of Ballyshannon, Rossnowlagh
and the surrounding area.
John has a passionate interest in sport in Co.Donegal and is
closely involved with Aodh Ruadh GAA Club in Ballyshannon as
well as being a keen golfer.
4.
SECTION
4.1: Board of Directors
Substantial interests/control of any communications media:
John is a Director and Shareholder (6.19%) in Ocean FM.
Involvement in any sound broadcasting service:
As above.
Whether appointed in a representative capacity:No.
Tim Collins
Home Address:
Royal Marine Terrace, Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Age:54
Nationality: Irish
Current occupation:
CEO, Ocean FM
Tim has been CEO of Ocean FM since the station came on air in
2004. He is also a founder shareholder and Director of Northern
Media Group which owns and operates the Q Radio Network
consisting of six local stations in Northern Ireland. He is a
shareholder and Director of River Media which owns six local
newspapers in Co.Donegal, Co. Derry and Co.Kildare.
He has served on the Boards of a wide range of organisations
over the past 10 years including The Irish Hospice Foundation,
Music Network, The Passion Machine Theatre Company and The
Independent Broadcasters of Ireland.
19
From 1997 to 2003, Tim held the position of Director of Public
Affairs at Drury Communications. During this time, he was
the principal regulatory affairs consultant to the Independent
Broadcasters of Ireland as well as advising public sector
organisations including The Referendum Commission. Prior
to joinging Drury, he worked as full time Special Advisor to
Brendan Howlin TD while he was Minister for Envoronment and
Local Government and Minister for Health. His involvement
with broadcasting began in 1989 when he presented science
and enviroment programmes at RTE.
SECTION
4.
He is a graduate of Trinity College and Kings Inns and a native
of Co.Sligo.
Tim is CEO, a Director and Shareholder (14.64%) of Ocean FM.
He is a Director and Shareholder (10%) of River Media
Newspapers Ltd. He is a Director and Shareholder (15%) of
Northern Media Group.
As above.
Martin Reilly
Home address:
Age:
Nationality:
Current occupation:
Rosses Point, Co. Sligo
64
Irish
CEO Martin Reilly Motors
A native of Lacken, Co. Mayo, Martin has been living in Sligo
for the last 35 years. Having worked in many different sales
positions for different companies, Martin finally settled on the
20
Motor Industry and has been operating as a franchised dealer
for the last 28 years.
He established Martin Reilly Motors in 1985 and has held
various franchises over the years. Martin Reilly Motors currently
represents BMW, Hyundai and MINI and is one of the premier dealerships in the North West.
Martin is heavily involved in many initiatives in the Sligo area.
He currently serves on the committee of the RNLI, Sligo Yacht
Club and Sligo Racecourse. He is actively involved with the
Model Niland Centre, Sligo Carers Association and Sligo GAA.
Martin is a Director and Shareholder (14.78%) in Ocean FM.
As above.
Niall Delaney
Home address: Oxfield Rd, Carney, Co.Sligo Age:48 Nationality: Irish
Current occupation:
Station Manager at Ocean FM
Niall Delaney is a native of Longford Town, who has been
involved in the independent local radio industry since
its inception, in the late 1980’s. He is a graduate of
Communications Studies at Dublin City University. He’s
married, and has two teenage daughters.
He began his media career in local newspapers in 1988,
eventually being appointed Deputy Editor of The Longford
Niall is currently the presenter of the flagship daily current
affairs show on Ocean FM, “North West Today”. He has been
the recipient of nine national journalism and radio awards:
• PPI winner, 2002 - Best News Coverage
• PPI winner, 2013 - Specialist Speech Programme
• PPI winner, 2013 - Music Event
• ESB Local Radio Journalist of the Year, 2000
• ESB Local Radio Journalist of the Year, 1998
• AT Cross Local Radio Journalist of the Year, 1990
• European Local Radio Journalist of the Year, 2001
• John Healy Journalism Award for Local Broadcasting, 2003
• Justice Media Award for Local Radio, 2013
His “North West Today” show was nominated as Best Current
Affairs Show in the PPI Radio Awards, 2012, and also in 2013.
Niall is involved in a number of local community and sporting
organisations in a membership capacity, and is on one of the
Committees organising the 2014 All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil
in Sligo. He’s also a former member of the joint policing
committee in the Sligo-Leitrim Garda Division.
He is a Director and Shareholder (0.14%) in Ocean FM.
As above.
Padraig McKeon
Home address:
690 Howth Rd, Dublin
Age:49
Nationality:
Irish
Current occupation:
Communications Consultant
4.
SECTION
News. He was appointed as the first ever News Editor of
Shannonside FM when it was granted the licence for the
Longford/Roscommon/South Leitrim franchise area in 1990.
A year later, he was appointed as News Editor of North West
Radio, which was granted the licence for the Sligo/North
Leitrim/South Donegal franchise area, a position which he
retained for 14 years, until the transfer of the licence in 2004.
He was then appointed as News Editor with Ocean FM, the new
franchise operator, and was promoted to Station Manager a
year later, in 2005.
A native of Riverstown, Co.Sligo, Padraig was educated in
Summerhill College, Sligo, Dublin City University where he
studied Communications and with the ACCA where he received
a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance. Padraig has gone on to build a career in the communications
industry where he has worked with Ireland’s leading business
and public sector organisations as an advisor and mentor in
a commercial environment for over 25 years. Padraig also
has extensive business management experience and was
Managing Director of leading public relations firm, Drury
Communications, from 2003 to 2010. He is also a non executive
director of specialist HR advisory company, Adare HRM, and
was previously a Director of the Forum on Public Procurement.
In addition to his business interests, Padraig is a Director of
Dublin Simon and is a member of the Governing Authority
of DCU. Throughout his career, Padraig has maintained a
very active role in the Sligo community. He was part of the
backroom team for the Sligo county gaelic football team for
many years. He is currently Chairman of the Sligo Live music
festival and is a very active member of Team Sligo, a joint
public and private sector initiative to support the development
and promotion of economic activity in the Sligo region.
21
Padraig was a founding shareholder of Ocean FM and joined the
board in 2013.
SECTION
4.
Padraig is a Director and Shareholder (1.5%) of Ocean FM.
As above.
Noel Shannon Home address:
Clongownagh, Milltown, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Age:43
Nationality:
Irish
Current occupation:
Communications Manager,
Irish Water.
Noel has over 20 years experience as a broadcast journalist.
He worked at Midlands Radio 3 and CKR before becoming Head
of News at Today FM. He was part of the team that established
KFM and presented the daily current affairs programme,
Kildare Today, for five years. He been a key part of the team
at Ocean FM since its inception and has served for a number
of years on the Board of Learning Waves. Since 2010, Noel has
been a judge in the annual P.P.I. awards.
Padraig is CEO of River Media Newspaper Ltd; which owns six
local papers in Co.Donegal, Co.Derry and Co.Kildare. He has
led the development of River Media during a time of extreme
turbulence in the newspaper industry and the group is trading
profitably. The Group’s flagship paper, The Derry News, won
Weekly Newspaper of the Year at the Northern Ireland Press
Awards in 2010 and also won the Weekly Newspaper of the Year
award at the 2011 UK Society of Editors Regional Press Awards.
Padraig was also one of the founders of Northern Media group
which owns the Q Radio Network, six local stations in Northern
Ireland.
Padraig is a consultant to Ocean FM, where he advises on local
direct sales. He has over 20 years experience in local media,
having begun his career at Highland Radio and Radio Kerry.
He is a Director and Shareholder (4.27%) in Ocean FM.
Padraig is a Director and Shareholder (23.5%) of Ocean FM.
He is CEO, a Director and Shareholder (10%) of River Media
Newspapers Ltd. He is a director and shareholder (15%) of
Northern Media Group.
He is a minor shareholder (0.13%) in Sunshine Radio.
As above.
22
Padraig O’Dwyer
Home address:
Ballymaleel, Letterkenny,
Co. Donegal
Age:48
Nationality:
Irish
Current occupation:
CEO, River Media
As above.
“Irish Guide Dogs
for the Blind worked
with Ocean FM at
one of their country
music concerts to
raise money for the
charity. It has helped
to raise much needed
awareness for the
tireless work that the
Irish Guide Dogs do for
the blind.”
Ann Mc Padden, Irish
Guide Dogs for the
Blind
Pat Clifford is CEO of Clifford Electrical, one of the largest
trade and consumer electrical wholesalers and retailers in
Co.Sligo. Clifford Electical were the sponsors of the Sligo
Football Team for over 10 years and Pat has served as Treasurer
of the Rosses Point GAA Club. He was President of Sligo
Chamber of Commerce in 2002. He served as Chairman of
Ocean FM from 2004 to 2013.
Pat is a Director and shareholder (11.75%) of Ocean FM.
As above.
Sean Grant
Home address:
21 Orchard Grove, Letterkenny,
Co. Donegal
Age:56
Nationality:
Irish
Current occupation:
Lecturer and Consultant
in Graphic Design
Originally from Derry, Sean attended St Columb’s College and
then at the University of Ulster before moving to the North
West of England University in Bristol where he completed an
Honours Degree in Graphic Design. Sean returned to Derry and
opened the first design studio in the North West, Design Point,
before later joining forces with Dick Phillips from the BBC, they
opened Planned Media Communication in 1987, a Multi Media
Company with offices in Derry and Belfast. He then became a
director with the Manley Group where he was Regional Director
for the North West. Sean later moved to Letterkenny where
he opened Grant Design and went on to establish a successful
local business which advocated good design practice.
4.
SECTION
Pat Clifford
Home address:
Ballincar, Co. Sligo
Age:54
Nationality:
Irish
Current occupation:
CEO, Clifford Electrical
He also lectured at the University of Ulster and at present is
a lecturer in the department of Design and Creative Media
at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Since moving to
Letterkenny, Sean has maintained a very active role in the
community, coaching in both Soccer and Gaelic at underage
and is presently an active member of both the local hill
walking and cycling clubs. Sean was a founding member and
shareholder of Ocean FM and has served on the board ever
since.
Sean is a Director and Shareholder (5.84%) of Ocean FM.
As above.
Stanley Hunter
Home address:
Carrowkeal House, Ballisodare,
Co. Sligo
Age:47
Nationality:
Irish
Current occupation:
Farmer
23
Stanley is from Sligo, was educated at Sligo Grammar School
and is married with 4 young children.
SECTION
4.
He studied Agriculture at Gurteen Agricultural College, Co.
Tipperary and is currently dairy farming at Carraroe Sligo. He
has been involved with the Irish Farmers’ Association since the
1980’s and helped revive his local branch where he has served
as Chairman or Secretary since then. He was a member on the
County Executive for 4 years as Rural Development Chairman,
which entailed membership of a National Committee.
He has been involved with Sligo Rugby Club since 1982 and
played for Connaught Schools in 1981. He has served on
many committees and captained the club for 3 seasons. He
is currently coaching juvenile level, having spent 2 years
previously coaching youths.
Stanley took up running at the age of 45 and has completed 5
marathons, raising money for the Irish Heart Foundation and
Austism Ireland. He is also starting his 3rd year as Chairperson
of Carbury National School Parents’ Association.
Stanley is a Director and Shareholder (1%) of Ocean FM.
As above.
Tony Porter
Home address:
Age;
Nationality:
Current occupation:
24
Ballyweelin, Rosses Point, Co. Sligo
59
Irish
Chartered Accountant
Tony is a native of and was educated in Sligo. He studied
Accountancy in Dublin and worked with a large accountancy
firm but moved back to work in a practice in Sligo some years
later. He is currently the Principal of Porter & Co., a long
established Accounting and Business Advisory firm in Sligo.
He has a keen interest in taxation and was a lecturer in
Taxation to professional students at the Sligo Institute of
Technology, Sligo.
He is a Board member of a number of successful companies
and is a founding Shareholder and Director of Ocean FM.
Tony is a Director and Shareholder (4.23%) of Ocean FM.
As above.
Eamonn O’Hara
Home address:
Tourlestrane, Co. Sligo
Age:37
Nationality:
Irish
Current occupation:
Sales Manager
Eamon works at one of the largest employers in the North
West, Abbott Pharmaceuticals. He has been a central part of
Gaelic Football in Sligo for almost 15 years. He has been an All
Star and represented Ireland in the Compromise Rules Series
against Australia in 2000. More recently he has appeared as a
Gaelic Games analyst on RTE.
iii) Please state:
The names and home addresses of all shareholders of the
Applicant
As above.
Whether appointed in a representative capacity: No.
ii) Please indicate who among the Directors is or is
envisaged to be appointed Chairperson.
John Keon is currently Chairman and has agreed to continue in
this role.
iii) Please provide the same information as in i) above for
any other individual whom the Applicant is considering to
appoint a Director.
No other person is being considered as a Director at this time.
4.2: Shareholding Structure
i) Existing shareholding structure
The Share Capital of the Company is €10,000,000, €700,000
of which has been issued. All shares are ordinary shares with
equal voting and dividend rights. No other classes of shares
have been issued.
John Keon
Tim Collins
Martin Reilly
Pat Clifford
Padraig O’Dwyer
Sean Grant
Tony Porter
Noel Shannon
Padraig McKeon
Billy Mulhern
Gerard Kelly
Niall McEvoy
Eamon O’Hara
Michael Leydon
James Barrett
Packie Bonnar
Paul Carr
Stanley Hunter
Evanna Kearns
Richard Kervik
Niall Delaney
Emma Burke
Philip O’Brien
Kevin Blessing Allingham Rd, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
3 Royal Marine Tce, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Rosses Point, Co. Sligo
Ballincar, Co. Sligo
Ballymaleel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Orchard Grove, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Ballyweelin, Rosses Point, Co. Sligo
Milltown, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
690 Howth Rd, Dublin
22 Woodlands, Naas, Co. Kildare
Keshcorran House, Ballinfull, Co. Sligo
Drumcliffe South, Co. Sligo
Tourlestrane, Co. Sligo
Pearse Rd, Sligo, Co. Sligo
Green Corner, Dungloe, Co. Donegal
Larchfield Ave, Newtown Mearns, Glasgow
Lough Nagin, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Carrowkeel House, Ballisodare, Co. Sligo
Deerpark, Union, Co. Sligo
Marina Drive, Maypark, Co. Waterford
Oxfield Rd, Carney, Co. Sligo
15 Temple Manor, Ballinacarrow, Co. Sligo
Union Walk, Ballisodare, Co. Sligo
Hillcrest Grove, Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim
4.
SECTION
Eamonn is a Director and shareholder (1%) in Ocean FM.
ii) Loan stock
No loan stock has been issued.
The names and addresses of the beneficial owners, where
shareholdings are in the name of a trustee or nominee.
Not applicable.
25
The total number of shares (per class where relevant) and
the issue price subscribed by each shareholder (including
details of any premium paid) and the percentage each
shareholding represents of the total issued share capital of
the Applicant.
SECTION
4.
Name
John Keon
Tim Collins
Martin Reilly
Pat Clifford
Padraig O’Dwyer
Sean Grant
Tony Porter
Noel Shannon
Padraig McKeon
Billy Mulhern
Gerard Kelly
Niall McEvoy
Eamon O’Hara
Michael Leydon
James Barrett
Packie Bonnar
Paul Carr
Stanley Hunter
Evanna Kearns
Richard Kervik
Niall Delaney
Emma Burke
Philip O’Brien
Kevin Blessing Ordinary Shares
43,366
102,544
103,494
82,276
164,634
40,903
29,640
29,936
10,817
12,208
8,447
903
7,074
1,082
10,817
7,074
8,447
7,215
3,538
9,667
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
Percentage
6.19%
14.64%
14.78%
11.75%
23.5%
5.84%
4.23%
4.27%
1.5%
1.74%
1.2%
0.13%
1.0%
0.15%
1.5%
1.0%
1.2%
1.0%
0.5%
1.4%
0.14%
0.14%
0.14%
0.14%
Since 2004, six shareholders have sold their shares and four
new shareholders have joined. A full spreadsheet detailing the
the initial share issue, is included in the confidential appendix.
26
The percentage of the voting rights attached to each such
shareholding as a percentage of all the votes which may
be cast by the shareholders of the Applicant at general
meetings
All shares carry equal voting rights. The percentage of voting
rights held by each shareholder is set out above.
The amount of loan stock subscribed to by each shareholder
The company was capitalised in 2004 through the share
subscription.
No loan stock has been issued.
If the Applicant is not yet constituted, please indicate
the number, class/classes and price of shares to be issued
to each investor, and the amount of loan stock to be
subscribed by each investor.
Not applicable.
iv) Where a shareholder of the Applicant is a body
corporate/entity, please provide the names, addresses
and percentage of shares held by the shareholders of that
entity.
Not applicable.
v) Please indicate in relation to each of the existing or
proposed shareholders of the Applicant.
Substantial interests held (directly or indirectly) in relation
to any communications media.
“It is a definite asset
to have the local radio
station to advertise
and support local
events. It has been a
huge benefit to our
fundraising. Many
thanks.”
Fiona McKiernan,
The Jerome McKiernan
Memorial Funding
Committee
Control (held directly or indirectly) of any communications
media
Tim Collins and Padraig O’Dwyer are Directors of and each hold
10% of River Media Newspapers Ltd, a company registered in
Northern Ireland. This company owns four newspapers in the
Republic of Ireland, The Inish Times, The Letterkenny Post, The
Donegal Post and The Kildare Post. Padraig O’Dwyer is CEO of
River Media Newspapers Ltd.
Tim Collins: Founder Director and 15% shareholder in Northern
Media Group which operates six local radio licences in Northern
Ireland under the title, Q Radio Network.
Padraig O’Dwyer: Founder Director and 15% shareholder in
Northern Media Group which operates six local radio licences in
Northern Ireland under the title, Q Radio Network.
Padraig also holds a small shareholding (0.13%) in Sunshine
Radio. He is a former Director and former shareholder in
County Kildare FM Radio Ltd.
4.
SECTION
Tim Collins and Padraig O’Dwyer are Directors of and each hold
10% of River Media Newspapers Ltd, a company registered in
Northern Ireland. This company owns four newspapers in the
Republic of Ireland, The Inish Times, The Letterkenny Post, The
Donegal Post and The Kildare Post. Padraig O’Dwyer is CEO of
River Media Newspapers Ltd.
Noel Shannon is a former Director and former shareholder in
County Kildare FM Ltd.
Billy Mulhern is a former Director and former shareholder in
County Kildare FM Ltd.
Recent financial history/current financial status
vi) Shareholders agreement
All our shareholders are in good financial standing and are
fully tax compliant. North West Broadcasting Ltd is fully
tax compliant, has no borrowings and has substantial cash
reserves.
Involvement in any sound broadcasting service including
the name of the service, the nature of involvement
(i.e. position/role held); and period of involvement
(commencement date and date of departure).
Other than the involvement in North West Broadcasting Ltd as
set out in this application, a number of our shareholders have
either past or current involvement in other sound broadcasting
contracts, including:
Our shareholders agreement covers standard matters governing
management of the company and reserved issues; board
composition; transfer of shares; pre-emption rights and other
shareholder protections. It has governed the affairs of the
company since 2004. A copy is included in the confidential
appendix.
4.3: Management Structure
i) Management structure
Ocean FM is managed on a day to day basis by CEO, Tim
Collins, and an experienced management team detailed
below. Adherence with our business plan and our financial
27
performance are monitord by the Board which meets every two
months. In between meetings, Tim liaises with the Chairman,
John Keon, on significant matters.
SECTION
4.
The management structure of the station is set out below:
Tim Collins is full time CEO and present in the station at least
four days/week, spending another day on the road or in Dublin
meeting clients.
He is supported by one of the most experienced teams in local
radio and together they have developed Ocean FM into an
efficient and effective company.
Because of the small number of staff employed at the
station, there is regular daily informal contact between the
management team and staff.
There are four formal meetings in the calendar:
Twice yearly full staff meetings where JNLR and financial
performance are discussed and new developments explored.
Weekly Programming meeting attended by the CEO, Programme
Director and Production Manager.
Weekly Sales Meeting attended by the CEO, Sales Manager,
Business Development Manager, Telesales and Digital Manager,
Finance Manager, Production Manager, Telesales Executives and
Account Executives.
Monthly technical meeting attended by the CEO, Programme
Director, Production Manager and Technical Support staff.
28
ii) Please provide in relation to each of the following
individuals, or their equivalents, their full name, home
address, age, qualifications and experience to date, in
particular that which relates to the broadcast media:
Chief Executive Officer
Tim Collins, 3 Royal Marine Tce, Bray, Co.Wicklow
Age: 54
Qualifications: Tim is a qualified medical doctor and barrister.
Experience: He has worked in business for 17 years, nine
years as CEO of Ocean FM and, prior to that, in consultancy.
He worked as a Senior Advisor to two Ministers in three
Governments in Environment and Local Government and in
Health and Children in the 1990’s. He began his media career
in RTE in 1989. He is an active member of the board of The
Independant Broadcasters of Ireland.
Our Auditors, Mulhern Leonard, also provide support and advice
in relation to systems and controls.
Qualifications: DCU Degree in Communication Studies
Experience: Niall has been working in Independent Radio
since the late 1980’s. He was Deputy Editor of the Longford
News before becoming News Editor at Shannonside FM. He
later became News Editor at North West Radio. He remained
in this position at Ocean FM and became Station Manager and
Programme Director in 2005. He is the recipient of multiple
awards over his career in radio.
Compliance Officer
Tim Collins is Compliance Officer. See information above.
Financial Controller
Emma Burke, 15 Temple Manor, Ballinacarrow, Sligo, Co Sligo.
Age: 31
Qualifications: Accounts Technician, Institute of Finance
Training, Sandyford. Emma has attended a range of relevant
courses run by Learning Waves on finance and HR.
Experience: Emma has worked in accounting and finance
for 15 years. She joined Ocean FM in 2005 and since then
has led the day to day accounting and finance function. This
includes management of creditors, debtors, overseeing traffic,
budgeting and production of monthly management accounts
and key management information. She is key member of the
management team.
Emma is assisted by a practising Chartered Accountant, Eddie
Geraghty, who oversees preparation of management accounts
and preparation of budgets. He is retained on a part time
contract with the station.
iii) Please specify the Applicant’s policy in respect of:
Management remuneration;
All our managers, including Executive Directors and
shareholders are on modest salaries that reflect the very
difficult trading environment in the independent radio sector
over the past five years. These are detailed in the appendix to
this document.
4.
SECTION
Programme Controller
Niall Delaney, Oxfield Rd, Carney, Co.Sligo Age: 48 While currently, none of our managers receive bonus,
commission or any additional or special payments, these are
subject to annual review.
Employment contracts
All of our employees, both full time and part time, have
comprehensive contracts of employment. A sample contract is
included in the appendices.
Share options
Ocean FM has no formal share option scheme in place.
However, the four most senior managers recently became
shareholders. As other employees reach seniority we will offer
them the opportunity to purchase shares.
Pensions and benefits
Ocean FM offers access to a PRSA scheme to all employees. We
also offer access to Group Private Health Insurance.
29
Any other relevant commitments (financial or otherwise).
4.
SECTION
Our “train station” philosophy
When people visit our studios, one of the first things that
strikes them is how busy it is and the number of people who
work with us.
Most are permanant staff but our numbers are almost always
boosted by students on work experience or postgraduate
students completing projects on media-related subjects.
While it can be a bit chaotic at times, we like it because of
the melting pot of ideas and innovation it inspires. It’s also our
most potent recruitment tool. We see how people fit in with
our team and what skills they could bring and they in turn get
to see first hand how we work, and whether it is for them.
A number of our staff were initially introduced to the station
on work experience. On leaving college or having completed
post graduate qualifications, they applied for jobs and were
given full time positions.
We have close links with two great Third Level institutes, IT
Sligo and Letterkenny IT. We plan to further develop these in
the coming years in terms of student placements but also in
developing innovative programming in the education area.
Our links with IT Sligo are particularly close, where our staff
have lectured on marketing and event managment courses
and are frequently asked to participate in events within the
College. We are currently working with IT Sligo on a series of
broadcasts from secondary schools in the region to highlight
the work of the schools and third level issues such as careers in
science.
30
JobBridge
We were an early adopter of JobBridge. As a small business
with plans to grow but scarce resources, the scheme was
a perfect fit. Using the scheme, we recruited our first two
telesales executives. We trained them both here and in
Northern Media Group and established this new area of our
business. Both are now on permanent contracts with the
station.
We have also used JobBridge to recruit additional staff in our
newsroom to give us the flexibility to do more programming.
Our first JobBridge recruit in news is now on a permanant
contract and our second, just started work on a temporary
contract which we hope will become permanent.
Staff development
We have a young staff and know if we want them to stay and
make a long term career with the station, we have to develop
their skills and give them experience doing a wide range of
tasks. As the business has developed, there have been good
opportunities to progress and we are determined that this will
continue. Like all stations, we are fortunate to have access to
Learning Waves and we make good use of the programme.
We also want our staff to have a healthy lifestyle. We
encourage participation in sport and have a scheme where we
pay the entry fee for any event they want to compete in. It is
not unusual now to see Ocean FM T-shirts among the starters
at a 5k road race, a 50K bike race or a triathlon. The Cycle to
Work Scheme has been a big factor in encouraging participation
in these events among staff.
i) Has the applicant ever been convicted of an offence
involving fraud or dishonesty?
v) Has the applicant ever been convicted of an offence
under any legislation by which Broadcasting and/or Wireless
Telegraphy is regulated in this or any other jurisdiction?
No
“Shane Smyth has been
a huge support since
the very early days of
the band, from play the
record to being at the
gigs and his unwavering
enthusiasm and support
has been great all along.
It was great to square
the circle and come back
to play Sea Sessions
in his home town last
summer. Viva Shane
Smyth!”
The Strypes.
No
ii) Has the applicant ever been restricted or disqualified as
a Company Director, or convicted of any offence under the
Companies Acts 1963-2006 (as amended) in this jurisdiction or
under equivalent legislation in any other jurisdiction?
No
iii) Has the applicant ever been adjudicated a bankrupt,
become insolvent or entered into a voluntary arrangement
with creditors, or had a receiver appointed to any of his
assets, in this or any other jurisdiction?
No
vi) Has the applicant ever had a license or contract issued
by a broadcasting licensing body or any other statutory body
suspended or revoked in this or any other jurisdiction?
4.
SECTION
4.4 Character of the Applicant
No
vii) Is the applicant aware of any reason why it may not be a
fit and proper person to be awarded a contract?
No
Not at this stage.
iv) Has the applicant ever been a director of a company to
which a receiver was appointed, which went into compulsory
liquidation, creditors’ voluntary liquidation, examinership
or which made any arrangement with its creditors or class of
creditors?
Both Tim Collins and Padraig O’Dwyer, as Directors and
shareholders of River Newspaper Holdings were party to an
extensive restructuring of that business and are happy to
provide further information if requested.
31
SECTION
5.
32
Programming
i) Please detail the ongoing strategies which the Applicant
proposes to implement in relation to:
Programme Research
Our station is shaped around the needs and interests of our
listeners. As these change and evolve, we are aware that
we must adapt our output to match. Our experience tells us
that a combination of audience feedback and evidence-based
research is the best way to achieve this. We will continue to
pursue a number of parallel strands in this area.
JNLR/Media Star
JNLR provides the most comprehensive research available on
radio listening, giving measurable quarterly indications on how
many people are listening to our station and a breakdown of
audiences across the day. In order to drill down into the data
collected through JNLR, Ocean FM also subscribes to the Media
Star package, which allows detailed and customised analysis
of all data contained within the survey. This provides an
invaluable flexibility in monitoring which types of programming
appeal most to which kinds of audience. This resource also
allows us to benchmark and assess the impact of any changes
in programming.
Ocean FM Research
In addition to this quarterly quantitative analysis, Ocean
FM also periodically undertakes its own formal research
to gauge the opinion of listeners – a practice that we are
committed to continuing into the future. In the last number
of years, this activity has included research waves such as
focus groups, listener and advertiser surveys and regular
phone and web polls. The method used is determined by the
type of information required and the desired sample group
(i.e. regular listeners, non-listeners, businesses, older or
younger age groups etc.). In recent years, we have also built
up an extensive email database and intend to use this in the
future to tap into audience opinions on programming and to
encourage engagement with the station. We monitor listener
reaction to all shows via text, phone and email. Our staff
have personal networks across this franchise area, and we will
continue to engage regularly with sectoral interests across the
North West to get their feedback - be it in the area of business,
sports, government or community.
5.
SECTION
5.1 Programming Strategy
Research among our advertisers will also continue periodically
facilitating the development of new products and identifying
programming approaches that provide the best fit for the needs
of businesses in the North West. We communicate regularly
with our listeners through Social Media and continuously
interact with listeners via Facebook and Twitter. This real-time
feedback is invaluable. We will develop more online resources
to conduct surveys and collect data.
Programming Committee
Our commitment to responding to the feedback gained through
our research activities is beyond question. Our Programming
Committee meets every three months, to review the output
of the station and assess any feedback or suggestions for new
programmes or slots. In the last number of years, we have finetuned our programme schedule to meet audience demand – for
example, introducing the weekly “Rovers Review” as a result
of an appetite among a large portion of our audience for more
in-depth coverage relating to Sligo Rovers Football Club; adding
“Up and Running” a regular business and innovation-focussed
programme to serve the interests of the wider business
community and featuring a new consumer slot on our daily
magazine show.
33
Programming
SECTION
5.
Industry Experts
Ocean FM will also continue to call on the services of
recognised industry experts when necessary. Programme
consultant, Mark Storey, has periodically fed into the
programming strategy at the station. Music programming
expert, Andy Matthews has also assisted us in identifying
and implementing the right music mix for our audience.
Going forward, these experienced radio professionals will
help us ensure that the programming and music strategies
at the station continue to be informed by developments and
innovations across the radio industry – allowing us to adopt or
adapt those that are the correct fit for our listeners.
approach, a team of experienced and skilled staff and studios
and equipment that is fit-for-purpose and well maintained.
Programme Production
The Production Manager will continue to conduct air checks
each day. Weekly analysis of performance and feedback is also
given to presenters, researchers, reporters and the production
team as regards music output, news and sport, speech content
and presentation style. Listener interaction with the station is
also taken into account and station policy is to respond with
due respect and gravity to listener concerns and complaints.
The bedrock of our service is local programming and
accordingly. The vast majority of programmes will continue to
be produced in-house at Ocean FM. In the main, programming
will be produced in the Ocean FM studios in Collooney, Donegal
and Manorhamilton.
Ocean FM aims to lead the way in local radio when it comes to
making programming of distinction, which may be outside the
norm for local stations. In the past, we have used the Sound
and Vision Broadcasting Fund to support local independent
producers and in-house teams in producing award-winning
special programmes and series. Continued access to this
fund allows us to add depth and richness to our schedule,
growing the listening options available to our audience without
compromising on quality.
We believe that quality should always be a hallmark of our
output. This flows from a flexible, creative and professional
34
Quality Control
Ocean FM strives to match the highest standards of
programming quality and this is the overall responsibility of
the Station Manager and Production Manager. In an increasingly
fragmented and competitive media environment, we realise
that achieving high standards is a commercial necessity. In
terms of output quality, our ambition is to rank alongside the
best in the business.
In news and current affairs, we observe ethical and responsible
reporting, providing balance and guaranteeing right of reply.
Former Head of News at Today FM, Noel Shannon, will continue
to be closely involved in News and Sports output at the station
giving a fresh view on editorial approaches, delivery and
quality. In order to ensure that high standards are maintained
at the station, Ocean FM will continue to invest in ongoing
training to keep abreast of developments, technical and
otherwise, across the radio industry. This will be achieved
through continued membership of the BAI’s Learning Waves
initiative and ad hoc skills development within the station.
Programming
“Coiste Chontae Liatroma
CLG acknowledge the
wide coverage of our
sporting activities at
club and County level
as carried by local radio
station Ocean FM. This
ongoing radio coverage
by Ocean FM greatly
promotes our activities.”
Diarmuid Mac Suibhne,
Rúnaí Coiste Chontae
Liatroma CLG
We will continue to take compliance very seriously across
the team at Ocean FM. This comes from the top down in our
organisation – as evidenced by the fact that our CEO (a trained
Barrister) is our Compliance Officer as the BAI records will
show. Our exemplary track record in this area is a sign of our
dedication, with less than a handful of minor breaches incurred
across the last number of years and a number of years with no
breaches at all.
A number of procedures are in place to ensure compliance with
all the necessary codes and obligations. All advertising and
sponsorship is vetted by the Production Manager before they
go an air. If in any doubt, or in the case of contentious issues,
he refers these to the CEO for approval. Periodic meetings are
held with staff to advise them of any changes in the advertising
and sponsorship codes and any other obligations. The CEO and
Station Manager will also continue to review station output and
policies regularly to ensure a balanced and impartial approach
across all areas.
Ocean FM is already fully compliant with the BAI’s new
complaints procedures and has engaged with a number of
compliance initiatives from both the BAI and the BCC.
ii) Criteria for Success
The most reliable and comprehensive measure of how many
people are listening is delivered through the JNLR. This
provides independent feedback of listenership broken down
by timeblock. The audience figures and statistics delivered by
the JNLR will be supplemented by Ocean FM’s own audience
research which can be tailored to focus more closely on
specific areas of performance and will also be used to provide a
qualitative view of the success of the station. However formal
research is not the only avenue through which performance
should be measured. Audience feedback is always an important
barometer, and the support of the advertising community is an
indication of their confidence in the performance of a station.
5.
SECTION
Compliance with the statutory requirements and sound
broadcasting contractual obligations.
We are vigilant in the area of compliance and regularly assess
our output to ensure that it is in line with the programming
commitments we have made – this is the basis of our
relationship with our audience.
In addition, acceptance of our values and recognition from
communities and local interests across the region is an
important measure of whether the station is really delivering
for the audience and seen to be of relevance to them.
Recognition from media industry peers also provides some
indication of success. Ocean FM has been nominated for,
and won, numerous programming awards, both at National
and International level in the last number of years. We will
continue to strive to produce programming that stands out and
is worthy of formal recognition from the best in our industry.
The criteria will include:
• How many people are listening to the programme?
• Is the programme compliant with our programme policy statement?
• Is listener feedback positive or negative?
• How well does the programme sit within our brand values?
35
Programming
5.2: Programme Policy Statement
5.2.1 Broadcasting Philosophy. Please detail in the form of
a statement the Applicant’s overall broadcasting philosophy
and vision for the radio service.
BROADCASTING PHILOSOPHY:
In this section, we concentrate on explaining what
programming we currently broadcast and why. We make no
promises and make no commitments that we are not already
delivering on.
Were we not confident in the quality of our current programme
schedule, we might promise to do more or do things differently.
However, our market research confirms what we already know,
that what we are doing today is the optimum mix and right for
the tastes and interest of our audience today.
It is not the same programming mix we brought to air nine
years ago. It has evolved in response to changing tastes and
listener demands. It has also evolved because of the culture
of innovation we have fostered among our team. We have not
been afraid to try new things and to challenge ourselves. And,
it is not the same programming we will be broadcasting in 2-3
years’ time.
The only promise you will find in this section is this: to always
keep pace with our listeners’ tastes and interests and to
continue to innovate and excite.
We are the place where people in our area come for vital local
information such as travel information, weather alerts, school
closures, emergencies and breaking news. We have to do this
well, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
We are also the place where people come to be informed about
what’s happening in their community. Whether it’s an amateur
drama in a parish hall or a protest march about fracking, we
will cover it.
Our programming must be of the highest quality. While we are
the smallest station in the country, we aspire to match the
largest in programme quality.
While our programming is for everyone, it must be distinctive
and original.
We should never rest on our laurels. Everything we do should
be regularly challenged and improved.
We recognise that our listeners are not a homogenous group.
Whether they are urban or rural dwellers, young or older, male
or female, gay or straight, we have a responsibility to address
the issues that matter to them.
We are a local station so our content must be locally focussed
and relevant to our franchise area.
Even within our small area, there are geographic and cultural
differences. Whether a listener lives in Kilcar or Enniscrone,
Manorhamilton or Sligo Town, we have responsibility, as far as
practicable, to serve their needs.
We exist to serve the needs of our listeners. It’s about them,
not about us.
We respect the special place the Irish language occupies in our
culture and will do everything we can to foster it.
Our guiding principles:
36
Local news, current affairs and local sport are the backbone of
service. Doings these things well is our first priority.
Programming
•
Digital listening will further fragment audiences, some preferring live content and some, customised content.
•
The distinction between newspapers, radio and television is becoming blurred. The public are interested in content and don’t care whether the originator is a newspaper, an online publisher or a radio station.
•
The recession has created structural changes in the media market that are now built in. All has changed!
•
Advertising and marketing spends are becoming more Our vision
No one could have predicted the pace of change in the media
world in 2004 when we first began broadcasting. Social Media
and smart phones were not invented and the digital revolution
was some distance in the future.
fragmented. More TV channels and an explosion of online publishers have pulled audiences in all directions.
•
Internet and mobile digital advertising will continue to grow and pull revenue away from traditional media.
A radio business that remains solely reliant on a one way, FM
platform and traditional radio content will struggle to survive
in this new world.
•
While radio and TV audiences generally remain high, there is strong evidence that younger people are disengaging from traditional media.
•
Social Media are here to stay. Providers such as Bebo may come and go, but younger people, in particular, have deeply integrated it into their everyday lives.
•
While traditional radio stations will survive in larger
franchise areas where they can capture a larger listenership, stations in smaller franchise areas such as ours will have to evolve and broaden our commercial footprint to continue to resource the quality of programming we aspire to in the years to come.
We have a responsibility to reflect the unique culture of our
area and to foster and recognise new talent in music, drama
and the broader arts.
We will continue to be recognised by our listeners as part of
their community, involved with them and helping to support
and connect.
We will always be honest with our listeners, fair to our
contributors and a good employer for our staff.
And we will always try to make a difference!
No one can predict the direction the media market will take
over the next five to ten years but there are some things we
do know:
•
More people will do more things using mobile devices.
•
Faster broadband speeds will allow more people to access our content via the web and on mobile devices.
37
Programming
5.
So what do we do?
SECTION
We have begun to change our business from the FM radio
station that we launched nine years ago, to a “platform
neutral” local content provider.
We produce local content in written, audio, photographic and
video formats for FM and web platforms on 102.5/105FM and
www.oceanfm.ie.
And because the media market in the North West is so small
and the available revenue is limited, we have also begun
to leverage our skills and expertise in other ways. We want
to become the leading local service provider in the digital
economy in the North West.
Our future will be influenced by how well we implement this
strategy.
Our vision for our business is for a strong FM station with
a strong and loyal listenership at the centre of a broadly
based local media business that is a strong local employer
in the North West and centrally involved in the local digital
economy.
38
Our vision for Ocean FM is for a
commercially successful local radio
station:
•
With a strong and loyal listenership,
•
Producing high quality content,
•
That is part of a broadly based, multi media business,
•
and, centrally involved in the digital economy in the North West.
Programming
Declan Foley, Berwick,
Victoria, Australia
is for a local station. As can be seen from the table below,
there is broad agreement that the main features of our station
are the ones that people in this area want.
High listenership levels show that the service offered by
Ocean FM already appeals to audiences in this area. Our
original schedule was based on extensive audience research
across the North West. Since then, the programme schedule
and music policy have been updated, based on research and
in consultation with the BAI. As a result, we have developed
a diverse schedule in order to appeal to the largest possible
audience and to cater for special or sectoral interests in this
area.
The success of this strategy is borne out when we examine the
listenership to the station, this is spread across all age groups:
13% of listeners to the station are aged 25-34, 16% are aged 3544, 17% aged between 45 and 54, 20% between 55 and 64 and
29% are over 65.
Ocean FM is proud to have an experienced and committed
team. Our staff members are constantly out and about,
involved in countless activities and communities across the
North West. As representatives of the station, they gain
audience feedback constantly. As locals themselves, they are
part of the fabric of this area and instinctively know, in most
cases, what works for our listeners. This kind of connection is
also important in delivering programming that appeals and is of
relevance to our target audience.
We have tested our station proposition in an independent
quantitative survey recently carried out in this franchise area
by Interactions Research. Taking the main features of our
station, we asked respondents to indicate how important each
5.
SECTION
“As a former Sligo
person, now residing
in Australia, Ocean FM
is an important and
valuable connection to
the North West for me
and my family. I am also
only too well aware of
the importance of Ocean
to innumerable Sligo
people, both at home
and abroad. When my old
Sligo neighbour, Eugene
Gillespie, was killed
after a burglary at his
home, Ocean gave the
community a focal point
during that horrific week,
and assisted greatly in
giving a sense of security
to the elderly of the
North West.”
5.2.2 Target Audience.
Please explain why, in your view, the proposed service will
be of relevance and appeal to the target audience.
*The only element to score less than 60% is “comprehensive
sports programming” – the reason being that this proposition
appeals far more strongly to men that to women, by a ratio
of 2 to 1, 68% of men believe that comprehensive sports
programming is an important element for a good local station.
5.2.3 Broadcasting day.
5.2.3.1 The total number of broadcasting hours per day:
24 Hours
5.2.3.2 The hours of live programming (start and end) per day:
07:00 - 00:00 (Monday - Saturday), 08.00 – 00.00 (Sunday)
5.2.3.3 The hours of automated programming (start and end)
each day:
00:00 – 07:00 (Monday - Saturday), 00.00 – 08.00 (Sunday).
39
Programming
5.2.3.4 The percentage of broadcasting hours dedicated to:
1. Music programming; 2. Speech-based content; 3. News and
current affairs; and 4. Advertisements
For the 07.00-19.00 period and for the total broadcast day.
SECTION
5.
07.00 – 19.00 Total Broadcasting Day
Music Programming
36%
48%
Speech – Based Content
20%
22%
News and Current Affairs
32%
20%
Advertisements
12%
10%
Opt-Out Programmes
We know how important it is to cater to people in all corners of
the franchise area. We use our two frequencies to achieve this,
where we provide opt out news for Sligo Leitrim on 102.5 FM
and for Donegal on 105 FM.
Building on news headlines and bulletins, we also delve
into the stories that are of most relevance to our listeners,
providing comprehensive analysis and reporting in relation to
these.
5.2.4 News. Please set out the approach envisaged for news
programming, and in particular:
5.2.4.1 The types of news to be broadcast (local, national,
international, etc.) and their relevance to the target audience
Our approach to news programming is underpinned by our
“local first” philosophy. There is a wide range of national and
international news sources available to listeners in the North
West; however, we know that people here highly value a
comprehensive, reliable and independent source of local news
and this cannot be got elsewhere. Our research showed that
71% of listeners in the franchise area are interested in local
news.
In order to meet our listeners needs as fully as possible, we are
committed to being first with local news across all platforms on
air, on-line and on Social Media.
40
To deliver on these promises, we resource our news team
properly to allow our reporters attend as many local news
events as possible and to pursue major stories in depth. Proof
of the success of our approach to news is the fact that 75% of
people in the North West feel that Ocean FM provides good
coverage of local news. This figure reaches an astonishing 99%
among Ocean FM listeners. Even among non-listeners, 66% of
respondents still agree that the station provides good local
news coverage.
We will not ignore national or international news, this is also
important to our listeners, although it is more comprehensively
covered by other stations in our area; we do, wherever
possible, seek a local angle to national stories which would
make them relevant to our franchise area.
Programming
“It is truly professional,
objective, accurate
and fair in its reporting
and in how it conducts
discussions on the
air waves on issues
that are often quite
controversial…the
North West is very
fortunate to have the
services of Ocean FM
and to have someone
with the competence
and personality of Niall
Delaney in charge.”
Our Programme Director, Niall Delaney, has 26 years worth
of local and national links in his battered contact book; and
there is no better source for news in our area. The roots of
Ocean FM reporters run deep across the North West. Ocean
FM is the natural hub for breaking news in the North West. We
are so well established as breakers of local news that sources
gravitate towards us with major stories, in addition to our
reporters seeking them out. Local, independent and credible
reporting provides the backbone of our news service.
Upholding Fairness in Broadcasting
Fairness, objectivity and balance are fundamental to our
approach to all programming, and the fact that we have no
breaches of the Code in this area is testament to this. We
have enthusiastically supported development of standards
for fairness in broadcasting and our Programme Director
participated in the drawing up of the Code.
5.2.4.3 The number and duration of news bulletins and
programmes (weekday and weekend)
Please demonstrate with reference to the above how the
applicant will comply with the statutory news and current
affairs requirement (2 hours of broadcasting time between
07.00 -19.00 and 20% across the total broadcast day).
Weekday News and Current Affairs
The tables below illustrate that Ocean FM complies, by a
wide margin, with the 20% news and current affairs content
requirement across the broadcasting day and that 2 hours of
news and current affairs content are always broadcast between
7am and 7pm.
Time
The newsroom is in contact with Garda stations in the North
West twice a day, and we have good working relationships with
public representatives, community organisations, local activists
and the lifeboat and rescue services. As regards provision of a
comprehensive and trusted local news service that is targeted
squarely at audiences in this franchise area, our team is
completely self sufficient and cannot be beaten. Within our
news team we have journalists dedicated to gathering and
broadcasting Donegal news and Sligo/Leitrim news.
National and International news is supplied through our
contract with Newstalk. Their rip and read service and
packages can be called upon whenever needed and will
continue to be used to complement local news.
News Content – Monday to Friday
Length
07.00
Local News Bulletin3.5 minutes
07.30
News Headlines1 minute
08.00
Christopher Jones,
Bishop of Elphin
5.
SECTION
5.2.4.2 The sourcing of the various types of news
Main Morning News – Local and National,
Obituaries10 minutes
08.30
News Headlines2 minutes
09.00
10.00
News Bulletin – Local and National, Obituaries
News Bulletin Opt Out for Donegal
8 minutes
11.00
12.00
13.00
Main Lunchtime News – Local and National,
Obituaries
Main Lunchtime News Opt Out for Donegal –
Local and National, Obituaries
15 minutes
14.00
41
Programming
SECTION
5.
15.00
10.00
16.00
17.00
11.00
Main Evening News – Local and National,
Main Morning News – Local and National,
Obituaries
12.00
Main Evening News Opt Out for Donegal –
13.00
Local and National, Obituaries
15 minutes
Main Lunchtime News – Local and National,
18.00
14.00
19.00
Network News4 minutes
15.00
20.00
16.00
Local News Bulletin 21.00
17.00
Main Evening News – Local and National,
22.00
23.00
18.00
00.00
19.00
3.5 minutes
20.00
Time
Current Affairs Content – Monday to Friday
Length
09.00
North West Today2 hours
11.00
Ocean Life1 hour
11.00
Destination Donegal
(Opt Out for Donegal, Friday only)
1 hour
21.00
Agri Week (Thursday Only)
30 minutes
21.30
Outdoor Pursuits (Thursday Only)
30 minutes
02.00
North West Today2 hour
21.00
22.00
23.00
00.00
Time
Current Affairs Content – Saturday & Sunday
Length
09.30
Up and Running (Saturday)
30 minutes
(1 hour once a month)
10.00
North West Rewind (Saturday)
1 hour
09.30
Agri-Week (Sunday)30 minutes
20.00
Weekend News and Current Affairs
Time
News Content – Saturday & Sunday
Length
07.00
Network News3.5 minutes
08.00
Network News3.5 minutes
09.00
42
Arts House (Sunday)
1 hour
Programming
Ocean FM is mad about sport! We have a young staff, keen to
be out and about, and each has a sports passion that drives
them, regardless of their role at the station. It might be
expected that our Head of Sport is also Captain of his local
hurling side; however, our production team also hosts a fivea-side expert, our business development manager is an expert
surfer, and our afternoon presenter and CEO are dedicated
triathletes. We bring this energy and passion to our listeners
everyday. Accordingly, sports coverage at Ocean FM reflects the
hugely varied sporting interests across the North West.
Although Ocean FM is the smallest station in the country, we
are nonetheless committed to covering sporting codes across
three different counties.
This is no mean feat, and has taken us to far flung shores,
from New York and London to Sweden and the Ukraine in
recent years. In doing so, we literally go the extra mile to
bring the most important sporting events live to the people of
our franchise area, when travel would be impossible for the
vast majority. From audience feedback, it is obvious that this
service is hugely appreciated by people across Counties Sligo,
Leitrim and Donegal.
is a soccer stronghold. Coverage of Sligo Rovers and other
soccer clubs in the area is a must and there is strong interest
in this. Gaelic Games are also a lynchpin – Donegal were AllIreland champions in 2012 and GAA clubs are the lifeblood of
many communities across the North West. Like the rest of the
country, rugby is a growing sport here and there is considerable
interest at a grassroots level. Ocean FM regularly broadcasts
Sligo rugby club matches live to our listeners. Our research
shows that this kind of local sports programming and live
match coverage appeals strongly to audiences in the North
West.
5.
SECTION
5.2.5 Sport. Please set out the approach envisaged for
sports programming
Although the figures show the appeal of sports across the
franchise area, a look at the overall figures for sports
underestimates the level of interest among certain groups. Men
have a much greater interest in sports than women in all areas
of sport – 70% of men are interested in local sports coverage
and 66% are interested in live match coverage whereas the
figures for female listeners are 35% and 47% respectively.
5.2.5.1 The types of sports to be covered and their
relevance to the target audience
We cover the major codes popular in the North West – soccer,
GAA, and rugby. A measure of the quality of this coverage is
that the team has won a Bronze Medal at the PPI awards in
2013 and was nominated for the overall award in 2012.
The major population centre in our franchise area, Sligo Town,
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live commentary and updates. This contrasts with the
coverage of Castlebar Celtic’s local station, MWR, who
provided topline updates on the day of the match only.
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5.
Because we are aware of these differences, we also
endeavoured to add a flavour to our sports programming
which appeals more strongly to women, giving airtime to
women in sport whenever we can. For example, we followed
the campaign of the Sligo Ladies Junior Team when they won
the All Ireland Junior title in 2006 and the Donegal Ladies
Team when they were victorious in winning the All Ireland
Intermediate Title in 2010. We also feature the FAI Cup
campaigns of local ladies teams. Our beginner’s triathlon
initiative had a high proportion of female participants and
encouraged a number of local women to plunge into the sport.
Our commitment to women’s sport is unequalled by other
local stations – and we strive to be inclusive in this area.
A case in point is the recent Senior Women’s FAI Cup Final
between Castlebar Celtic and Raheny United. The Castlebar
team features a large number of Sligo players. As a result
Ocean FM hosted a special preview Outside Broadcast with
the team, Chairman and Secretary a few days before the
match. On the day of the match our Sports Editor provided
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We have built links with clubs of all kinds across the franchise
area, in both mainstream and minor sports. Our sports
reporters are mindful to include minority sports in coverage
wherever there is a story to be told. People across the North
West know that whether it is boxing or handball, triathlon
or martial arts, Ocean FM will support and relay their clubs’
successes and events. In the last two years alone we have
covered Sligo Races, the West of Ireland Golf Championships,
the An Post Cycle, Donegal and Sligo Stages Rallies, live boxing
from Belfast and the Warrior of the Sea Endurance Swimming
Race.
In addition to this news-driven coverage, our “Club Focus”
programme offers a broadcasting platform to local sports
clubs of all sizes and kinds. The idea for the show came from
engagement with different sporting organisations across the
franchise area and it has been hugely successful. The template
for the show has since been adopted as a national initiative,
with stations across the country copying the format.
When asked for feedback on sports programming, 49%
of listeners in our survey felt that comprehensive sports
programming was important for a local station and 53% agreed
that Ocean FM delivered this. Again, the gender divide is
significant here with 68% of men agreeing both that Ocean
FM had comprehensive sports coverage and that this was an
important element of programming for a local station.
In the coming months, Ocean FM is set to build on the success
of “Club Focus”. Our new weekly sports trivia quiz, “Pole
Programming
Michael McGee,
SIigo Handball PRO.
OCEAN FM MAIN SPORTS PROGRAMMES
5.2.5.2 The format, duration and frequency of sports coverage
(weekdays and weekend)
Rovers Review: Sunday, 6pm to 7pm.
The following sports bulletins feature on Ocean FM Monday to
Friday.
Time
SportLength
07.30
Sports News3 minutes
08.00
08.30
09.00
13.10
Main Lunchtime Sports Bulletin
5 minutes
14.00
15.00
16.00
17.10
Main Evening Sports Bulletin
18.00 – 00.00 Hourly Syndicated Sports with News
The Final Whistle: Friday, 6pm to 7pm.
Ocean FM’s essential listening sports magazine. Presenter,
Darragh Cox, is renowned for his comprehensive knowledge
of sport and every Friday, he leads listeners through a review
of the sports action from the week gone by and gets out the
crystal ball for the busy weekend of sport ahead.
5.
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“I would like to thank
Ocean FM sincerely for
broadcasting all handball
fixtures, results, reports,
interviews which has
been very important
to us in Sligo G.A.A
Handball. This has helped
the sport greatly in the
areas of promotion and
getting new members
who otherwise would not
have taken up the sport.”
Position”, is currently going into production. It will draw sports
clubs from all codes and all parts of the Ocean FM franchise
area, challenging them to pit their wits against each other for
title of the North West’s Smartest Sports Club. Cementing our
links with sports organisations of all kinds, the series will be
recorded in front of live audiences across the franchise area
and ensures that the station remains supportive of sports at
the grassroots level.
(Seasonal – February to November)
This is our Sligo Rovers “blog” live on air, peopled by the fans
and dedicated to them. The programme has become such a
vital part of the fan culture that we have had regular requests
from the Sligo Rovers Manager to come on air and talk to the
fans directly. The programme acts as a Social Media hub for
fans across the region, and is the lifeline for debating the ins
and outs of the beautiful game in the North West.
Saturday Sports Beat: Saturday, 2pm to 6pm.
A lively and comprehensive view of all sports action in the
franchise area, Saturday Sports Beat provides a mix of sports
news and reports, live match commentaries and a sprinkling of
musical favourites.
5 minutes
3.5 minutes
In addition to these sports bulletins, the major sports-focussed
programmes at the station are as follows:
Sunday Sport: Sunday, 2pm to 7pm.
Ocean FM gets into the thick of it on the busiest day of the
week, bringing live commentaries, news, views and reports and
a major sports round up between 6pm and 7pm.
In addition to these regular programmes, our schedule
accommodates other major sporting fixtures and special
events when necessary. We are the only station, locally or
nationally to provide weekly live commentary on the League
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of Ireland, bringing all Sligo Rovers away matches to our
listeners. As a result we normally broadcast one mid-week
away match every two weeks, although this can increase if the
club also features in FAI Cup competitions or any other Cup
competitions (EA Sports Cup, Setanta Cup, League Cup).
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5.
On the 3rd of November, Sligo Rovers won the FAI Cup, an
incredible fourth national title in a row. Illustrating the
integral part that Ocean FM plays in sports in our area,
the station was once again asked by the Club and Sligo
Borough Council to co-ordinate the homecoming event. A
round-the-clock homecoming special was hosted by Ocean
FM, to celebrate the amazing achievement of the team.
The professionalism of the Ocean FM staff and the in-depth
coverage provided by the station was publicly commented
on by many.
At weekends, from January to October, we prioritise live
commentaries of as many local GAA games as possible – ranging
from Provincial Championship, All-Ireland Championship,
National Football League, County Club Senior/Junior/
Intermediate Championships, McKenna Cup for Ulster and
FBD League for Connacht. As we have three counties in our
franchise area, we cover as many matches as we can involving
all three. In these cases, and particularly during the summer
months, we could be live on-air with sport and commentaries
until 9pm on certain nights.
We use opts-outs extensively to ensure that we meet demand
in all three counties of our franchise area – at the height
of the summer season we could have three different live
commentaries available to listeners with, for example,
separate commentaries on our 102.5 and 105 frequencies and
live-streamed on www.oceanfm.ie.
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This responsiveness is also crucial for major sporting events,
which capture the public imagination and are the glue around
which communities unite. For example, Ocean FM provided
round-the-clock links and coverage from the Donegal GAA camp
in Dublin and the incredible homecoming of the team with Sam
Maguire in 2012, something our listeners will not forget in a
hurry. This coverage earned Ocean FM a Bronze Medal at the
PPI Radio awards in 2013.
5.2.6 Current Affairs programming. Please set out the
approach envisaged for current affairs programming, and in
particular:
Current affairs is a key strength of our programming. If you
want to find out what makes people here tick, what gets them
fired up or what moves them to compassion, just tune in to
North West Today on any morning. The programme has come
to be regarded by other media, both nationally and locally, as
the standard bearer for breaking news, inside stories and high
profile interviews relating to current affairs in Sligo, North
Leitrim and South Donegal.
Our incisive and relevant Election and Referendum coverage is
also highly valued. In fact, Ocean FM was the only local station
to host a full-scale debate on the recent Seanad Referendum.
We take politics seriously at Ocean FM. Enabling people to
make informed choices about politics is a cornerstone of
democracy and we do everything we can to promote this.
We have hosted local debates on every Irish and European
Referendum held since 2004. Every General Election and
By-Election in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal South West and
European Election in the North West Region has been the
subject of dedicated on-air debate and analysis and we
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“I’d like to
acknowledge Ocean
FM for being such
fantastic supporters
of Sligo Rovers, down
through the seasons.”
Tommie Gorman,
RTE Northern
Editor, and Member
of Management
Committee,
Sligo Rovers
Our current affairs programming offers a platform for the local
issues that pre-occupy audiences in the North West. Sometimes
we set the agenda, othertimes we amplify the talk on the
street. Instead of preaching to our audiences, we highly value
local interaction and listener participation – putting local
voices and opinions on air. Our current affairs programming is
broad and varied, giving voice to shades of opinion from every
quarter.
“This radio programme…addressed the issue of why society
was still so divided on the basic issue of human rights,
especially in relation to the Traveller community. It also
raised the very legitimate question as to whether there has
been a ‘normalisation of racism in Irish society towards the
Travelling people….Niall’s no-nonsense report asked all of
the hard questions in relation to this controversial topic.”
- Law Society Justice Media Award citation for Niall
Delaney’s programme regarding resettlement of Traveller
family in Donegal on North West Today.
Ocean FM are news-breakers, not news takers and the quality
of the work we do in this area means that stories that start
with us often end up in other local or national media. A good
example is that of Lissadell House. We started covering the
brewing controversy over Lissadell House in 2008, when it was
far below the radar. As the story developed, we led all national
and local media. Our coverage exposed the huge number of
faultlines related to the case and teased out the issues related
to the case from every angle right up to the final Supreme
Court decision in November 2013.
A few other cases in point – a Junior Minister who hung up
live on air when faced with a few home truths, a vital cancer
services campaign that grew legs on our station or the highly
charged local issue of fracking which has been truly put under
the microscope here. These have been not only taken up by
national media but some have also found their way to the floor
of the Dáil. We have twice been nominated for P.P.I. Radio
Awards for Current Affairs. Our Station Manager, Niall Delaney
was recently awarded the Law Society’s Justice Media Award
when an extraordinary interview with a well known local
councillor revealed the seriousness of racial issues in our area.
Undeniably, Ocean FM is a local station serving the public good,
while always keeping an eye on engaging its audience.
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also cover all Local Elections – with debates in 5 Electoral
Areas in Sligo, 2 in Donegal and 2 in Leitrim – in depth.
5.2.6.1 The format, duration and frequency of such
programmes (weekdays and weekends)
OCEAN FM MAIN CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAMMES
North West Today: Monday to Friday, 9am to 11am.
Inviting full and frank debate of all issues across Sligo, North
Leitrim and South Donegal, “North West Today” is driven
by the local news agenda. Vigorous and incisive discussion
teases out whatever current affairs issues are top of mind,
and those that some might prefer were not. North West Today
sets the standard for news in the region and gives the most
comprehensive and informed look at what is going on across
the three counties.
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Programming
Destination Donegal: (Donegal Opt Out).
5.
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Monday to Friday, 11am to 12 noon.
Every week, matters in Donegal are put under the current
affairs spotlight in this current affairs and magazine
programme. Debate, discussion and Donegal news are the
order of the day.
North West Rewind: Saturday, 10am to 11am.
The cream of the crop from during the week, this programme
is no token gesture towards current affairs at the weekend.
North West Rewind has the highest listenership of any weekend
programme at the station and is a must for those with an
interest in current affairs.
Agri Week: Sunday, 9.30am to 10.00am;
Thursday 9.00pm to 9.30pm.
The North West has a strong rural economy and agricultural
issues remain important to our listeners. This is a topical look
at the farming issues that are most relevant to our audience
– whether it is CAP reform, mart prices or local or national
agricultural or environmental policies.
Up and Running: Saturday 9.30am to 10.00am,
(9.00am to 10.00am once a month).
This weekly programme throws the spotlight on current
economic and business issues in the North West. Here we
celebrate success, highlight issues and their possible solutions,
examine start ups and established business and look at
innovative ideas, sectors and models developing in our area.
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Up and Running – Playing our part in economic recovery:
After five years of negativity on the national airwaves, our
team felt that it was time to focus on some of the good news
business stories from our area. Together with I.T. Sligo and the
local business community, we came up with the idea of “Up
and Running” – a show which aims to instil local pride through
the stories of innovation, success and plucky local start-ups in
the North West that have bucked the trend.
5.2.6.2 The relevance of these programmes to the target
audience.
The research undertaken by Interactions in this franchise
area showed that there is a demand for local current affairs
programming among audiences. As indicated on the graph
below, over 50% of all respondents are interested in local
current affairs/discussions. Ocean FM is delivering what
people want, with over half of all people in the franchise
area agreeing that Ocean FM “has good current affairs
programmes”. We can see that regular Ocean FM listeners put
a particularly high value on this programming strand, with 75%
of respondents in this group agreeing that Ocean FM has good
current affairs programmes.
Programming
Senator, Susan O’Keeffe
5.2.7 Speech programming. Please set out the approach
to speech-based programming that does not have
news, current affairs or sport as its focus (arts and
entertainment, culture, history, education, minority
interests, etc.). In particular, please detail:
Speech programming is a hugely important part of the schedule
at Ocean FM. Our expectations in this area are high – we must
entertain, inform, inspire, excite, and provoke thought. To
live up to this expectation, we have developed a diverse set
of hard working, high quality programmes. As a result, Ocean
FM has developed a reputation for cutting edge, imaginative
and inventive speech programming. This excellence has been
recognised by our peers and independent organisations across
Ireland and Europe.
In the past three years alone, Ocean FM’s speech programming
has been recognised by the following awards, including the
coveted Prix Europa – this is the first time that a local station
from anywhere in Europe has won this award.
Ocean FM’s Awards In The Last Three Years
Winner – Prix Europa for Drama 2013
Winner - Best Magazine Programme, PPI Radio Awards 2013
Winner - Best Specialist Speech Programme,
PPI Radio Awards 2013
Winner – Music Special, PPI Radio Awards 2013
Winner – Craoltóireacht le Gaeilge, PPI Radio Awards 2013
Winner – Best Drama, PPI Radio Awards 2013
5.
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“Ocean FM’s daily current
affairs programme offers
relevant and timely
analysis of both local
and national issues.
Politicians and public
alike get a fair chance
to speak. Election or
referendum debates are
hosted either in studio or
in the Oireachtas studio.
The channel also provides
a strong, self-originated
news service and
dedicated business and
agriculture/agribusiness
weekly programmes. This
is local radio as it should
be - in tune and in touch
with its community.”
As belts have tightened, our listeners are more conscious
than ever of getting the best value for their money and
this includes protecting themselves when it comes to
purchases of all kinds. Sensing an appetite among the
public, we introduced a regular consumer affairs slot to our
schedule. Our presenter, Claire Ronan, follows up specific
cases, deals with legislation, identifies best value products
and tackles misconceptions around all areas of consumer
protection and commercial practices. The slot has been a
huge success, generating a huge amount of local debate and
profile around these issues. Ocean FM has now developed
a reputation as the go-to place for advice in consumer
protection and Claire has become a regular guest on RTÉ 1
Television.
Silver Medal Winner – Station of the Year, PPI Radio Awards 2013
Bronze Medal Winner – Sports Story, PPI Radio Awards 2013
Merit Award – Justice Media Awards, Law Society of Ireland 2013
Silver Medal Winner – Craoltóireacht le Gaeilge, PPI Radio Awards 2012
Silver Medal Winner – Station of the Year, PPI Radio Awards 2011
Bronze Medal Winner – Music Special, PPI Radio Awards 2011
5.2.7.1 The format (documentary, magazine etc.), duration,
content and frequency (weekly, monthly, etc.) of such
programmes.
The following speech based programmes feature every week on
Ocean FM.
OCEAN FM MAIN SPEECH-BASED PROGRAMMES
Ocean Life: Monday to Friday, 11am to 12 noon.
The full breadth of life and leisure in the North West is
discussed on this relaxed magazine style show. Features include
travel, legal issues, consumer affairs, health matters, cookery
and technology. Ocean Life also has a strong community and
charity focus and provides a platform for minority interests and
disability issues.
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Programming
The Lazy Afternoon:
5.
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Monday to Friday, 12noon to 4pm.
Francie Boylan anchors this show, with Michelle Gildea on hand
to add some spice to the mix. The team get out and about
during the week and feature all that is best about living in the
North West. Defined by Francie’s personable approach and offbeat humour, the show also thrives on listener interaction, with
comments and stories from across the three counties keeping
listeners entertained. “The Lazy Afternoon” was selected as
winner of Best Magazine Show at the PPI awards this year,
beating off competition from RTÉ, Newstalk and 2FM.
Arts House:
This show had a clean grasp of its audience and managed to
be humorous without being contrived.
Sunday, 8.00pm to 9.00pm.
Arts House features all colours of artistic life from Sligo, North
Leitirm and South Donegal. The North West has a vibrant and
varied artistic life, ranging from national and international
professionals to community and amateur groups. This is the
most comprehensive round up, review and analysis of the
artistic, literary, craft and cultural scene available in the area.
Arts House was the Gold Medal winner in the specialist speech
category at the PPI Radio Awards in 2013.
Judges Citation for “The Lazy Afternooon”, Gold Award,
Best Magazine Show, PPI Radio Awards, 2013.
Intuitively innovative approach to cultural experience that
results in really entertaining radio.
Community Diary:
Monday to Friday, 11.30am, 2.30pm, 5.30pm.
Features everything that is happening at a grassroots level
across Sligo, North Leitrim and Donegal. Whether a local
charity gig or a parish social, Community Diary is how people in
our franchise area get the publicity they need.
Judges’ citation for “Paddy at the Proms”, Gold Award at
PPI Radio Awards, 2013.
Outdoor Pursuits:
Thursday, 9.30pm to 10pm.
The North West has a firmly established and well-deserved
reputation among outdoor and adventure enthusiasts of all
kinds. Outdoor Pursuits allows listeners to explore the wealth
of opportunities on their doorstep and encourages them to get
active, explore their surroundings and test their limits.
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Sunday Service/Mass:
Sunday, 10.30am to 11.15am.
Interdenominational broadcasts feature each week.
Our schedule also regularly features additional special speech
programmes and series. These series are essential to adding to
the range of programming available to audiences in our area
and embrace a surprisingly broad range of topics and formats.
We have worked for a number of years to build capacity across
our team in order to ensure that the quality of this output
compares with the best in national and international radio.
Most recently, we aired a thought-provoking week-long series
on “Ocean Life” under the title “Diversity Sligo” which looked
at the lives of a number of very different immigrants, all
based in the Sligo area. The programme really got the heart
of immigrant life, showing the widely varying situations that
Programming
A striking array of topics has been dealt with in our
specialist speech programming over the years. We have
looked at famous writers and artists with a connection
to the North West – for example Spike Milligan, Bram
Stoker and W.B. Yeats - delved into issues such as religion,
disability, emigration and health matters and put the
spotlight on historical landmarks such as the shipwreck
of the Spanish Armada in 1588, Carrowmore Megalithic
Cemetery and Lissadell House.
5.2.7.2 In the case of a special/ documentary series, the
minimum number envisaged per month/annum.
Ocean FM has a dedicated slot for drama and documentaries,
from 9.00am to 9.30am each Sunday. These types of
programmes greatly add to the richness of our schedule and
it is Ocean FM’s ambition to retain this diversity. We believe
that our listeners are motivated by, and interested in, a broad
range of topics – as varied as everyday life across our franchise
area. The opportunity to undertake this type of programming
also re-invigorates the team, increases motivation and sparks
new interest in experimenting and exploring new approaches.
In building skills such as paying attention to soundscape,
finding innovative ways to tell stories through sound, interview
and research techniques that lead to in-depth coverage and
really get under the skin of an issue, no amount of training
can substitute for practical experience in the field. This also
distinguishes these programmes from other output at the
station and broadens choice for listeners.
Producing this kind of programming, at the level that we
expect of ourselves, requires significant resources. This is very
difficult for a small local station. In the main, we have relied
on outside funding to produce special /documentary series – in
particular looking to the BAI’s Sound and Vision Broadcasting
Fund. We have a full time Sound and Vision producer, Aisling
Heraughty, to ensure best use is made of this funding. We
also believe that continued funding from Sound and Vision
is essential to realise the investment our core staff have
already put into enhancing their skills and to maintaining and
improving the quality of programming of this nature available
to listeners in the North West.
5.
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people from beyond our shores find themselves in (some
working in high paid jobs, others trapped in the direct
provision system of the state for years). The programmes
highlighted the contributions they make to everyday life here
and the challenges they face in carving out a new life.
“Dealing with a historical subject… this play is full of
contemporary life. The seamless storytelling develops a
classic Homeric theme with humour and humanity. The
jury was convinced by the highly elaborate ensemble
performance and use of multilingual dialogues, which
delivers the poetry in a rhythmic and surprising way,
supported by evocative music with both Spanish and Irish
motifs. We congratulate Ocean FM, a very small Irish
station, for supporting this debut radiodrama.”
Citation from Judging Panel for “Francisco” – Winner of
Prix Europa 2013
Sound and Vision provides a unique opportunity to explore the
many different ways we can interact with our listeners, to
create and innovate in programming and to delve into subjects
that might otherwise be ignored. We have been enthusiastic
supporters of the scheme since inception and have so far
produced and broadcast almost 30 series and programmes
in our own right under the scheme. To our knowledge,
this contrasts with the performance of other stations – for
example, over the life of the scheme, Midwest Radio has itself
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produced only one programme through Sound and Vision and
broadcast 15 by other producers, while Highland Radio has
never produced a programme in-house and has broadcast 16 by
independent producers.
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5.
We are currently preparing to air a 25-part series which
delves into the fascinating, varied and often hidden heritage
of twenty five Great Houses in the North West. Dealing with
subjects as diverse as architecture, local history, genealogy,
archaeology, flora and fauna, the aim is to introduce the
people of the North West to their heritage through an
examination of these enigmatic and distinguished buildings
and their estates. We would like to maintain a steady pipeline
of projects through Sound and Vision and any other available
funding sources. In order to do so, we intend to regularly
develop 10 or 15 part series, in the mould of “Great Houses
of the North West” in addition to single documentaries and
smaller series.
We are hungry to provide this kind of programming and will
embrace whatever funding opportunities are offered. The
minimum number of series that can be produced depends on
the funding available. In the coming year, we can commit to
filling our drama/documentary slot for at least 37 weeks but
have ideas in the pipeline that should provide programming
beyond this.
Our policy is to make programming that is open and inclusive.
Questions of sexuality, religious difference, ethnicity or
cultural background are all given the consideration that they
deserve as part of our society. We aired “Voices of the Globe”
relating the experiences of those living under the direct
provision system in the North West, which won the Metro
Eireann Media and Multicultural Award. We regularly provide
52
opportunities for our LGBT communities to give their views on
air, have been commended for our treatment of issues relating
to Travellers and minority groups including immigrants to
the North West. In this way, we believe that we can provide
a voice for those underrepresented or marginalised in our
community.
5.2.7.3 The tolerence of these programmes to the target
audience.
All of our speech based programming is inspired by and
focussed on the local culture of our area – whether we are
bringing the flavour of an important local event to listeners
or throwing the spotlight on hidden gems of our history
and culture. This approach shapes our speech programming
as relevant to our listeners - reflecting local concerns and
resonating with the everyday experience of people living
here. The breadth and diversity of our speech programming
is something that listeners value, with 82% of those surveyed
expressing the opinion that a “wide range of entertaining
programmes” is important for a local station. A very high
proportion (63%) also expressed interest in documentary
programming.
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“The success of
Francisco in winning
the Prix Europa is a
tremendous example
of local radio and
local communities
working together.”
Michael Colreavy,
TD, at the Joint
Oireachtas Committee
on Communications
Irish culture is often defined in a very narrow sense - linked
strictly to traditional music and language. However we prefer
to take a broader view – Irish culture is who we are and what
we do. Anything that is uniquely generated here, that reflects
our ideas, values and heritage and that represents the distinct
character of the North West - from Gaelic games to local bands
and the visual arts to drama. Taking this as our starting point
at Ocean FM, we believe that our schedule is permeated with
Irishness and Irish culture, without us needing to sign-post or
segregate this programming.
audience to whom it would otherwise be inaccessible. The
themes of these programmes are carefully chosen to also
appeal to fluent Irish speakers.
5.2.8.1 Programmes in the Irish language
Ocean FM beat off competition from Raidió na Gaeltachta
and other Irish language stations to win the PPI Gold Award
for Craoltóireacht le Gaeilge in 2013 and the Silver in 2012.
This demonstrates our commitment to delivering high quality
programming in the Irish language.
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5.2.8 Irish language and Irish Culture programming. Please
indicate the amount and type of programming to be broadcast
Oidhreacht: Daily.
1-2 minutes x 5 times
Although Ocean FM has a small pocket of designated Gaeltacht
area within its franchise, the overall number of Irish speakers
in the Sligo/North Leitrim/South Donegal area is relatively
small. Fluent and motivated Irish speakers are well-catered for
by Raidió na Gaeltachta. Unfortunately, for those who do not
use the language on a regular basis, or who have Irish only to
the level of primary or basic secondary school, the majority of
RnaG’s programming is too advanced. It is our view that too
much Irish language programming preaches to the converted it is aimed at those who are already fluent.
These short pieces delve into the meanings and history
associated with local townlands across Sligo, North Leitrim and
South Donegal. This series has proven very popular with Ocean
FM listeners. In fact, it is the accessibility of the simple Irish
used in the pieces and their repetition that has made them so
popular – many listeners tell us that they are slowly re-learning
their school Irish through listening to them and due to local
demand we are about to issue the series on CD.
Cén Chiall Atá Le Sloinne: Laethúil. Nóiméad amháin x 8.
In general, our Irish language programming targets those that
have an interest in the language and are open to improving
their level of Irish but are not proficient. As a result, we favour
simple and short bursts of Irish content, using accessible
language, structured so that the listener can follow the gist
of the piece even if they don’t understand every sentence or
phrase. Essentially, the presenter guides the listener through
the programme to ensure that they remain engaged. In this
way, we hope to bring these elements of Irish culture to an
Bunaithe ar rath na sraithe ‘Oidhreacht,’ tá sé i gceist againn
mír nua a chraoladh sna míonna seo amach romhainn. Tugann
an tsraith blas d’ábhar suimiúil an ghinealais don éisteoir.
Déanann gach mír iniúchadh ar shloinne coitianta atá bainteach
le hiar-thuaisceart na hÉireann agus pléann sé a chiall, a
bhunús is a stair. Chomh maith leis an mír Ghaeilge, craolfar
mír Bhéarla am eile ar an lá céanna, ionas gur féidir le daoine
comparáid a dhéanamh idir an dá leagan de agus chun tuiscint
53
Programming
agus suim sa Ghaeilge a mhúscailt i measc an lucht éisteachta
san iar-thuaisceart.
SECTION
5.
What’s in a Name?:
Daily, 1 minute x 8 times.
(4 as Gaeilge and 4 in English each day).
Building on the success of “Oidhreacht”, it is our intention
to introduce this new segment in the coming months. The
series provides a taster on the enduring and captivating
subject of genealogy. Each segment examines a popular or
famous surname associated with the North West of Ireland and
outlines its meanings, origins and history. In addition to the
original Irish piece, a parallel translation in English will also be
broadcast in separate slots on the same day, allowing people
to compare the two versions and thereby further stimulate
understanding of and interest in the Irish language among the
broader public in the Northwest.
Ursuline College
Every year Ocean FM and the Ursuline College Secondary
School work together to research, script and produce a piece
of radio in Irish that relates to the local area. The quality and
originality of the pieces produced has been very impressive
to date and these programmes have won the Comórtas Clár
Raidió, Gael Linn, a Gold Medal at the PPI Radio Awards in 2013
and a Silver Medal in 2012.
Seachtain na Gaeilge
Ocean FM has participated in regular Seachtain na Gaeilge
programming initiatives. Each year we have also produced
a number of different and original programmes and slots to
highlight Seachtain na Gaeilge and to promote the language in
our area.
Soup agus Soap
The Ocean FM studios have provided a terrific facility
for myself and my students over the past few years. We
have won many Gael Linn and Conradh na Gaeilge Irish
Language Radio Programme awards, a PPI Silver Award in
2012 and the ultimate PPI Gold Award in 2013. This would
not have been possible without the professional help and
hard work of Kevin Blessing. Kevin and the team at Ocean
FM have been ever-willing to give of their time and skills.
It is thanks to them that these students have been able to
compete on a national level and bring home the gold!
Martha Lee, Irish Teacher, Ursuline College Sligo.
54
We are currently developing an improvised Irish language
soap, broadcast daily at lunchtime in short instalments. This
initiative has grown from an experimental idea, developed as
part of Seachtain na Gaeilge last year. Rossa O’Snodaigh of
traditional band, Kila and Sorcha Fox, actress and script writer
with Ros na Run, are collaborating with us on this new venture
and we hope that it will become a regular part of our schedule.
Both are resident in Manorhamilton and have worked with
Ocean FM on special programming in the past. The series will
be recorded in our Manorhamilton studios.
Programming
Cois na Tine: Sunday.
7pm to 8pm. (60% Irish Language).
This show is presented by longstanding members of Comhaltas
Ceoltóirí Eireann and Irish language enthusist, Vince Hearns.
Our area is steeped in traditional Irish music and Cois na
Tine shows that this tradition is alive and well. This bilingual
programme includes traditional lore and chat and features live
music sessions.
Ocean FM embraces the special place that our area
holds in the life of the Irish musical tradition. We have
highlighted the proud legacy of iconic local musicians such
as Michael Coleman and James Morrison through dedicated
documentary series and support the activities of Áras
Coleman, the hub for traditional culture of all kinds in the
North West. We are currently preparing to air a series on
the unique traditional music of the Travelling people of
the North West, combining gems from the archives of Áras
Coleman and recording, for the first time, some of the
authentic voices and Travelling musicians of our area.
Is gar do chroí Ocean FM an áit lárnach atá ag an gceol
traidisiúnta sa taobh seo tíre. Mar gheall ar sin, tá béim
curtha againn, i sraith fhaisnéise, ar oidhreacht bhródúil
na gceoltóirí cáiliúla áitiúla, leithéidí James Morrison
agus Michael Coleman agus tugaimid tacaíocht rialta do na
gníomhaíochtaí a bhíonn ar bun acu i gCeoláras Coleman,
croílár an chultúir thraidisiúnta anseo san iar-thuaisceart.
Um an dtaca seo, táimid ag obair ar shraith nua faoi
cheol an Lucht Siúil san iar-thuaisceart, le meascán de
mhíreanna ón gcartlann i gCeoláras Coleman, chomh maith
le taifeadtaí, don chéad uair riamh, de roinnt amhránaithe
agus ceoltóirí de chuid an Lucht Siúil ón gceantar seo.
The essence of traditional Irish Music is that it is played live.
We invite musicians from all local traditional festivals to play
live on air, particularly during the Summer Festival season.
We continue to innovate and explore means to produce
programming into which Irish is woven in a creative way that
appeals to listeners. A recent example is Francisco, where the
use of Irish and English together in the piece was favourably
commented on by the judging panel in Berlin.
5.2.8.3 Programmes relating to Irish culture.
5.
SECTION
5.2.8.2 Bilingual programming, indicate the approximate
amount of Irish therein;
It is very difficult to quantify how much of our schedule relates
to Irish culture, it permeates our programming. For example,
our speech and current affairs programming host debates on
different elements of Irish culture every day. Nonetheless, we
have set out here some main scheduled programmes that fall
within this sphere.
PROGRAMMES RELATING TO IRISH CULTURE
Ocean Life: Monday to Friday, 11am to 12pm.
The Lazy Afternoon: Monday to Friday, 12noon to 4pm.
Both our magazine programmes has regular features on the
Arts in the North West including the Hawk’s Well Theatre in
Sligo, The Abbey Centre in Ballyshannon, The Glens Centre in
Manorhamilton and the Model Arts Centre in Sligo Town.
“Play Irish” on Ocean Drive:
Monday to Friday, 6.00pm to 6.30pm.
Every weekday, Shane Smyth hosts an Irish act live in studio
or features a pre-recorded piece with an Irish artist. This is an
exceptional opportunity to feature Irish musicians of all colours
and show off the depth of Irish musical talent available.
55
Programming
Ocean Country Jamboree:
Monday to Friday, 7pm to 10pm.
This programme has a particular focus on Irish Country and
Western – a genre of music that is distinctly Irish and has deep
roots in our area. Our presenters are embedded in the Irish
Country scene and do not just play records – artist’s interviews
are a regular feature and the programme has been central in
launching the careers of a number of local Irish Country and
Western Stars.
SECTION
5.
Arts House:
Sunday, 8pm to 9pm.
Arts House features all colours of artistic life from Sligo, North
Leitrim and South Donegal. The North West has a vibrant and
varied artistic life, ranging from national and international
professionals to community and amateur groups. This is the
most comprehensive round up, review and analysis of the
artistic, literary, craft and cultural scene available in the area.
Arts House was received a Gold Medal at the PPI Radio Awards
in 2013.
Oldies and Irish :
Sunday, 12 noon to 2pm.
Marion Fitzgerald is one of the best loved personalities in the
North West and has a special relationship with the elderly and
those in hospital, making place for them on the airwaves in this
show. Every Sunday, she opens her doors to listener requests
with an emphasis on Irish acts and ballad artists.
The Irish Album:
Sunday, 9pm to 10pm.
Karen Spellman hands the initiative to Irish acts with an hour
of new Irish music tracks and the best home-grown talent.
56
In addition to these mainstays of the schedule, Ocean FM
has a steady stream of special programmes and broadcasting
initiatives that highlight and celebrate all that is special about
the cultural life of our area. Some of this is produced with the
assistance of the Sound and Vision Broadcasting Fund and some
evolves through our interaction with groups and organisations
in our area, all reflect the incredible vibrancy of the people
and culture of the North West. The examples below give a
flavour of this.
Punch and Kickham: Written by Diarmuid O’Brien (The Panel)
and brought to life with respected local actors of the stature
of Maria Mc Dermott Roe, John O’Dowd and the crew from The
Lazy Afternoon. Punch and Kickham followed two hapless Sligo
detectives, striving incompetently to keep the streets of Sligo
safe.
Fleadh Cheoil: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will be taking
place in Sligo in 2014. Ocean FM is already planning a week
of comprehensive programming bringing key performances, a
flavour of the atmosphere and all essential information relating
to the Fleadh to our listeners and visitors to the County. We are
active members of the Fleadh Cheoil Organising Committee.
Sligo Schools Got Talent: This show has fostered and featured
talented teenagers from every corner of our franchise area,
and was expanded to include the whole of the North West in
its second and subsequent years. Offering a platform for all,
the series sheds light on the extraordinary wealth of talent and
positive energy that our school-goers possess.
Sligo Live: Sligo Live is the biggest and most ambitious
alternative and roots music festival in the North West. Every
year, Ocean FM partners with Sligo Live to promote the festival
and its acts.
Programming
Máire Garvey,
Dip in the Nip
Rory O’Connor, Sligo Live
Tubbercurry Old Fair Day: Ocean FM supports Tubbercurry
Old Fair Day, the biggest traditional festival in this part of our
franchise area. The station broadcasts live from the event,
encouraging those that are out and about to take to the
airwaves and bringing a flavour of local traditional crafts, skills
and arts to our listeners.
Yeats Day and the Tread Softly Festival: W.B. and Jack
Yeats are cultural icons for this area and hugely important
to many facets of life in the North West – cultural, economic
and societal. Ocean FM liaises closely with the organising
committee to highlight the festival programme and features
samples of the best on air.
Rory Gallagher Festival: Ocean FM always has a presence
on the ground at the annual Rory Gallagher Festival in
Ballyshannon. The station gets in on the action, celebrating
Ballyshannon’s most famous musical son with locals and fans
from across the country.
Special Documentary series at the station have embraced all
facets of local and Irish heritage and culture: Spike Milligan,
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, an Irish take on The Proms,
Bram Stoker, Sligo Gaol, The Fighting 69th Brigade, minority
religions in the North West, The World Rally Championship in
the North West, emigration, the history of independent radio in
Ireland and many more.
5.
SECTION
“Ocean FM have been
an important and
steadfast supporter
of the Dip in the Nip
since it started in
2009 and have been an
enthusiastic partner in
all Dips, and on their
own initiative made
a number of minidocumentaries of live
Dips that were very
well received.”
Over the past nine years Ocean has been a fully committed
partner of Sligo Live, recognising that, like yourselves,
Sligo Live is an integral part of the community. The genuine
enthusiasm of your presenters and in depth coverage of
the festival and the artists playing it have played a major
part in embedding the event in the hearts and minds of the
community. We sincerely hope we can continue to work
together over the coming years.
5.2.9 Music Policy. Please describe in detail the proposed
policy in respect of the music programming and how it will be
of relevance to the target audience. A clear definition for each
music type/genre or category should be included.
All traditional music festivals in our area including the Michael
Coleman Traditional Festival, the South Sligo Summer School
and the James Morrison Traditional Music Festival are featured
on Ocean FM.
Ocean FM’s music policy is focussed and reflective of the
ever changing needs and wants of the Adult 25+ radio listener
in the Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal area. Ocean FM has
clearly identified its potential audience and the music has
been carefully chosen not alone to reinforce the popularity of
Ocean FM in the past but with additional refinements to ensure
its future appeal. The Ocean FM music policy is based on the
“formative years” of our potential listener. The music policy
base for Ocean FM targeting a 25+ Adult is the period from
1980 to 1990.
Allingham Arts Festival: Now in its third year, The Allingham
Art’s Festival receives the full support of Ocean FM. Reflecting
the unique mix of disciplines that gives the festival its
character, from Ballad signing competitions to cultural debate
to local drama coverage, Ocean FM embraces all.
Ocean FM’s music policy is designed to be popular with the
target listener and at the same time being distinctly different
to other operators with the market; this is what gives us our
unique music appeal. We feel that, recent improvements made
to the music policy at Ocean FM have not not only broadened
57
Programming
our appeal but have also strengthened the bond with our
existing listenership and improved the offer for potential
listeners.
SECTION
5.
In creating the music policy for Ocean FM, we have identified
songs that fit with the format and also create an identifiable
consistent and entertaining adult contemporary sound over
a 24 hour 365 day period. We are constantly monitoring our
music output to guarantee that the music we play is always
fresh and focussed. We operate a strict rest and rotate music
policy which maintains, improves and builds the listener loyalty
and time spent listening to Ocean FM.
The following table highlights the Music Policy structure of
Ocean FM and the era from which the music played on Ocean
FM is based on the 7am to 7pm period. The table also details
the percentages of each category that will be played on Ocean
FM. We also ensure that a minimum of 30 % of the music we
play on Ocean FM will be of Irish origin. Although the music
policy of Ocean FM is primarily era-based, included within
these eras is a broad genre mix of music styles including – Pop
/ Rock / Power Ballad / American Country / Irish Country /
Traditional Irish / Easy Listening / Popular Reggae and R+B.
Ocean FM Music Music Era PPS %
Genre
Category
58
Hot Currents
1 year 20%
Current
Recurrent
1 to 3 years
30%
Recent
Millenium
4 to 10 years 90’s
10 to 20 years 40%
Contemporary
80’s
20 to 30 years
Late 70’s
30 years + Older 70’s + 60’s
60’s + 70’s 10%
Old Gold
Country Music
For some listeners, Ocean FM is synonymous with Country
music, our station plays 16 hours of Country a week, with
Ocean Country Jamboree taking centre stage from 7pm to
10pm and every Saturday morning Ireland’s King of Country,
Pascal Mooney broadcasting from 11am to 2pm. The station
provides a highly valued platform for new and local Country
artists and has been to the forefront in championing upcoming
talent. There is a huge demand for this music among our
audience, with 85% of regular Ocean FM listeners saying that
they are interested in this genre. As a result, our evening
listenership is higher than most other local stations. This
demand has also spawned a number of complementary
activities by the station, such as the release of our Ocean
FM Country Music Awards CD and a very successful series of
Country music concerts.
Traditional Music
Traditional music is also important to the identity of this
franchise area. In addition to a weekly programme putting the
spotlight on Traditional Music, we have broadcast a number of
special features and series on the Traditional Irish music of our
franchise area and cover important festivals such as Michael
Coleman Traditional Festival, the South Sligo Summer School
and the James Morrison Traditional Music Festival. Traditional
band, Kila, were an integral part of our flagship cultural
project for 2013, Francisco, with their specially devised
traditional score, breathing life into the series.
Programming
Other specialist music strands are also core to our offering.
In 2013, we won a PPI Radio Award for our Music Special,
focussing on classical music, and we broadcast a weekly
classical music programme. We also cover all manner of
musical events in our franchise area, embracing a huge range
of tastes and styles. These include the Celtic Fringe Festival,
the Sligo Jazz Festival, the Seán Mac Diarmada Festival in
Killyclogher, the Sea Shanty Festival and the Sligo Choral
Festival.
5.2.10 Irish Music Policy. Please define the Irish music that will
be aired and, as a percentage of the total music output, the
amount of Irish music that will be played in the 07:00-19:00
period and in the total broadcast day.
Ocean FM defines Irish music as “music of Irish origin, by which
we mean any music written, recorded or performed by Irish
artists or music by non-Irish artists recorded in Ireland.
We are the country’s leading station for commitment to Irish
music. As recognised by IMRO, we play more up and coming
and established Irish and traditional artists and music than any
other station.
Every evening, between 6.00pm and 6.30pm, Ocean Drive
surrenders the airwaves to an Irish act. “Play Irish” has
provided the first rung on the ladder for countless new acts,
has been the engine in breaking new music for many existing
Irish artists and is an institution when it comes to live Irish
music in the North West. We are one of the few local stations
operating IMRO’s “Play Irish” scheme and are the only station
to have received the IMRO award for commitment to Irish
music for two years running.
5.
SECTION
Other Specialist Music
“From our first single to the most recent, the fundamental
starting point of any Irish band is the Play Irish campaign
– it’s where Irish DJ’s take Irish bands seriously and was a
great start to Frantic Jack’s career”
Frantic Jack
“Ocean FM and their play Irish feature have proven
innovative and extremely beneficial for any budding new
original Irish artist. I have found this to be a fantastic
platform for getting my music heard by a local audience,
something which proves almost impossible for new artists
when working with national broadcasters.”
Shane McLaughlin, Runner up on The Voice of Ireland 2013
“This award reflects the commitment of everyone in Ocean
to supporting Irish music”
Victor Finn, IMRO
Ocean FM commits to playing a minimum of 30% music of Irish
origin – both contemporary and traditional – between 7am and
7pm and across the broadcasting day. We consistently exceed
this percentage and see no reason for this to change.
“The Play Irish campaign was one of our first radio
experiences on Ocean FM and a great starting point for any
Irish band.”
The Academic
59
Programming
5.2.11 New Opportunities for Irish talent. Please detail how
the proposed service will create new opportunities for Irish
talent having regard to music, drama and entertainment and
in particular, in respect of Irish culture.
SECTION
5.
Throughout the past 10 years, Ocean FM has been a strong
supporter of emerging and established local talent and we
will continue to keep this as a focus. We provide opportunities
to local performers and artists wherever possible. We have
dedicated slots in our schedule, weave them into our key
programmes and we regularly develop special initiatives in the
area.
We are conscious of the role that we can play in developing
and reinforcing the cultural strength of the North West. In
addition to our regular activities, we have sought to support
artistic communities through funding from the Sound and Vision
Broadcasting Fund, collaborating with local groups and artists
to produce radio drama, comedy and music programming which
adds to the vitality of the arts in the region and fosters an
appreciation for this type of programming among our audience.
Radio Drama
The North West of Ireland is a hub for artistic activity and
many writers, actors and artists of national and international
standing are based on our doorstep. In recognition of this fact,
Ocean FM sought to build creative partnerships with these
artistic communities, with the aim of producing innovative
and imaginative programming for our listeners. These efforts
are now bearing fruit, with the station broadcasting a number
of ground breaking and innovative dramas in recent years. In
2013, the station was awarded the Prix Europa for its radio
drama “Francisco”, written and directed by local writer Donal
O’Kelly and scored and performed by locally-based members of
60
traditional band Kila. This is the first time a local station has
ever been awarded the prestigious prize, which recognises the
best in radio across Europe.
Ocean FM were absolutely crucial to the development
of “Francisco” for recording and broadcast. The major
European broadcasters are now looking to Ocean FM’s
model for radio drama development….According to a Prix
Europa convenor, in fifteen years working on the festival
she had never seen a production attain so many ten-outof-tens. That’s thanks in large part to Ocean FM giving us
the liberty to make something simultaneously innovative
and accessible, an organic artistic creation rather than an
industrial product. And I’m looking forward to growing the
partnership into the future.
Donal O’Kelly, Writer and Director, “Francisco”.
We have also collaborated with John O’Dowd of Truewest
Productions in bringing the powerful and atmospheric piece
“Mary Motorhead” to radio. The piece recently won the
“Best Drama” prize at the PPI Radio Awards this year. These
relationships continue to evolve and our network is expanding
to include other artists in the area. Our open and collaborative
approach has brought genuine freshness and vitality to this
programming and offers something really different for listeners
in the North West.
Focussing on the younger generation, Ocean FM embraced
the idea of “Sligo School’s Got Talent” a number of years ago
and it has proved a great success in encouraging and fostering
young performers in all genres of entertainment. We have been
supporting the initiative ever since and the concept has more
recently been adopted by RTE. We also run poetry and essaywriting competitions for young, school-goers.
Programming
Eamon Fitzpatrick, PRO,
‘Unite for Life’,
Sligo-Leitrim
Robbie McNabb, Our Schools Got Talent
Our daily “Play Irish” slot on Ocean Drive is a mainstay of
the schedule. Regular slots also feature on Ocean Life, The
Lazy Afternoon and Arts House – embracing performers from
all areas of the arts including music, drama, comedy and
entertainment.
Ocean FM has a reputation for supporting and encouraging
new and established country acts across the North West, and
Ocean Country Jamboree offers a crucial lifeline for these
performers. Our Country Concerts have been instrumental in
the breakthrough of a number of new artists in this genre.
Placement and training initiatives also support upcoming talent
and open the airwaves to a wider pool. Ocean FM originated
the idea of “T.Y. Radio” together with schools in our area,
offering groups of Transition Year students the opportunity to
learn how to make a radio programme. Our policy is to offer
regular work experience placements to those who approach us
when considering a career in radio. A partnership with Leader
has also led to the “Gillaroo” programme, where young people
on both sides of the Border are trained and resourced with the
aim of producing a radio programme, dealing with themes of
heritage or history that appeal to them. The final production is
then broadcast on Ocean FM.
5.2.12 Purchase and sale of broadcast material. Please detail
the proposed policy in relation to the purchase and sale of
broadcast material, both from other broadcast organisations
and independent producers.
5.
SECTION
“On behalf of the ‘Unite
for Life’ group in SligoLeitrim, I would like to
acknowledge the fair
manner in which our
group were treated by
the Ocean FM news staff
and by Niall Delaney.
The professionalism
and courtesy which was
shown to us at all times
is much appreciated.....
where would we be
without local radio!”
Over the past three years Our Schools Got Talent has raised
almost €90,000 for Special Olympics Ireland and ISPCC/
Childline. The competition has grown from a single county
event in Sligo to an All Ireland event with the final televised
by RTE television last March. The support of Ocean FM has
been a major factor in the development and success of the
event. The initial tentative steps back in 2010 received
the fulsome backing of the Directors and staff, and their
assistance with the development of the community aspect and
student/school participation model proved invaluable with
the eventual rollout nationally of the Schools Talent Search
competition.
There is little room for purchased material on our airwaves
due to Ocean FM’s local-first approach - programming made
outside our station rarely has a real relevance for our listeners.
In addition, we have limited budget to purchase outside
programming. We do not intend that bought material would
have any substantial place in our schedule. We do make efforts
to sell original programming made by the station where we
think there may be an interest and will continue to do this.
5.2.13 Other programming proposals. If relevant, please
describe any other programming proposals which are proposed
to carry on the service.
To date, Ocean FM has broadcast, on an annual basis, from the
Oireachtas studios. We have had discussions with members of
the Oireachtas, to pursue the idea of producing a more regular
programme from the Oireachtas studios with all local T.D.s and
Senators. We will continue to look at this option for the future.
Ocean FM co-operates with schools and training bodies across
Sligo, North Leitrim and South Donegal to educate and excite
students about working in the media environment. These
ongoing initiatives will continue and will be extended wherever
possible.
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Programming
5.3 Programme Schedule. Please provide a typical sevenday programme schedule setting out the proposed hours
of broadcasting and details of programme content with
SECTION
5.
explanatory notes as to how the programmes meet with the
various commitments as outlined in the Programme Policy
Statement and generally, the diversity of programming in the
franchise area.
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE: MONDAY TO FRIDAY
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FEATURES
07.00 - 09.00
The Breakfast Club with Kevin Blessing
The perfect wake up mix of music, local information and entertainment, this is the go-to place for essential local info such as school closures and road works. Kevin Blessing introduces another new day at Ocean FM.
Local news and sport bulletins, traffic
updates, local information, weather
outlook, surf reports
09.00 – 11.00
North West Today with Niall Delaney
Niall Delaney presents a controversial and thought-provoking mix of news-driven current affairs, which debates the latest issues of the day in Sligo, North Leitrim and South Donegal. Head-to-head debates, listener
comments and interaction, election and
referendum debates
11.00 – 12.00
Ocean Life with Margaret Carr Flynn
The full breadth of life and leisure in the North West is discussed on this relaxed magazine-style show. Features include travel, legal issues, consumer affairs, health matters, cookery and technology. Ocean Life also has a strong community and charity focus and provides a platform for minority interests and disability issues.
Local and community news, consumer
affairs, gardening, travel, legal
issues, health matters, cookery and
technology, Arts Round Up, Oidhreacht
11.00 – 12.00
Destination Donegal with Daniel Browne
(Friday Only, Donegal Opt Out)
Every week, matters in Donegal are put under the current affairs spotlight in this current affairs and magazine programme. Debate, discussion and Donegal news are the order of the day.
11.30, 14.30,
Community Diary
17.30
Everything that is happening at a grassroots level across Sligo,
North Leitrim and Donegal, whether a local charity gig or a parish social.
Topical debate, in-depth coverage of
important stories in Donegal
Programming
06.57, 11.57,
FEATURES
Oidhreacht
15.57, 19.20, These short Irish Language pieces delve into the meanings and 02.03
history associated with local townlands across Sligo, North Leitrim and South Donegal. 12.00 – 16.00
16.00 – 19.00
The Lazy Afternoon with Francie Boylan and Michelle Gildea
Francie Boylan anchors this show, with Michelle Gildea on hand to add some spice to the mix. The team get out and about during the week and feature all that is best about living in the North West. Defined by Francie’s personable approach and off-beat humour, the show also thrives on listener interaction, with comments and stories from across the three counties keeping listeners entertained.
16.00 – 18.00
Contemporary and informative drivetime show, where classic and (Fridays)
easy listening favourites, with an emphasis on Irish artists, set the music playlist. Every weekday, Shane hosts an Irish act live in studio or features a pre-recorded piece with an Irish artist.
18.00 – 19.00
The Final Whistle with Darragh Cox
(Friday)
Ocean Drive with Shane Smyth
Ocean FM’s essential listening sports magazine. Presenter, Darragh Cox, is renowned for his comprehensive knowledge of sport and every Friday he leads listeners through a review of the sports action from the week gone by and gets out the crystal ball for the busy weekend of sport ahead.
19.00 – 22.00
Ocean Country Jamboree with John Ryan and Bernie Kane
19.00 – 21.00
From Irish Country and Western to Classic Country, this is Country (Thursday)
music at its best. Featuring stalwarts of the scene, upcoming acts and, of course, reserving a special place for those voices from our area. Oidhreacht, theatre review, local “amdram”, competitions, the show for live
studio interviews for any personality
visiting the North West.
5.
SECTION
“Play Irish”, local traffic and travel,
cinema reviews, competitions,
entertainment review, local bands live
on air.
Live commentaries, fixture list, results
update.
Oidhreacht, live interviews, artist of
the week.
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Programming
SECTION
5.
64
21.00 – 21.30
Agri-Week with Therese Madden
(Thursday)
21.30 – 22.00
The North West has a strong rural economy and agricultural issues remain important to our listeners. This is a topical look at the farming issues that are most relevant to our audience – whether it is CAP reform, mart prices or local or national agricultural or environmental policies.
(Thursday)
The North West has a firmly established and well-deserved
reputation among outdoor and adventure enthusiasts of all kinds. Outdoor Pursuits allows listeners to explore the wealth of opportunities on their doorstep and encourages them to get active, explore their surroundings and test their limits.
22.00 – 00.00
00.00 – 02.00
The Wave with Andrew Mooney
This show has a strong emphasis on local bands and new Irish music. 02.00 – 04.00
North West Today
Repeat of the day’s earlier edition
04.00 – 07.00
Ocean Dawn
An early morning mix of easy listening music to ease listeners into a new day
FEATURES
Mart reports from across Sligo,
North Leitrim and South Donegal.
Outdoor Pursuits with Francie Boylan
The Love Cruise with Des McAleer and Pauric Byrne
A laid back music programme, to ease everyone down and unwind after a long, hard day.
Links with IT Sligo, local band news.
Oidhreacht
Oidhreacht
Programming
07.00 – 09.30 Ocean Breakfast with Seamus McManus
14.00 – 18.00 Saturday Sports Beat with Darragh Cox
Waking up the weekend with a mixture of easy and Ronan Moyles
listening music. The show includes a surf A lively and comprehensive view of all sports report, a review of the papers, and a look at action in the franchise area, Saturday Sports community events over the weekend.
Beat provides a mix of sports news and reports, live match commentaries and a 09.30 – 10.00 Up and Running with Daniel Browne
sprinkling of musical favourites. Includes the This weekly programme throws the spotlight main evening news and Obituary Notices.
on current economic and business issues in the North West. Here we celebrate success, 18.00 – 00.00 Ocean Weekend Party with Ciaran Carty
highlight issues and their possible Saturday night is party night, with a music mix solutions, examine start ups and reflecting the disco era of the 70’s, the 80’s established business and look at innovative
and the 90’s, as well as today’s hot hits.
ideas, sectors and models developing in our area.
10.00 – 11.00 North West Today Rewind
A look back at some of the highlights and important issues raised on North West Today over the past week.
11.00 – 14.00 The Paschal Mooney Show with
Paschal Mooney
The best in country, with a sprinkling of 60’s, 70’s and Irish traditional music with the selection dictated by listener choice. Includes the main lunchtime news and Obituary Notices.
5.
SECTION
OCEAN FM PROGRAMME SCHEDULE: SATURDAY
00.00 – 08.00 Night Moves
Overnight easy-listening music show featuring Classic Hits from the last 30 years.
Three Studios and two main frequencies
We make extensive use of our facility to opt out on the
Donegal 105 FM frequency, including several news bulletins
every day, a weekly current affairs programme and regular
match commentaries. We also make extensive use of all three
studios with at least six hours programming per day coming
from Donegal and Manorhamilton being used at least weekly.
65
Programming
OCEAN FM PROGRAMME SCHEDULE: SUNDAY
5.
SECTION
08.00 – 09.00 Sunday Classics with Michael O’Donnell
Our classical music expert presents a selection of popular classics.
09.00 – 09.30 Drama and Documentaries
Ocean FM’s innovative and award winning drama and documentaries feature every Sunday morning with the support of Sound and Vision
09.30 – 10.00 Agri Week with Therese Madden
A topical look at the farming issues that are most relevant to our audience – whether it is CAP reform, mart prices or local or national agricultural or environmental policies.
10.00 – 10.30 Sunday Reflection
A soothing music slot in keeping with the reflective nature of Ocean’s Sunday morning programming. The programme features the main morning news bulletin and Obituary Notices.
10.30 – 11.15 Sunday Service
Weekly service broadcast live from throughout the region.
11.15 – 12.00 Hospitals Requests with Marion Fitzgerald
A dedicated programme especially for those sick in local hospitals, as well as residents in nursing homes.
66
12.00 – 14.00 Oldies and Irish with Marion Fitzgerald
This popular request driven programme is Irish in musical content and features ballad artists from all musical strains. Includes main lunchtime news and Obituary Notices.
14.00 – 18.00 Sunday Sport with Darragh Cox, Ronan Moyles, Tommy Clarke, Keith O’Dwyer, Pauric Byrne, P.J. Leddy and Pauric Hilferty
Ocean FM gets into the thick of it on the busiest day of the week, bringing live commentaries, news, views and reports and a major sports round up between 6pm and 7pm (seasonal).
18.00 – 19.00 Rovers Review
(Seasonal: March to November)
This is our Sligo Rovers “blog” live on air, peopled by the fans and dedicated to them. The programme acts as a Social Media hub for fans across the region and is the lifeline for debating the ins and outs of the beautiful game in the North West.
19.00 – 20.00 Cois Na Tine with Vince Hearns
A weekly programme of Irish traditional music and chat, in an area steeped in such music tradition. The programme is bi-lingual, and includes live trad sessions.
Programming
21.00 – 22.00 The Irish Album with Karen Spellman
Karen Spellman hands the initiative to Irish acts with an hour of new Irish music tracks and the best home-grown talent.
22.00 – 01.00 The Amazing Eighties with Mick O’Donovan
Three hours of the best hits from, arguably, the best music decade of them all!
01.00 – 02.00 Night Moves
A mixture of soft rock and easy listening favourites. Listeners can write, e-mail or text their all-time favourite rock classics and easy listening choices.
The ever-changing media landscape is a huge challenge to
traditional radio stations – driven by the economic downturn
and the ubiquity of new media. The way in which people
now access content has completely changed from the time
when local radio was established. We strongly believe that
content needs to be platform-neutral for stations to thrive and
Ocean FM has begun moving in this direction. But this is an
expensive process. Given additional resources, Ocean FM would
accelerate work to have our station at the heart of a multi
platform media business with the ability to deliver in line with
our audiences changing needs. This would include the provision
of on-line video content, extending the function of our “Films
4 U” service, live online coverage of news and sports events
and a larger library of podcast programmes.
5.
SECTION
20.00 – 21.00 Arts House with Therese Madden
Arts House features all colours of artistic life from Sligo, North Leitrim and South Donegal. The North West has a vibrant and varied artistic life ranging from national and international professionals to community and amateur groups. This is the most comprehensive round up, review and analysis of the artistic, literary, craft and cultural scene available in the area.
5.4 Additional Commitments. Please set out any additional
commitments in the context of the programming proposals
above which the applicant will deliver on in the event of an
economic upturn during the term of the contract.
There is a huge thirst for sports coverage across the three
counties of our franchise area and further development across
platforms would also allow the provision of a parallel sports
service where demand exists. Similarly, should the resources be
available, Ocean FM believes that the addition of a dedicated
Courts Reporter to our news team would broaden and
strengthen the news offering at the station.
02.00 – 04.00 North West Today Rewind
Repeat of the Friday’s edition of North West Today
04.00 – 07.00 Ocean Dawn
Classic Hits from the last 30 years.
67
SECTION
6.
68
Studios and Transmission
Please provide a detailed scaled drawing of the studio area
together with an overall plan of the studio and office complex
that is proposed. Please include the following information:
2. Ocean FM Donegal Studios
Gruagorm House
Donegal Town
Co. Donegal
“Ocean FM is a very
important platform
for Community and
Voluntary Groups like
Special Olympics.
It affords us an
opportunity to get
our message out
there, whether it is a
fundraising event or a
sporting event.”
6.1.1 The proposed location (including the name and
address) and total floor area available. In cases where it
is proposed to locate on a number of floors or in separate
buildings, please specify the floor area of each section.
Michael Carty,
Regional Fundraising
Coordinator,
Special Olympics
These three locations ensure that we are best placed to serve
each of the three counties covered by our franchise area and
are easily accessible by the public and by staff.
6.1.2 A description of the proposed building including
details of its construction, age of building, permitted
classes of use, level of access to people with disabilities
and why in the applicant’s view it is suitable for use as a
radio studio and/or office location.
The details are:
Details on the following pages.
Ocean FM has been headquartered at our modern, purpose
built broadcast centre in Collooney, Co.Sligo since our launch
in 2004.
In addition to our studios in Collooney, we also have modern
studios in Donegal Town and Manorhamilton, Co.Leitrim.
Floor area: 162 sq/m
3. Ocean FM Leitrim Studios
Library Corner
Manorhamilton
Co. Leitrim
6.
SECTION
6.1 Studios
Floor area: 65 sq/m
1. Ocean FM Broadcast Centre
Collooney
Co. Sligo
Floor area: 270 sq/m
69
6.
Ocean FM Broadcast Centre, Collooney
SECTION
This modern building situated in a business park at
the junction of the main Sligo, Dublin and Galway
Roads is accessible from all parts of the franchise
area and close to Sligo Town.
The building is fabricated from concrete,
steel frame and “Kingspan” sections and
was constructed in 2004. The area is zoned
‘commercial’ and the building has full planning
permission for use as a radio station.
The building has access for people with diabilities
including wheelchair access to all areas.
It has operated successfully as the headquarters of
Ocean FM for the past nine years.
70
This landmark modern building is situated on
Upper Main St. in the centre of the Town. It was
constructed in 2003 from steel and concrete. The
studios are on the first floor and have full planning
permission for use as a radio station.
The building is equipped with a modern lift and has
full disabled access.
6.
SECTION
Ocean FM Donegal Studios, Donegal Town
It has operated successfully as the Donegal Studios
of the station for the past nine years.
71
Ocean FM Leitrim Studios, Manorhamilton
6.
SECTION
This modern building was constructed in 2003 and
is situated at Library Corner, close to the centre of
Manorhamilton. It is a commercal unit and opens
on to the street. It has full planning permission for
use as a radio studio.
The building has full disabled access.
It has operated successfully as the Leitrim studios
of the station for the past nine years.
72
All three premises comply fully with Part M of the Building
Regulations and the NDA Buildings for Everyone Guidelines.
The acoustic treatment of the studio construction is as follows:
The studios have been constructed using methods that ensure
sound isolation of at least 55db/A. Interior walls are double
leaf, comprising multiple layers separated by heavy acoustic
panels. Where partitions coincide with structural walls, a
triple layer was used, with the central leaf integral with the
structure.
The internal walls are mounted on a resilient foundation and
the floor of the studio is carried on a long fibre type mineral
wool blanket which reduces floor borne vibrations.
Double layer, 15mm plasterboard with staggered joints was
used to clad the partitions with exposed surfaces plastered.
Internal wall surfaces are studded and filled with sound
absorbing compacted mineral wool, faced with hardboard
perforated to allow tailored absorbtion across the audio
frequency spectrum. Wall coverings are fire retardant hessian
with ash trim.
Observation windows are quadruple glazed with substantial air
spaces between panes and acoustic absorbing materials on the
reveals.
Doors are solid construction in accordance with fire regulations
with acoustic isolation through the use of magnetic seals and
rising thresholds. Door frames have been constructed to ensure
there are no bridges between the adjacent wall leaves.
Entrances to the main studios in Sligo and Donegal are via
sound lock with high isolation doors.
6.
SECTION
6.1.3 A detailed drawing that includes the dimensions of
the proposed studios, technical facilities, news, office and
administration areas. In particular, details of the manner by
which it is proposed to construct the studios, together with
details of the acoustic treatment are required.
6.1.4 Outline of the proposed heating, ventilation and
standby power plant should also be provided and where such
equipment is to be located.
Main office areas in all three buildings are heated via electric
storage heating. Studios do not require heating due to the heat
produced by studio equipment.
The Sligo and Donegal studios are ventilated via ducts fitted
above the acoustic ceilings fed by elastic suspensions to an
exterior air conditioning plant situated in the rack room and
fed to the exterior of both buildings. The rack room in Sligo
also has its own stand alone air conditioning unit.
The Manorhamilton studio is ventilaed via an extractor duct in
the acoustic ceiling linked to a fan.
The main studios in Sligo are equipped with a UPS and 40kva
standby generator.
All studios are fitted with suspended acoustic ceilings and
internal roofs isolated from the building’s existing structures.
Cable trays are fitted above the acoustic ceilings and drops
made inside partitions.
73
Section 6 - Studio and Transmission
6.1.5 The security mechanisms proposed to guard against
unauthorised access to the on-air studio.
SECTION
6.
All three studios are equipped with intercom/key fob release
locks, CCTV cameras and a fully monitored alarm system.
6.1.6 Please provide a list, including costs, of the principal
technical equipment that is to be installed, together with
available test and deviation limiting equipment.
We have listed below the equipment currently in use in our
studios. This has been maintained and upgraded or replaced as
necessary over the past nine years. Prices are original purchase
prices.
Ocean FM Broadcast Centre, Sligo
Main on air studio:
Euro
1 Custom designed furniture with acoustic inlay, floor and t/top equipment racks, interview table etc.
4200
1 Myriad Main Studio PC plus 2 x LCD monitors and V3 keyboard
2000
1 Myriad V3 Full Licence
1800
1 Shure SM7B microphone
5300
1 Alice AIR2000 split desk, 18 channel
14846
1 Alice DA6-2 distribution amplifier
380
3 Beyer DT100 headphones
380
1 BeyerDT150 headphones
330
3 Beyer M201 Guest mics
690
2 Marantz CD5400 CD players
800
4 Heavy duty anglepoise mic stands
352
1 Pair Omnimount speaker brackets
200
1 Pair Tannoy Reveal studio monitor speakers
270
1 Sonifex RB HDG distribution amplifier
360
2 Tascam MD350 MD players
796
74
News studio:
1 Custom designed furniture with acoustic inlay, floor
and t/top equipment racks, interview table etc.
1 Myriad Newsroom PC plus monitor and keyboard
1 Myriad V3 Full Licence
2 AKG C4500B Microphone
1 Alice TLK-10 talkback station
2 Heavy duty mic stands
1 Pair omnimount speaker brackets
1 Pair tannoy Reveal studio monitor speakers
1 Alice Series A 12 channel desk
2 MD reporters kits incl mics
1 Telephone hybrid
1 Prs Beyer DT100 headphones
2 Sony STSE570 tuners
1 Tascam MD350 MD players
Euro
Production studio:
1 Alice Series A split desk, production version
1 Myriad production PC plus two LCD monitors
and keyboard
1 Pair omnimount speaker brackets
1 Pair tannoy Reveal studion monitor loudspeakers
1 Rane headphones distribution amplifier
2 AKG C4500B microphone
2 Marantz CD5400 CD players
2 Tascam MD-801 MD players
4 Pairs Beyer DT100 headphones
Euro
3175
900
1800
1060
380
850
176
200
270
6500
1512
600
110
340
398
3820
6000
1800
380
200
270
360
1060
800
176
796
440
Ocean FM Donegal Studios
Main on air studio:
and t/top equipment racks, interview table etc
1 Myriad Studio PC with monitor and keyboard
1 Myriad v3 Full licence
1 AKG C4500B microphone
1 Alice AIR2000 split desk, 18 channels
3
1
3
2
4
1
1
1
2
Beyer DT100 headphones
DT150 headphones
Beyer M201 guest mics
Marantz CD5400
Heavy duty anglepoise mic stands
Pair Omnimount speaker brackets
Pair Tannoy Reveal studio monitor speakers
Rane headphone distribution amplifier
Tascam MD50 MD players
330
140
690
800
352
200
270
360
800
News studio:
2 AKG C4500B microphones
1 Pair Omnimount speaker brackets
1 Pair Tannoy Reveal studio monitor speakers
1 D and R Airmate desk
2 MD reporters kits inc mic
1 telephone hybrid
1 Pair Beyer DT100 headphones
1 Samson Servo 120 monitor amplifier
2 Sony STSE570 tuners
1 Tascam MD301 MD player
Euro
Rack room:
2 42U steel racks
1 Studio air con system, Mitsubishi
1 Alice Airswitch 3 router
2 Alice DA6-2 Distribution amplifier
1 Alice TLK-CCU talkback central controller
Euro
1100
25000
720
760
850
290
6.
SECTION
Rack room:
Euro
3 42U steel racks
200
1 Studio air con system. Mitsubishi
30000
1 Myriad server
2500
1 Alice Airswitch 3 router
720
1900
1 Alice MSU-10 transmission monitor
1350
850
1 Alice TLK-CCU talkback central controller
290
1 Andrew 4ft gridpack 1.4GHz antenna
1245
2 Comrex Vector POTS Codecs
11430
1 Dialog4 C-taxi ISDN Codec
4200
2 Dialog4 VP-Pro 128 ISDN Codec
9000
1 Gentner TS612 Telephone system w 3 studio phones 6,000
1 Krone interconnect system
3000
1 Moseley 4Ch Starlink 1.4 Ghz STL Tx
12360
1 Myriad logger
2500
1 Orban Optimod-FM 8400 processor/limiter
12990
6 Radio controlled clocks
228
1 News Satellite dish and receiver
6250
2 Marantz ST4000 tuners
340
1 Toshiba CTX100 PABK system
10000
3200
1060
380
850
175
200
270
1550
1512
600
110
205
340
400
Euro
4200
1500
1800
530
15000
380
75
6000
3000
2250
228
340
10000
7500
6.1.8 In cases where an applicant proposes to use existing
studio, office or computer equipment or buildings, please
specify the age of the equipment/facilities proposed, the
life expectancy of the equipment and the plan to replace
and refurbish such equipment/facilities during the lifetime
of any new contract, in addition to all of the information
requested above.
Ocean FM Leitrim Studios
Euro
1
3
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
3200
1590
380
400
4500
264
200
270
2054
220
205
170
800
1200
We have a policy of preventive maintenance where all
equipment is regularly serviced by our inhouse technical
support team with the assistance of external specialist IT and
studio/transmission contractors.
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
SECTION
6.
Gentner TS612 telephone system
Krone interconnection system
Orban Optimod-FM 8200 ST
Radio controlled clocks
Marantz ST4000 tuners
Panasonic PABX system
5.8Hz wifi link
Custom designed furniture with acoustic inlay, floor
AKG C4500B microphones
Alice DA6-2 distribution amplifier
Broadcast Technology CD630 CD Player
Dialog4 VP-pro 128 ISDN Codec
Heavy duty mic stands
Pair Omnimount speaker brackets
Pair Tannoy Reveal studio monitor speakers
D and R Airmate desk
Piars Beyer DT100 headphones
Sampson Servo 120 monitor amplifier
Sony STSE570 tuner
Tascam MD301 MD players
PC with LCD monitor
6.1.7 Please provide a list of the itemised costs for building
refurbishment, studio construction, office fixtures, fittings
and IT.
Over the past nine years we have regularly painted and
refurbished our main studios and this is not a significant future
cost. This year we re-carpeted the entire Collooney complex.
76
Equipment subject to wear and tear such as headphones and
mics have all been gradually replaced over the past nine years.
Where equipment has failed or come to the end of its life, it
has been replaced.
Where equipment has become obsolete it has been replaced.
For example, in order to upgrade our main playout Myriad
software to the V3 version, 18 months ago we replaced our
main server and all our studio, production and news PC’s at a
cost of €20,000.
In September this year we carried out a complete
refurbishment of our Alice desk in our main studio, replacing
the power supply and sliders at a cost of approx. €1,000.
Likewise, office PC’s including key work stations such as traffic
have all been upgraded in the past two years at a cost of
€4,500.
Over the next five years we anticipate spending an average
of €12,500/annum replacing and upgrading studio equipment
including eventually moving to a digital IP based console and
routing system.
6.2.1 Have you entered into negotiations with the owner/
operator of the site/s regarding arrangements for the
licence period? If so provide details. If not, state what
arrangements are anticipated/envisaged?
We have well established relationships and existing contracts
with all our site owners/operators. We have provided letters in
the appendix indicating that all owners/operators are happy to
continue this relationship.
6.2.2 Please provide the rationale for the transmission
plan that includes a general description of the proposed
coverage and of areas that may receive marginal or
unsatisfactory reception.
The franchise area is topographically challenging especially in
South Donegal which is a mountainous area with an indented
coastline. It is also a small franchise area with a requirement
to be able to reach South Donegal and Sligo/North Leitrim
separately on opt out frequencies.
at the site two years ago when RTE built a new mast. Coverage
from Truskmore is excellent across Sligo and North Leitrim.
One small blackspot was the centre of Tubbercurry where our
102.5FM signal was weak inside premises/homes. We recently
secured permission from the BAI/Comreg to develop a new
site at Tubbercurry. This transmitter is now operational and
coverage in the Town is much improved.
We are satisfied that the combination of Truskmore and
Tubbercurry gives us close to 100% coverage of Sligo/North
Leitrim.
6.
SECTION
6.2 Transmission Proposal
Overall our two main frequencies, 102.5FM and 105FM and
three infills is an efficient use of spectrum.
6.2.3 A table of the main technical characteristics of the
proposed main transmitter stations:
Site
Site
Name Coordinates ASL
Site Height
Antenna
ERP
Height AGL per pol
In our early years we broadcast from Barnesmore Gap and
this location provided very good coverage into South Donegal.
When we were required by the BAI to move from this site, the
next best location with planning permission and services was
the Vodafone site at Mountcharles. We are satisfied that the
combination of Mountcharles, Glencolmcille and Ballyshannon
gives us coverage to approx. 90% of the population of South
Donegal.
Ballyshannon
IG87636177
52m15m13dBW Glencolmcille
IG540868
265m
40m
17dBW Mountcharles
IG876791
148m
20m
36.9dBW 53m
33dBW 15m
20dBW Truskmore
Chaffpool
Our main site for Sligo and North Leitrim is Truskmore. This
elevated site is operated by RTE. We upgraded our antennae
IG759473
640m
IG55491113131m
77
6.2.4 The following additional information should be
provided
SECTION
6.
Site: Glencolmcille
Antenna pattern:
Site: Ballyshannon
Antenna pattern: Audio feed: Off air.
Backup power: This site is located on the roof of the
Abbey Arts Centre and benefits from a reliable power supply.
Owner: Abbey Arts Centre/Donegal County Council
Planning permission: Yes
Suitability: This site is on the roof of a prominent public building and is easily accessible.
78
Audio feed: Link fed from Truskmore with off air backup.
Backup power: Yes. We share the RTE building and power supply.
Owner: RTE
Suitability: This is a busy RTE site and is fully accessible. Equipment is located within the RTE building.
Site: Mountcharles
Antenna patteren:
6.
SECTION
Site: Truskmore
Antenna pattern:
Audio feed:
Backup power: Owner: Planning permission:
Suitability: Link fed from Truskmore with IP Codec
back up.
Yes. We have our own generator.
Vodafone
Yes
The site is well established with good road access. Our cabin is very secure and situated in a fenced compound.
Audio feed: Link fed with IP Codec backup.
Backup power: RTE power supply with onsite generator.
Owner: RTE
Suitability: The site is well established with good road access. Our cabin is very secure and situated in a fenced compound.
79
Site: Chaffpool.
Antenna pattern:
SECTION
6.
Details of the band pass filter/combiner system and
directional coupler proposed to ensure compliance with the
licence terms:
Each site has its own independent antenna system including
bandpass filter and directional coupler.
The bandpass filters are double cavity design.
We use FDB series filters manufactured by Label Italy. The
Directional Coupler and line section is from Coaxial Dynamics.
Letter of consent from the transmission site owner/operator.
See Appendix.
Audio feed: Backup power: Owner: Planning permission:
Suitability: 80
Off air
No
Thomas McGuire
Yes
The site is close to the road with good access. The cabin is very secure and is situated in a fenced compound.
a) An image of the composite coverage
that can be achieved using all of the
transmission sites proposed by the
applicant.
6.
SECTION
6.2.5 Computer predicted coverage
plots, superimposed on a suitable
map, must be provided.
Prediction model: ITU 1546-3
Clutter attenuation in accordance with:
ITU 1546-3
Resolution of terrain database: 10Km
Height of receive antenna above ground:
10 Metres
81
b) An image of the “best server’’
coverage based on the defined minimum
field strength for mono reception.
SECTION
6.
82
6.
SECTION
c) An image of the “best server’’
coverage based on the definite
minimum field strength for stereo
reception.
83
d) An image of the level of
“simultaneous coverage’’ that is
provided and an indication of the
number or percentage of the total
number of transmitters that serve an
area based on the minimum value for
mono reception.
SECTION
6.
84
6.
SECTION
e) An image of the level of
“simultaneous coverage’’ that is
provided and an indication of the
number or percentage of the total
number of transmitters that serve an
area based on the minimum value for
stereo reception.
85
6.2.6 A description and diagram of the link network should
be provided that includes an indication of the level of
protection or back-up systems that will be deployed. The
total capital cost and associated annual charges should be
provided.
SECTION
6.
Audio feed from our main studios in Collooney to Truskmore is
via MW (Moseley Links) with IP Codec as main backup. This is
supplemented by a local audio playout
Truskmore is linked to Donegal Studio via MW (Moseley Link)
with IP backup.Truskmore is linked to Mountcharles via MW
(Moseley Link) with IP Codec back up and local audio playout.
Truskmore is linked to Glencolmcille via MW with off air back
up. Ballyshannon and Chaffpool are both off air feeds.
Manorhamilton studio is linked to Collooney via ISDN.
The total capital cost of the link system has been approx.
€50,000. We recently replaced one of our Moseley links at a
cost of €7,500 and upgraded our IP backup at a cost of €4,000.
Annual charges are: Comreg: €3000.00
86
6.2.7 Itemised capital costs for the proposed transmission
equipment.
All costs listed below are original purchase costs.
Ballyshannon:
1 Broadcast Warehouse TX 50W transmitter
1 Coaxial Dynamics directional coupler w/extractors
1 Sigma SDH 100 dipole
1 Band Pass Filter
2 Triax 6 element receive antenna 1 Sony STS-E570 modified tuner w/composite o/p
Euro
1600
465
200
785
100
170
Glencolmcille:
1 Broadcast Warehouse TX 50W transmitter
1 Sigma SDH 100 dipole
1 Moseley Starlink 1Ch RX
1 AEV 4500 RDS encoder
1 Triax 6 element receive antenna
1 Sony STS-E570 modified tuner w/composite o/p
Euro
1600
465
200
9140
1350
100
170
Mountcharles:
6 Cellflex antenna tails
1 42U equipment rack
1 3 way power splitter
1 Andrew Gridpack 4ft antenna
1 Coaxial dynamics directional coupler
3 Katheirn dipoles in stainless steel
1 Soniflex PSplay IP codec (standby)
1 5.8ghz wifi link (standby)
1 Double cavity TX bandpass filter 2kW
1 Eddystone 2kW TX
1 Moseley Starlink 2Ch RX
Euro
780
610
546
1245
465
2970
1200
1000
1100
5265
9140
2390
1329
5500
Truskmore:
1 11KVA UPS 1 42U equipment rack
3 Kathrein 2 element yagi antenna system (Main)
1 Three way power splitter
1Leads/cable/connectors/brackets
1 Double cavity TX bandpass filter 1kW
1 Katheirn dipole antenna (standby)
2 Elenos 1kW 1000
1 1.4ghz Andrew Gridpak dish
1 Moseley Starlink 4ch RX/2 Ch TX w/2 ch audio d/o
1 Mosley S19003Q microwave link TX
(Donegal Glen Feed)
1 Orban 8218 Stereo Coder
1 Sonifex PSplay IP codec (standby)
1. 5.8ghz wifi link (standby)
1 Broadcast cabin with ventilation system
Euro
440
610
3580
1395
4000
465
1100
900
5265
1329
5400
16415
Chaffpool:
1 Pole and steelwork
1 Broadcast cabin
1 Elettronika 250 watt mpx Transmitter
1 Bandpass filter 1 EME Directional coupler
1 Label AKS dipole antenna TX
1 Sony modified MPX FM receiver
1 Triax FM5 RX antenna
1 Cable/connections etc
Euro
1200
1700
2500
785
500
300
500
100
500
8000
2390
1200
5000
15000
We have a policy of preventative maintenance, where all
equipment is regularly serviced by our in-house technical
support team with the assistance of external specialist
transmission contractors.
Equipment subject to wear and tear has all been gradually
replaced over the past nine years. Where equipment has failed
or come to the end of its life, it has been replaced, and where
equipment has become obsolete, it has been replaced.
6.
SECTION
1 Orban 8218 Stereo Coder
1 Broadcast cabin
During the move from Barnesmore to Mountcharles in 2007,
much of our external equipment was replaced at a cost of
€4,000 and a new 2 kw transmitter was purchased at a cost
of €8,000. When RTE built its new mast on Truskmore in
2009, we replaced our antennae and splitters at a cost of
almost €12,000.We have just replaced one Moseley MW link
at Truskmore at a cost of €8,000. Our Tubbercurry site is new,
having been brought on stream this year.
Our two main transmitters at Truskmore and Mountcharles have
inbuilt back up/redundancy in case of failure.
While some of our equipment has been in service for nine
years, there is no reason to replace it until it reaches the end
of its useful life.
Our policy of maintaining our equipment means that some
equipment will not need to be replaced for a number of years
and it is difficult to anticipate when, or at what cost, at this
stage.
We have made an allowance in our projections for an annual
capital spend of €12,500 on replacing transmission equipment.
87
6.2.8 Details of the technical expertise available to the
applicant group.
SECTION
6.
Our in-house technical support team comprises of Ciaran Carty
and Kevin Blessing, both of whom have worked in broadcasting
for over 15 years.
Our IT infrastructure is managed by I-think technology who are
based beside us in North West Business Park.
Our transmission network is managed by Peter Barnett of
Aisling Communications, who is one of the most experienced
transmission specialists in the country.
6.2.9 Additional Commitments.
We are happy that our existing studio and transmission
commitments serve the franchise area well and are suited to
its size and three county footprint.
6.2.10 All VHF-FM transmitter installations must conform
to the technical conditions set out in Com Reg Technical
Document 12/04a.
We are happy to confirm this.
88
SECTION
6.
89
SECTION
7.
90
Market Analysis, Financial and Business Plan
“Tackling the issue of
suicide is one that is
constantly challenging.
We would like to thank
Ocean FM for their
contribution towards
tackling the issue. On
many occasions Ocean
FM have been very
forthcoming in granting
us opportunities to take
part in radio interviews
and programmes dealing
with both the suicide
issue and the services
we provide. It has been
shown that calls to our
helpline increase each
time we take part. These
extra calls are more lives
saved.”
Brian Rooney, Secretary,
STOP Suicide
Please set out, with supporting documentation and research,
your analysis of the radio market in the proposed franchise
area:
Introduction
The Sligo, South Donegal and North Leitrim franchise area is
served by a number of national stations (RTE Radio 1, 2FM,
Lyric FM, Raidió na Gaeltachta, Newstalk and Today FM), a
regional station (i-Radio NW) and the local station (Ocean FM).
Each of these stations meets different needs and serves
different audiences in the North West, although there is some
degree of overlap in the case of national stations.
Our market research assessed why people in the franchise area
listen to each of these stations. Based on their responses, we
are able to characterise the radio market in the North West
as illustrated in the diagram below. This shows the different
position that each station holds within the radio market in
the North West. Their positioning is determined by the age
of their target audience and the main focus of their content
– from those seen to deal with national concerns to those
concentrating more on local content.
i-Radio is firmly positioned as a younger person’s station. As
two regional stations (NW and NE) combined, covering a very
broad geographic area, it also functions more like a national
than a local station. 2FM, Today FM, Newstalk and Lyric FM are
national and appeal to older audiences than i-Radio, with 2FM
at one end of the age spectrum and Newstalk at the other.
Ocean FM is firmly positioned as the local station and a good
provider of news and information, a function that RTE Radio 1
fills at the national level.
7.
SECTION
7.1 Analysis of Existing Marketplace.
Listenership in Sligo, South Donegal and North Leitrim
At 94%, the North West has a high overall listenership to radio,
indicating a healthy and competitive market. Ocean FM is
clearly the station of choice for audiences in the North West
and has the lion’s share of listeners, with a listened yesterday/
reach figure of 51%. All national stations combined do not
attain this level of listenership with only 46% reach between
them.
Listened Yesterday – Sligo, South Donegal, North Leitrim
Source: JNLR Q2, 2013*
Any Radio94%
Any National46%
Home Local (Ocean FM)
51%
RTE Radio 123%
2 FM9%
Lyric FM4%
Today FM16%
Newstalk 6%
i-Radio North West24%
91
*Note: All JNLR figures used in this document are drawn from
Quarter 2, 2013, as these were the most up to date set of
figures available when work commenced on this application.
Where figures from Interactions Research are used these are
always for respondents aged 25+ unless otherwise stated.
SECTION
7.
Tipp FM41 %
Shannonside Northern Sound
40 %
Galway Bay FM39 %
KCLR35 %
Midlands Radio 335 %
i) The performance of existing operators;
South East Radio35 %
Ocean FM
Ocean FM has by far the highest listenership of any station
in the Sligo, South Donegal, North Leitirm area. It is the only
station delivering local content and plays a range of music from
all eras. Because of this broadly based approach, it appeals to
listeners from all age brackets, particularly those over 25. Of
those people who listen to Ocean, 13% are aged 25-34, 16% are
aged 35-44, 17% aged between 45 and 54, 20% between 55 and
64 and 29% are over 65.
The high level of support for the station can be seen when we
look at listenership levels compared to other stations. Ocean
rates in the Top 3 local stations in the country.
Listened Yesterday/Reach. Source: JNLR Q2 2013
StationReach
Highland Radio65 %
MWR59 %
Ocean FM51 %
Radio Kerry51 %
Limerick’s Live 95 45 %
Clare FM47 %
WLR46 %
92
East Coast Radio25%
LMFM25%
KFM24 %
Listeners see Ocean as a valued provider of local content and it
is for this reason that most people who nominate the station as
their No.1 choice tune in. In our survey, 64% of listeners choose
Ocean for “local news and information” and to “keep in touch
with the local area”.
Our independent research also revealed that Ocean FM scores
well across a broad range of specific programming measures
with exceptional scores in a number of areas. Those elements
that are most valued by audiences are provision of good
local news (75%); good local information (69%); community
focus (68%); and the wide mix of music played (62%). These
programming elements distinguish Ocean FM from other
offerings in the area and are the unique selling points of the
station.
The station is not only recognised for providing this
programming, which cannot be sourced elsewhere, it is also
valued because it does so in a professional way – with 64%
of respondents agreeing that Ocean FM is a “professional,
trustworthy station”.
Even among respondents for whom Ocean FM is not their No.1
choice station, high satisfaction levels were also recorded.
Again, respondents agree that the station provides good local
news (65%), good local information (57%), a community focus
(58%) and plays a wide mix of music (52%). This shows that
these listeners recognised that the station excels in these
areas, indicating that they choose not to listen because they
are interested in other kinds of programming – for example,
exclusively up to date music or national affairs which are found
on other stations.
Radio One
RTE Radio One remains the strongest of the national stations
with a reach of 23% in this area. This is in line with the reach
for Radio One across the country, which stands at 24%. During
the day, it provides mainly speech based programming and
music features more strongly in the hours between 8pm
and 7am. According to our research in the franchise area,
Radio One is valued mostly for its national coverage - 32% of
respondents listen to keep “up to date with national affairs” and it is this need that it serves best in the North West. Almost
20% of listeners also tune in for each of the following reasons:
“listen for good talk radio”; “to get going in the morning”, and
for “presenters I can relate to”. Nonetheless, these all stem
from Radio One’s primary function as the provider of national
news and information.
7.
SECTION
Overall it is clear that Ocean FM serves audiences in this area
well, providing a quality local alternative to the regional and
national stations available in the area. When asked, 83% of
respondents said they would prefer Ocean FM to remain on air.
Today FM
Today FM is the second most popular national station in the
franchise area and appeals to a slightly younger market
than Radio One. According to our research, its appeal is not
overwhelmingly dictated by any single programming element:
24% listen for the “mix of talk and music”, 23% “listen for light
entertainment”, 18% listen “to get going in the morning” and
19% listen to be “up to date with new music”. It seems that
this is a catch-all nationally focussed station for a broad age
group, appealing across areas to do with entertainment and
music.
93
2FM
2FM is designed to serve audiences between the ages of 15
and 35. Its market penetration has been affected by the
introduction of i-Radio NW and its listened yesterday/reach
figure now stands at 9%. Our research shows that listeners to
2FM choose it for music (21% “listen to be up to date with new
music” and 19% tune in to “listen to the music I like”), with no
other category featuring strongly.
SECTION
7.
i-Radio
Since its establishment, i-Radio has built a strong listenership
(24%) in the North West. This growth is in line with other
regions where youth licences have been introduced. As in other
areas, this growth has been predominantly among younger
audiences, with interest in the station decreasing with age
(i-Radio has a reach of 55% of listeners under 35, but only 10%
of those over 35). Listeners to this station are attracted by the
music offering and the absence of serious content: 26% “listen
to be up to date with new music” and 26% listen “to avoid
news”.
Newstalk
At 6% reach, Newstalk has a relatively low listenership in this
area and this figure has been static for some time. Those
who do chose Newstalk have similar interests to Radio One
listeners, although the station does not appeal across as many
categories as Radio One. 20% of listeners tune in to be kept
“up to date with national affairs” and 18% listen “for good
talk radio”. It would appear that audiences with an interest in
national affairs have not made the transition away from Radio
One in substantial numbers and those with an interest in local
affairs choose Ocean FM.
Raidió na Gaeltachta
Raidió na Gaeltachta acts as a local station for people living
in Gaeltacht areas. This franchise area does not have a
substantial Irish-speaking population. The service is seen as a
niche station in the area, aimed at a very specific community
of listeners.
Lyric FM
Like Raidió na Gaeltachta, Lyric FM is seen to be a niche
station catering to a very specific interest. Not surprisingly,
listeners tune in to “escape from it all” and to “avoid news”.
ii) Audience ratings
The ratings for all stations in the Sligo, South Donegal, North
Leitrim area can be found in the table below.
Listened Yesterday – Sligo, South Donegal, North Leitrim.
Source: JNLR Q2, 2013
Any Radio94%
Any National46%
Home Local (Ocean FM)
51%
RTE Radio 123%
2 FM9%
Lyric FM4%
Today FM16%
Newstalk 6%
i-Radio North West24%
94
When a comparison is made with a broad cross section of local
stations, the same result can be seen and the listenership for
all national and regional stations in these franchise areas lie
within a few percentage points of those in the North West
franchise area. The only exceptions here are Radio One in the
Highland Radio area, which has an exceptionally low figure
of 10%, and 2FM and Today FM in the Limerick franchise area
which have much higher listenerships than in the North West.
Franchise
Radio 2FM Today FM Newstalk Regional
Area One
Highland Radio 10
9
10
3
20
Radio Kerry
21
14
10
5
20
WLR
21
8
15
5
27
Live 95
23
17
21
8
20
KCLR
27
13
16
7
25
Ocean FM
23
9
16
6
24
7.
SECTION
“On my own behalf
and on behalf of my
colleagues in Sligo
Borough Council, I
want to thank Ocean
FM sincerely for your
excellent coverage,
both of the FAI Cup
Final and the victorious
homecoming and
celebrations. I have
heard many people
remark on the standard
of the coverage
provided by you over
the course of these
exciting days, and I
fully concur with these
sentiments.”
When compared with the audience figures for all stations
nationally, we can see that the ratings for this franchise area
are in line with national trends; nationally RTE Radio One is at
24%, 2FM at 11%, Lyric at 3%, Newstalk at 8%, and Today FM at
13%.
Source: IAPI BASE
However, from mid 2008 onwards, the Irish economy
experienced a period of sharp decline with advertising
expenditure falling by a reported 40% from €1,615m in 2008 to
€969m in 2012.
Mayor of Sligo,
Councillor Matt Lyons
iii) Advertising revenue
From the 1990s until mid 2008, the Irish economy witnessed
an unparalleled economic boom, which led to an increase in
the number of media operators in Ireland, an increase in the
ownership of Irish media by foreign companies, and an increase
in advertising spend across all media. During the period 19982007, advertising expenditure grew from €501m to €1,822m.
Source: Nielsen Ad
Dynamix/ IAB
95
Latest figures from Nielsen Ad dynamix research show that the
total advertising market in Ireland is worth an estimated €969
million for 2012. However, it is generally accepted by industry
observers that the Nielsen Ad dynamix estimate is understated
as it does not measure/include sponsorship and promotions
expenditure and local direct revenue.
SECTION
7.
Source: Nielsen
Ad Dynamix / IAB
The experience of Ocean FM in the Sligo, South Donegal, North
Leitrim franchise area between 2008 and 2011 mirrored the
national picture but bucked the trend in 2012 when we grew
local direct advertising revenue and developed a number of
new revenue streams.
Source: Nielsen
Adspend/IAB
Radio advertising in 2012 was an estimated €83m with
the medium typically accounting for a 9% share of all Irish
advertising expenditure. This 9% share is a relatively high share
in comparison to other EU countries and is reflective of the role
and importance which radio has as a medium in Ireland, where
it is very popular amongst consumers and advertisers. Mirroring
the performance of the total advertising marketplace, radio
advertising has experienced a major decline, with revenues
falling by 45% from €150m spend in 2008 to €83m spend in
2012.
96
While the empirical evidence suggests we are, we have
attempted below to independently verify how much revenue is
available to us in Sligo, South Donegal and North Leitrim.
The table below details the levels of advertising expenditure
per adult for 2012 and is broken down across all media formats
in the country.
However, when we looked at whether this “per capita”
expenditure would correlate to media revenue in the Ocean
franchise area, it was obvious it grossly over-estimated
revenue for all local media in our area.
We believe this is due to the gulf that has opened up between
the East and West coast in terms of the local economy and
where national expenditure is focussed. While house prices
are rising in the greater Dublin area, they continue to fall
elsewhere. While new businesses are opening up in towns
and cities in the East, here in the North West we are still
seeing business closures and high levels of unemployment.
(For example: It seems, not a week goes by without a new
restaurant opening in Dublin, while just two months ago,
Sligo’s most high profile and award-winning restaurant,
Source, closed its doors). During the recession, many national
brands pulled out of smaller population centres such as Sligo
and Donegal and have yet to return. This has the impact of
reducing the region’s share of national spend further.
7.
SECTION
The question, for the purposes of this part of the application,
is whether Ocean is currently exploiting the available revenue
in our franchise area to its fullest extent.
Taking this into account and in consultation with our media
consultant, Joe Dalton, we have factored the available ad
spend/adult down by 20%.
Ocean FM franchise area:
2012 National Advertising expenditure breakdown:
Ad spend/adult
Adult pop.Adv.
Revenue
Local & €7.34
81,000
€595,000
Local Press
€15.8
81,000
€1,280,000
regional radio
Sources: Neilsen Ad Dynamix,
IAB, JNLR July-June 2013
97
7.
SECTION
The extrapolated figure of €595,000 comprises national/
agency revenue that was available to be earned by Ocean and
i-Radio in this franchise area.
Ocean FM in 2012 earned net agency revenue of €325,000 with
local direct revenue of a further €920,000, leading to a total
national and local advertising revenue of €1.25m. When we
added revenue from other non-advertising sources, the final
2012 figure came to €1.67m.
We looked at the figures quoted by Highland Radio in their
recent application for a franchise area that is significantly
larger than the Ocean franchise area and which is the same
size as the MWR area (pop: 101,000).
Ocean’s revenue of €1.67 million in 2012 compared favourably
to Highland, who in the same year earned total revenue of
€1.68m.
The only other significant local advertising medium in our
franchise area is local press. The figure of approx. €1.3m
accords with our own direct analysis of the value of display
advertising in the six local papers in our area. This does not
include circulation revenue. This means the total local press
and radio advertising/sponsorship and promotions revenue
available in our local market is approximately €2.5m/annum.
This does not include spend on direct mail, on-line, cinema,
outdoor or national media, including TV and radio originating
from businesses based in our franchise area. A good example
is the Aurivo Co-op who own the Connacht Gold brand. They
spend significant sums advertising on Ocean FM but a larger
amount on national TV. This national spend is not available to
local media outlets.
98
As we explain below, until the economy recovers and local
spend grows, there is limited opportunity for Ocean to grow
traditional local advertising revenue. On the positive side,
revenues at the station have grown significantly in the past
18 months and this is due mainly to increased revenue from
“other” sources.
iv) Market trends
The Economy
The single biggest issue currently facing the radio marketplace
is the economy and its future performance. The Celtic Tiger
period which delivered huge levels of economic growth and
advertising expenditure may have long since disappeared, but
many of the media which it helped launch and sustain still exist
today and compete against each other for ever diminishing
levels of advertising expenditure. The general outlook among
most commentators for the economy for the next three years is
one of low growth and continued high levels of unemployment.
Advertising expenditure and GNP are inextricably linked, and
this is reflected in the levels of advertising expenditure over
the last five years which have fallen by 40%. A poor outlook for
the economy is likely to result in stagnant levels of advertising
expenditure for the foreseeable future. Advertisers are
spending less, but are demanding more value for the money
that they are spending. Despite a poor economic outlook and
competition from other major media such as online, television
and newspapers, radio is still well positioned to compete in
this challenging environment, mainly because the medium
offers advertisers some unique benefits and value for money
which other media find hard to equal. It is for this reason that
we expect radio to at least maintain its share of advertising
expenditure.
However, fewer young adults are listening to Radio
While radio listening remains relatively high for all adults
in the country, a worrying trend emerging within the radio
Gordon Ryan, Head
of Development &
Business Operations,
IT Sligo
Source: JNLR July-June reports
marketplace is that the number of young adults who listen
to the radio is falling, as they consume media in new ways,
through social networking on the Internet or by downloading
music and listening on iPods and other similar devices. For
example, in 2005 the JNLR reported that 83% of 15-24 year olds
in the country tuned into the radio each weekday. However,
the latest 2013 JNLR report showed that 78% of 15-24 year olds
now listen to the radio each weekday. This reflects a decrease
of five percentage points compared to just a one percentage
point decrease (85% vs 84%) for all adults and a no decrease for
adults over 35 years of age (86% vs 86%) over the same period.
Young audiences are essentially the lifeblood for any medium
and the concern for radio is that young people could easily
lose the habit of listening to radio in much the same way that
they stopped reading newspapers. These are Ocean’s future
listeners and, like all local stations, we are concerned about
this trend.
7.
SECTION
“Ocean FM is a key
media and marketing
partner for IT Sligo.
Local radio channels
our message to the
widest audience,
which includes
students, parents
and adults learners.
We strengthened
our partnership by
sponsoring the Ocean
FM roadcaster which
played a major role
in building IT Sligo’s
innovative brand.
Our collaboration
on Ocean FM’s
business programme
“Up & Running” has
showcased the many
and varied enterprises
across the region,
helping to restore
business confidence.”
Radio listenership remains relatively strong
While most other mainstream media such as newspapers,
magazines and television are losing consumers to the digital
sphere or because of recession induced cutbacks, the most
recently published JNLR report shows that radio listening
is relatively healthy and that the medium remains a strong
preferred choice amongst Irish adults. According to JNLR, 84%
of Irish adults listen to the radio each and every weekday with
the majority of adults tuning in for over 4 hours per day. The
daily listenership figures rises to 94% in the Ocean franchise
area. There is no sign yet that overall radio listening is set to
decline. The robustness of radio listening is no doubt helped by
the nature of radio which is ambient, provides companionship
and which cannot be easily matched by other media.
Internet radio listening is set to increase
Although only a relatively small amount of Irish consumers
currently listen to radio via the Internet, a recent study from
America indicates that Internet radio listenership is set to
increase over the next few years, especially amongst younger
audiences. The study, commissioned by the digital audio
advertising network, TargetSpot, found that 42% of American
households with broadband Internet listen to Internet radio
and that nearly half (47%) of those surveyed are spending less
time listening to broadcast radio than they did a year ago. With
the increased availability and ownership of Internet connected
devices such as smartphones and tablets, it is predicted that
Internet radio listening is set to increase in the Irish market,
albeit from a relatively low current base. Ocean has taken
steps to keep abreast of these changes with the development
of a mobile friendly web site and a range of online initiatives.
99
7.
Digital listening may help to open up new market
SECTION
opportunities
The traditional radio broadcast market is beginning to
change, with many consumers starting to embrace and trial
different forms of digital listening. New digital services are
now offering many listeners the ability to effectively create
their own radio stations, download their own content, or to
communicate and share content with friends or other members
of social networks. New mobile devices are increasingly
offering consumers more enhanced storage capacity and
connectivity compared to previous generations of devices,
making it far easier for consumers to access on demand music
or speech content. The increasing penetration of fixed and
wireless broadband in the country will also help to generate
new opportunities for audio content distribution. Ocean has
developed a significant digital presence with traffic to our
website growing exponentially to its current figure of 50,000
unique visits/month, improved podcasting, an improved web
cam and initiatives such as the stand alone web site that
accompanied our award winning drama, Francisco.
advertising revenue on www.oceanfm.ie as well as developing
new web services for advertisers including www.oceandeals.ie
and the Radio Player.
Source: Nielsen Ad
Dynamix/ IAB
Social Media
The growth in the use of Social Media among all age groups but
particularly younger people has perhaps been the most striking
Radio advertisers are switching to Internet advertising
Despite overall listening remaining high, radio advertising
expenditure has declined by over 45% over the last five years
from an estimated €150m spend in 2008 to an estimated
€83m in 2012. Rapid growth in radio advertising revenue up
to 2008 has given way to decline in revenue and a static share
of the advertising market. Meanwhile, Internet advertising
has grown rapidly over the last five years. In 2011, Internet
advertising overtook radio advertising to become the third
largest advertising medium (behind print and television) in the
country. Industry forecasts suggests that this growth trend is
likely to continue, putting huge pressure on the radio market.
Ocean has recognised this trend and taken steps to grow
100
change in the broader media market over the past five years.
More than 50% of adults have a Facebook page, 20% are on
LinkedIn and 23% on Twitter.
This trend is an opportunity for radio, as the original social
medium, where interactivity is part of what we do and
proximity to our listeners is a major selling point. Radio is at
its best in reaching thousands of listeners, one at a time.
Stations that incorporate Social Media into the everyday
communication with their listeners will deepen and grow the
relationship.
“We have been
advertising with
Ocean FM since 2004,
and during that
time, we’ve seen
our business rapidly
grow. Would I credit
it all to Ocean FM?
Well, maybe not
all of it, but they
certainly have been
a major partner in
our growth. As far
as I’m concerned,
Ocean FM is the
best bang for our
advertising buck that
we get.”
Padraig Oates,
Managing Director,
Oates Breheny
Financial Group,
Sligo
Increased advertising regulations and restrictions
The amount and level of advertising regulations and
restrictions is set to increase in the future with the
introduction of new rules on alcohol and food marketing.
This trend is already impacting on radio revenues with, for
example, the restrictive rules on financial advertising which
are undermining the ability of radio to compete with web, TV
and press.
Relocation of Irish marketing departments to the UK
A major structural change in the Irish advertising marketplace
over the last number of years has seen the relocation of many
“Irish marketing departments” to their UK based office. Brands
like Guinness, Bulmers, Vodafone, O2 and Aer Lingus are now
using UK based advertising companies for campaigns appearing
here in Ireland. The concern is that Irish radio will see a
reduction in revenue as in the UK, radio is generally viewed as
a poor secondary/regional advertising option and that this is
reflective in its low 4% share of total advertising expenditure.
(compared to a much higher 9% in Ireland).
Increased competition from UK “opt-out” television stations
Over the last number of years, the cost of television
advertising has fallen dramatically due to the increased
availability of UK satellite TV stations now offering low cost
opt-out advertising breaks for the Republic of Ireland. The
over-supply of television advertising airtime created by optout satellite stations has resulted in very low prices which
now compete on a par with radio advertising prices. With the
announcement in early November by UTV of its new Republic of
Ireland channel, this fragmentation and downward pressure on
rates is set to increase.
These national trends will all impact on the North West but
have to be overlayed on trends that are particular to local
markets. These include:
•
The decline of local newspapers: A survey of the main titles in our franchise area reveals circulation declines of an average of 20% over the past four years. This trend is set to continue as existing readers age and the trend of younger people accessing their news online intensifies.
•
Pressure on advertising rates: The decline in the fortune of local press has resulted in a race to the bottom where press rates are now at unsustainable levels and putting pressure on radio.
•
Local economy: As we have said, the economy along much of the West/North West coast is flat at best and showing no signs of recovery.
7.
SECTION
OTHER TRENDS
These trends present an opportunity for local radio to grow
its share of the market based on strong listenership levels but
offer limited opportunity to grow total revenues in the short to
medium term.
High quality local content
Finally, we believe the most significant trend among listeners
is the drift in interest from national to local. Perhaps triggered
by the relentless negativity on national media over the past
five years, many people are focussing instead on local and
community matters.The enemy of high quality Irish content is
cheap external content, whether it’s a UK tabloid competing
with a local paper or a re-run of a US soap competing with
Irish-generated content. The growth of digital TV and online
content has made the fight so much harder for national media.
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7.
SECTION
Where we compete best with this external content is in tapping
in to the growing sense of community and producing content
that connects and explains what it is to be local.
Ocean’s space is the local space and we compete here by being
better and being local.
v) Any other issues which you consider to be relevant to the
competitive assessment of the marketplace.
As we alluded to in this section and in Section 5, the primary
driver of local radio listenership in this franchise area is
an interest in high quality local content provided by local
presenters who are involved with, and part of, the local
community.
In 2004, Ocean FM went on air offering precisely this local
content and has delivered on all its commitments. We said we
would be a stand alone station for Sligo, South Donegal and
North Leitrim delivering programming that was 100% locally
produced, by and for the people of this area, and that is what
we still are today.
What’s more, in their application in 2004 for the Sligo, South
Donegal, North Leitrim licence, North West Radio did not
propose to do anything different if they had been successful
in renewing the licence. The proposed programme schedule
in their application consisted of 10.5 hours of networked
programming between 7am and 7pm each day and 22.5 hours
in each 24 hour block.
While we have little insight into what will be proposed by this
same group this time round, we have noted what they have
said in recent newspaper interviews.
“The area is not large enough to sustain a stand alone
service, which is why, with the assistance and expertise of
our sister station Midwest Radio, we have the experience
and resources to expand the station in a way that a stand
alone operator simply can’t do. There is an old fashioned
saying that you cut the cloth according to the measure.
The reality is that, in what is one of the smallest franchise
areas in the country, a stand alone radio station simply has
too much cloth and the quality of the service ultimately
suffers”
Tommy Marren, Coast FM, Donegal Democrat 26/9/13
We replaced a station that was mainly based in Ballyhaunis
in Co.Mayo. In the year before going off air, the only locally
produced (i.e. made in the North West for the North West)
programming broadcast by them were three half hour news
bulletins, amounting to 1.5 hours between 7am and 7pm.
All the bits in between, the current affairs and magazine
programming and the music programming was networked with
or from Midwest Radio.
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“It will be very difficult for stations the size of the one
that is there at the moment to survive on their own
in recessionary times”. “ The (Coast FM) bid will be
strengthened by their plan to run Coast FM and Midwest as
co-operating twin stations as they did before”
Paul Claffey, Coast FM, Sligo Weekender, 25/1/13
1
The last time the Coast FM group held the North West licence, their station was profitable and yet none of these resources were re-invested in local programming.
They were happy to continue with a networked service that was a poor second to what has been achieved by Ocean FM since taking over the licence.
2
Local radio is called “local” for a reason. It is small scale and while we often suffer the jibes of our colleagues in the national media about death notices and “lost dog” radio, the reality is that someone in Westport has little interest in a lost dog or funeral details from Killybegs. It is a challenge to be local and relevant in a franchise area covering all or parts of three counties without adding another very large county to the mix.
3 Over the past two years alone, Ocean FM has been the most decorated local station in Ireland with five Gold PPI Awards, twice runner up in Station of the Year, two IMRO Awards, A Justice Media Award and winner of the Prix Europa. By any yardstick, the quality of the programming produced by the smallest station in the country more than holds its own against that of our larger neighbour.
4
The BAI in its Commercial Radio Licencing Plan 2012-2013 decided that the Sligo, South Donegal, North Leitrim licence should be advertised as a stand alone contract for one licence, in contrast, for example, to the Shannonside and Northern Sound licences which were advertised as one contract for two licences. This decision was presumably based on a belief that the North West licence was viable as a stand alone contract and did not need to be part of a network. When the BAI called for submissions on this plan, MWR did not make a submission and did not seek to raise the issue of viability then, despite being given a clear opportunity to do so.
5
In the independent survey carried out on our behalf by Interactions, we asked a simple question of Ocean listeners and non-Ocean listeners – would they prefer the original North West Radio to Ocean FM? The answer
was an unequivocal no from a very large majority. Only 16.7% of respondents said they would prefer North West Radio to Ocean FM.
6
Ocean FM has made a trading profit in 2012 and will do so again in 2013. In common with many other smaller stations, Ocean sustained losses between 2010 and 2011 but in spite of this, has maintained significant cash reserves. In the face of a continued deterioration in the advertising market, the station grew revenue by over €300,000 in 2012. We agree with Coast FM on one thing: it is tough and Ocean FM will never be a “cash cow” unless it is a branch office of a larger group. In spite of this, we are well underway to transforming Ocean into a multi platform local media business that is both viable and sustainable for the long term.
7
The only way to increase profit in this franchise area is to grow revenue, which in the current climate is challenging, or cut costs. The largest cost is staff and we have to assume that a station run by Coast FM will employ fewer people as they will share staff with Midwest Radio. We also have to assume that at least half of our staff would lose their jobs should Ocean lose its licence and quality would suffer with the loss of connection to and resonance with the local community
7.
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The comments above ignore a number of realities:
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8
SECTION
7.
Compliance with the General Commercial Communication Code is an important public policy imperative. There is a marked contrast between the attitude and track record of Ocean FM to compliance and that of the previous incumbent. If the Code is important, then this is a pertinent issue.
9 Finally, The Broadcasting Services Strategy sets out a number of key objectives including ensuring plurality in viewpoint, outlet and source, and diversity in control. Effectively merging Midwest Radio with the North West licence, as Coast FM has proposed, would run directly counter to these objectives. The strategy also highlights the importance of fostering creativity and innovation, which has been a major focus of our programming and perhaps our greatest achievement over the past nine years.
7.2 Demand and Potential for the Type of Service
Proposed.
interests and issues. Our station and presenters are part of the
communities we serve.
This model has evolved through nine years experience in this
area and from listener opinion gained through formal research
and informal feedback. The most recent survey carried out
for Ocean FM by Interactions Research (in preparation for this
application process) shows that listeners in this area want
a broadly based service with a wide mix of programming
and music. The following table lists the elements that those
surveyed believed to be essential to a good local station.
Even when we isolate the opinions of those who did not list
Ocean FM as their first choice station, the results were still
very similar – demonstrating that regardless of whether or not
the station is to their taste, this mix of programming elements
is the one that all people in this area believe to be important
for a local station.
Please explain, providing supporting documentation and
research, the reasons why you consider that there is a demand
for the service proposed and how the service will contribute
to the diversity of broadcasting services and programming
available in the proposed franchised area:
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Overview
Ocean FM has been designed to meet the needs of the widest
possible cohort of listeners across Counties Sligo, South
Donegal and North Leitrim. To achieve this, our station’s
programming is broadly based – speech ranges from light
entertainment to news and current affairs and to special
interest programmes. Music spans a number of eras in order
to appeal across the generations. Ocean FM is also of and
for the people of the North West, reflecting local culture,
Clearly the backbone elements of our service – broadly based
and varied programming, high quality local news and sport, a
wide selection of music and local involvement are what the
people of the North West want. When we delve further into the
specifics of our schedule, the research also shows that there
is a high demand for the individual elements that define our
station.
Shane Mitchell,
Sligo Live
The level of interest in sport is dictated strongly by gender,
nonetheless across the whole sample, 52% are interested in
local sport and 47% interested in live match coverage. These
figures rise to over 70% and 66% respectively when looking at
male respondents exclusively.
Ocean FM takes pride in the level of excellence it brings to
specialist speech programming and in this we are different
from other local stations - we are one of the only local stations
to have a regular documentary slot. This also corresponds
with demand - 63% of those surveyed confirm that they are
interested in documentaries.
This blend of programming elements with a local focus is
clearly popular among listeners in the North West and is not
available from any other station in our area. Ocean FM offers a
real alternative to the regional and national services here.
We also offer niche programming that appeals to communities
of interest and caters for sectoral interests and minorities in
our franchise area. We embrace these as being key to serving
our community to the fullest degree possible, reflecting the
public service broadcasting ethos of our station. These also
broaden the range of options available to listeners in the North
West.
7.
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“Ocean FM have
played central
role in creating a
community drive
to Sligo Live since
its inception 9
years ago. This
has resulted in
the region very
much working in
partnership to create
what’s now one of
Ireland’s fastest
growing festivals,
bringing in an
estimated 16 million
Euro to the local
economy in that
period.”
We put particular emphasis on local news, current affairs and
information, believing that these programmes are an essential
service for the North West. All of these elements scored highly
in our research with 71% of respondents saying that they are
interested in local news and almost two thirds expressing an
interest in local information and 55% interested in local current
affairs/discussions.
These elements include farming and business programmes
and religious services. Our research also showed that these
types of programmes are also more popular among Ocean FM
listeners than among the whole sample in this franchise area:
40% of Ocean FM listeners are interested in Outdoor Pursuits
compared to 32% among the whole sample and farming is at
53% among Ocean FM listeners versus 25% among the whole
sample.
As regards religion, the difference is particularly noticeable;
50% of Ocean FM listeners are interested in broadcasts of
religious services, compared with 21% among the whole
sample. Without doubt, Ocean FM is making a difference in this
area by serving these needs.
As regards music, Ocean FM plays popular hits from the 60s
right through to today. Our market research shows that all eras
of music (from the 60s through to current hits) are popular
among audiences, with no one era clearly outstripping any
other in terms of demand. No other station provides this
particular mix of music, with most tailoring their music to
appeal to specific age groups.
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We also dedicate specific times in our schedule to Country
music, which cannot be heard on other stations in our
area. There is a stronger demand for this genre among our
listeners (85% of Ocean FM listeners expressed a desire for
Country music compared to 53% across the whole sample),
demonstrating that Ocean FM is meeting a very specific need in
this area.
SECTION
7.
Diversity
We have shown through research that the types and mix of
programming featured on Ocean FM corrresponds very closely
to the listening interests of audiences in our franchise area.
It should be noted that this mix also differs substantially
from that offered by any other stations in the area and that
Ocean FM greatly adds to the diversity of content available to
audiences here. In Section 7.1 we detailed the main reasons
why audiences tune in to other stations in our area. A reprise of
this information illustrates the point: Radio One and Newstalk
are seen as the go-to stations for nationally focussed news
and speech, i-Radio and FM are the home of new music aimed
at a younger audience and Today FM is valued as a nationally
focussed provider of music and entertainment for young adults.
None of these overlap significantly with the content of Ocean
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FM, nor do they reflect the main priorities of our listeners –
local news, sport and information, broadly based music and an
inclusive community focus. Ocean FM programming does make
a difference in this area and that difference lies in high quality,
relevant and above all local programming.
The appeal of our offering is proven by our JNLR figures. Ocean
FM is among the top three stations in the country in terms of
reach. Our station has continuously grown since establishment
and has evolved to increase the diversity of programming
available in this area. We have made adjustments to our
programming over the past ten years, based on audience
feedback and the success of these changes can be seen in the
steady increases in our listenership in recent years. These
figures show that Ocean FM performs well and is therefore
delivering what listeners in this area want.
7.2.1 Anticipated Performance of Service.
Please detail your strategy with a view to becoming
established and developing the service within the current
radio market, in particular:
We have been established in the North West radio market for
the past nine years and in that time have established a solid
listenership and a viable business. We are ambitious for the
future and will continue to invest resources in innovative and
relevant programming, focus on growing our listenership and
broadening the commercial base of our business.
i) The target audience for the proposed service;
Ocean FM is a full service station aimed at all listeners over
the age of 15, but with a particular focus on those over 25. We
well as to those over 25. The graph below illustrates that many
of these listeners have now migrated to the youth service for
the North West.
Our target audience includes all adults in Counties Sligo,
North Leitrim and South Donegal. Using our programming and
studios which are spread across the three counties, we do not
discriminate on the basis of geography – for example, when
it comes to county allegiances, we ensure that our sports
programming gives each county its own spotlight. This care to
find geographic balance runs through all speech programming,
news and current affairs. Our marketing activities are also
spread across all three counties to ensure that we retain
profile and continue to recruit listeners from all parts of the
franchise area.
In addition to serving the general population of the North
West, Ocean FM takes care to address the interests of specific
communities of interest and minority communities within the
franchise area. We start by building relationships with them at
ground level and ensure that our programming reflects their
concerns. Of course it is not possible to continuously include
every minority interest in programming, nonetheless our doors
are always open and we actively engage with communities of
note to highlight the issues of concern to them.
Although our station caters for all adults over the age of 15,
we prioritise the interests of those over 25. A number of years
ago, the BAI made a policy decision that the needs of listeners
under the age of 25 would be best served by a dedicated youth
service. Up until this time, Ocean FM had a significant portion
of young listeners and actively appealed to this age group, as
7.
SECTION
appeal to both men and women. Although programming at the
station has a slight female bias, it also features a wide range
of programmes that appeal very strongly to men. Our research
shows that there are very few areas where the different tastes
of men and women need to be taken into account and our
programme schedule reflects this.
Clearly, the needs of those under 25 in this area are served
best by i-Radio, as that station is built exclusively around their
specific tastes and interests. Ocean FM’s role is to provide
broadly-based local programming and we cannot shape our
service to compete specifically for listeners under 25.
Reflecting this shift in the radio market in our area, Ocean
FM now places a heavier emphasis on reaching listeners over
the age of 25. Despite this, we still cater for the under 25 age
group in relation to specific programming elements, although
we may not be their first choice for music. Our research
showed that there is still a strong demand for local news
and information, coverage of local events and programming
relating to local sports among listeners aged under 25. All of
these things are provided only by Ocean FM in this franchise
area.
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7.
SECTION
We also compete through our support and coverage of local
talent. As the station that was first to air “Our School’s Got
Talent”, one the few stations to participate in the IMRO “Play
Irish” initiative and the only station to twice win the IMRO
Award to commitment to Irish music, we have highlighted and
promoted a wide range of young music talent in the North
West. Our “TY Radio” initiative has also maintained close links
with secondary school students across the region. Finally,
our nightly music programme, The Wave, is aimed at younger
listeners and has strong links to I.T. Sligo.
ii) The nature of the market which it is anticipated can be
achieved
Ocean FM has operated in this franchise area for almost ten
years and has gained first hand insight into the functioning
of the radio market here. Our assessments take into account
changes that have affected the market in this time, including
shifts due to the introduction of new services.
The make up of the radio market in this area is dictated by a
number of unique characteristics. These characteristics will
present challenges for any operator of a local radio licence in
this franchise area. They also make direct comparisons with
other local radio markets difficult.
in for long periods – a listener in South Sligo is not particularly
interested in a commentary on a match involving a club from
South Donegal. While we make extensive use of our ability to
opt out on our two main frequencies, sometimes this is not
possible and we stretch the loyalty of listeners to some degree.
Sligo Town is the biggest population centre in our franchise
area and home to over one quarter of our potential listeners.
The habits of these listeners are similar to others in large
urban areas – they do not consume media in the same way as
listeners in smaller towns and rural populations. Their interests
are, by nature, more diverse and this fragmentation makes
these urban audiences far more likely to sample a wider range
of media. This challenge is also faced in other franchise areas
with major urban centres with similar results – WLR, KCLR and
Limerick’s Live 95 in contrast to larger franchise areas with
predominantly rural populations.
See Table below:
StationAverage Minutes listened
7 am to Midnight
Ocean FM172
KCLR149
With only 80,000 potential listeners, this is the smallest
franchise area in the country. We are required to serve three
different counties, which limits our ability to appeal to county
loyalty in developing an overarching identity for the station the tactic used by the all of the most successful local stations
in Ireland. The dilution of our programming among three
counties is clearly a challenge for resources at the station.
However it also constrains our ability to keep listeners tuned
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Live 95168
WLR176
Radio Kerry256
Highland Radio196
MWR219
Majella O’Donnell,
Alzheimer Society of
Ireland
We are making headway in shifting our brand and programming
toward the over-25 market in a bid to address this issue,
developing initiatives such as Ocean Deals in 2012, which
appeals most strongly to the main shopper in a household and
introducing a more mainstream music mix, which includes
an extended Country music show, aimed at a slightly older
listener. We will continue to look at new initiatives that will
enable us to consolidate our brand and audience.
Maximising Listenership
Despite the factors listed above, Ocean FM has grown both
reach and market share figures in the last number of years.
Our reach figure has increased from 41% in June 2010 to 51% in
June 2013. Our market share has increased from 27% to 33% in
the same period of time.
Given the specific characteristics of our area, achieving
significantly higher market share will always be difficult.
However we believe that there is room to raise this figure, so
that our market share, like our reach figure moves further up
the listenership table.
We have recently conducted a full review of our music
scheduling policy with Andy Matthews and the initial response
from listeners has been very positive. We believe this initiative
alone will increase listening minutes at the station.
We continue to review our programme schedule in the light
of JNLR results to identify soft spots where we need to work
harder to retain listeners. Our presenters receive regular
feedback from the management team and have benefitted
from regular detailed training and mentoring from Mark Storey.
7.
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“Recently Niall Delaney
did a powerful and
empowering interview
with a lady who has early
onset dementia and as a
result we had numerous
families ringing looking
for support and to get
early diagnosis. These
amazing presenters are
always so generous with
their time and have
embraced supporting
our local services with
passion and empathy and
we thank them from the
bottom of our hearts for
all they have done for us.
They have got the word
out there about us in the
local community and as a
result people who need
our service who may not
know about our existence
have approached us and
have gotten support.”
Impact of new services
Our listenership has also been affected by legacy issues
stemming from changes of operators within our franchise
area. The introduction of i-Radio North West has impacted on
our station, probably more significantly than any other local
station in the region. Research undertaken at the time that
the youth-based service was first considered indicated that
Ocean FM had a more contemporary brand and appealed more
strongly to a younger audience than most other local services.
As a result our listenership suffered more than others after the
introduction of the new station.
We also recognise that there is a small number of areas where
our transmission signal could be improved. We have made
progress with this issue and will continue to do so.
Our marketing activities have also increased in intensity
with more frequent “tactical” outside broadcasts aimed at
geographic areas where we believe listenership could be
higher. We will continue to use our digital strategy, including
Social Media to increase interaction with our listenership and
to deepen their relationship with the station.
iii) Projected listenership ratings over the first three years of
the service
Based on our analysis of the radio market in Sligo, South
Donegal and North Leitrim as outlined above, we anticipate
that our listenership will continue to show modest increases in
the next three years, in line with the gains made since 2004.
We have been careful not to over estimate - these are realistic
figures based on the particular characteristics of the radio
market in our area.
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7.
SECTION
Accordingly our projections are as follows:
YearYesterday Listened
201551%
201652%
201753%
iv) Indicate the impact, and set out the measures that will be
taken, if the listenership projections are not achieved
Our listnership has seen an overall increase over the past
three years. However, we realise there is a limit to what can
be achieved in a market where overall radio listnership is not
growing and where national stations with significant marketing
budgets continue to attempt to grow listenership along the
west coast where they have traditionally struggled. The strong
performance of the regional youth station has impacted
negatively on Ocean and will continue to challenge for listeners
up to the mid-30’s age bracket.
That being said, given the strong performance of our
programming team, we do not anticipate a significant
reduction in listeners and have targeted a number of areas for
modest growth.
If we do not achieve the projected modest increase in
listnership we will:
•
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Research: We have a policy of periodically measuring audience satisfaction with all aspects of our service. This would play an important part in responding to a situation where the station was not hitting its listenership targets.
•
Review our programming strategy: We have used the services of industry consultant Mark Storey to good effect in the past and would engage his help to independently review our programming output.
•
Review our music strategy; We have used the services of industry consultant, Andy Matthews, to good effect in the recent reorganisation of our music strategy and scheduling systems. We would engage his help again to review our music.
•
Marketing: While Ocean FM itself is our most powerful
marketing tool, we can only use it to increase listening hours among already committed listeners.
To reach new listeners and attract lapsed listeners, we use a range of effective channels described below at 7.2.2.(iv). In the event of not hitting listenership targets, we would increase marketing activity accordingly.
While any drop in listenership is to be avoided, unless it is
very significant, it has very little impact on local advertising
revenues in a market like the North West. Ocean FM, like many
local stations, is the dominant local medium in our area and
the first port of call for local advertisers.
National or agency advertising is more directly linked to
quarter hours and this revenue would suffer somewhat in the
event of a drop in listenership. This represents less than 20% of
our total revenue.
The major force at play in determining revenue at Ocean over
the past five years has been the recession and this will remain
the main influence in the short to medium term.
The Irish economy over the last five years has been in the worst
recession since the Second World War, resulting in high levels
of unemployment, weak consumer confidence and low levels
of consumer spending. This poor economic environment has
affected the level of advertising expenditure in the market,
which has fallen by 40% over the last five years, from €1,615m
in 2008 to €969m in 2012.
The level of advertising expenditure in the market is
inextricably linked to the performance of the economy as
a whole and the outlook for the Irish economy for the next
three years will have a definite knock on effect for the local
advertising market.
The most recent Quarterly Economic Commentary from
the ESRI predicts GNP growth figures of 2% for 2013 and
2.7% for 2014. GNP is traditionally a better indicator of
economic welfare than GDP and on the face of it, these
figures are encouraging. However, they have warned about
continued weakness in consumer demand associated with high
unemployment and the continuing mortgage crisis.
7.
SECTION
v) Advertising, sponsorship and other forms of revenue
potential e.g. online media etc. For the first three years on air
It has been impossible to forecast advertising spend at any
stage over the last 5 years. Core Media’s latest prediction for
2014 is growth in advertising spend of approx. 1%.
Advertising was the first to be hit in 2008/2009 and should
recover at a faster rate on historic comparisons. However,
given the fragile nature of the recovery, we are being cautious.
We predict that our overall revenues will remain relatively flat
next year and modest growth will return in 2015.
Projected revenue:
2014201520162017
000’s
1618165817251794
% increase
0.8%2.5%4% 4%
These projections are based on the following assumptions:
•
The 1% growth projected by Core Media for 2014 translates into a slightly lower figure for local radio.
•
That the bailout exit and a less harsh budget in 2014 will result in growth of consumer confidence and a gradual improvement in the local economy in 2015.
Source: Nielsen Ad
Dynamix/ IAB
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SECTION
7.
•
That the long predicted bounce back in advertising spend materialises in 2016/2017 bringing modest growth for local radio.
The graphic below illustrates how diverse our business has
become in terms of revenue sources. Many of these yield just
modest revenues but together, comprise a growing proportion
of our income as a business.
We are determined however, to proof the business against the
type of severe advertising revenue drops that have created so
much stress in the industry over the past five years.
Our vision for our business is to build on our success as the
smallest and one of the best local radio stations in the country.
we envisage a broadly based local media business delivering
content to people on a range of different platforms, offering
advertising and marketing solutions to businesses on digital and
traditional platforms and a range of services that capitalise on
our strengths and expertise.
We began to plan this shift in emphasis away from a sole
dependence on advertising and related revenue in 2011 with
many of the new revenue sources coming on stream in 2012.
The result has been a shift in the relative contribution of
traditional revenue sources which has continued into 2013.
2011
2013
Local Direct Revenue
53%
70%
National/Agency Revenue26%19%
Other Revenue4%28%
Total Revenue:€1.3m€1.6m
In addition to these new sources of revenue, the relative
contribution of the main traditional revenue streams such as
advertising and sponsorship has changed and will continue to
do so in response to significant shifts in the market.
Contribution of revenue sources excluding “other” income:
2012
Local revenue
Agency/National revenue
Advertising72%93%
Sponsorship18%5%
Outside Broadcasts
112
10%
2%
Crea Lambert,
An Tostal Festival
Drumshanbo
Sponsorship
Sponsorship is one of the fastest growing areas of marketing
communications in general and radio communications in
particular, having out-performed traditional advertising
in terms of year-on-year growth over the past decade. Its
success as a radio communication format can be attributed
to its flexibility, heightened consumer engagement and
cost-efficiency in achieving communication objectives. Total
spending on sponsorship in Ireland is expected to reach
€125m this year (source: Onside) with radio accounting for an
estimated €10m, with the betting, airline, energy, insurance
and retail sectors accounting for the majority of this spend.
We have noticed a distinct trend away from the tactical
advertising that has characterised much of the marketing
activity during the recession, back towards brand building,
which will add further momentum to the growth of sponsorship
on Ocean FM.
Outside Broadcasts and Promotions
Approximately 10% of current revenue for Ocean FM is earned
from Outside Broadcasts and other promotional activities which
are typically in the form of station competitions, giveaways
and sampling. We believe that revenue derived from outside
broadcasts and promotional activities will increase significantly
over the next three years as advertisers seek quicker and more
accountable returns on their marketing activities.
Other revenue
The most striking and fundamental shift in revenue sources
over the past 24 months has been the growth in importance of
“other” non-advertising revenue.
7.
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“On behalf of the An
Tostal Committee,
I want to extend a
heartfelt thank you
for your commitment
to making the Festival
so successful. Your
contribution enabled
us to provide a
fantastic programme
of events for our
community, and for
visitors to Leitrim.”
Advertising
Advertising has been and remains by far the single biggest
source of revenue for Ocean FM and currently accounts for 72%
of local revenue and 93% of national revenue. Agency revenue
is mainly booked through Independent Radio Sales (IRS). It is
our belief that advertising will remain the majority source of
revenue for Ocean FM over the next three years but that local
direct sales figures will largely remain the same in the short to
medium term, as the local economy will take longer to recover
and much of our projected increase in advertising revenue in
the short term will be from agency bookings.
Ocean FM has led the way in its approach to creativity and
innovation in programming. The severe downturn in revenue
over the past five years has also driven a complete shift in our
thinking on the revenue side of the business.
In common with every other local station, Ocean has suffered a
dramatic drop in revenue since 2008.
Total revenues peaked in 2007 at €2.3m and dropped to a low
of €1.3m in 2010. During this time, we identified a wide range
of efficiencies that reduced costs.
However, it became apparent that a strategy that was mainly
reliant on management of costs would eventually erode the
quality and breadth of our service. We knew that unless we
changed our approach and became less reliant on traditional
forms of revenue, our business would suffer and programme
quality would be compromised.
In 2011, we took a long hard look at our own strengths and the
market trends that were impacting on revenue.
The drift of content and ad spend to digital media has, so far,
not had a significant impact on local markets but is growing
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7.
SECTION
at the expense of agency/national spend. We decided that we
needed to develop a digital strategy that could capture more
online revenue and make us a strong local service provider
in the new digital economy. We believed that we could move
Ocean FM from being primarily a content provider on FM to
being a multi-platform provider, on FM and on the web in text,
audio and video formats.
As more media is being consumed on mobile devices in
particular, we understand that a rigid adherence to the
standard local radio model is no longer viable. While most
radio listening is still via FM, a growing proportion is on the
web or on mobile devices via web apps. By moving with these
changes, we can benefit by developing new advertising formats
on web applications for mobile devices and also support our
listener base.
We exist in a very small market in the North West but there is
no reason why we cannot become the leading media house in
this market.
To this end, we are developing a range of new digital services
including:
•
www.oceanfm.ie
•www.oceandeals.ie
•
Radio Player
•Films4U
www.oceanfm.ie is one of the busiest radio station web sites
in the country with over 2.5m visitors annually and is now a
significant source of revenue. The site already includes
podcasts, links to Social Media, a large photo library and a busy
114
ticket sales facility. We are in the process of a major review
and plan a significant investment in the site in 2014. We plan
to increase the amount of local content in text, audio and
video formats with the objective of becoming the main site for
breaking local news, sport and local information in the North
West.
www.oceandeals.ie was launched in early 2012 and is now
the leading deals website in the West/North West. We have a
database of over 1,500 regular customers from this region and
around the country. The site allows our advertisers to promote
and sell discount vouchers for businesses, ranging from hotels
and restaurants to beauty therapists and car mechanics.
Oceandeals.ie benefits Ocean in a number of ways:
It’s another stream of revenue, but beyond that, it gives us
something else to sell, a new product, so to speak, and the
opportunity to sign on businesses that have not advertised in
the past. Once they come in on a voucher deal, they’re open
to up-selling to standard advertising packages.
Discount online vouchers also strengthen Ocean’s bond with our
listeners by giving them a chance to save money during tough
economic times.
Radio Player: Ocean is supporting an initiative led by
Communicorp to develop an Irish Radio Player that will allow
each station to customise a mobile advertising space on its
own player page. This is just one area where digital advertising
growth will come from.
Films4U was conceived as a result of a demand from our
customers for high quality video to enhance their websites.
Our video production team has worked for small and large
“On behalf of
Connacht Motor Club,
I wish to express my
thanks to you for the
excellent coverage
you afforded the
Sligo Stages Rally on
Ocean FM. Coverage
of this nature is
very important to
our event; it is of
significant importance
to our sponsors, as
well as contributing
to the promotion
of the event, and
indeed motorsport in
general.”
Robert Lyttle, Clerk
of the Course, Sligo
Stages Rally
We also decided that our greatest strength, promoting the
products and services of our customers, could equally be
employed to promote a range of Ocean FM services.
These included:
•
Training in radio presentation and production
•Concerts
•Tours
•
Other events
Radio Training at Ocean FM: We have developed a range of
radio training courses aimed at different markets. Our “TY
Radio Course” has been taken up by several secondary schools
in the region and is led by Niall Delaney. We have carried out
bespoke courses for organisations such as the cross-border
Gilaroo project where we selected and trained 12 young people
to record and edit programmes that captured their local oral
history. We have recently been awarded funding by Leader to
further equip our radio training facilities and run courses on
media for the unemployed and small businesses. We now have
a fully equipped facility with twenty workstations equipped
with editing software and audio visual presentation capability.
Concerts: In 2012, we employed a full time Events Manager,
Daniel Browne. As the originator of Sea Sessions, the most
popular “surf-music” festival in Ireland, he brought skills in
concert promotion. Since early 2012, we have sold out venues
of up to 1200 capacity in partnership with artists such as
Tommy Fleming and Nathan Carter. We either promote or copromote a concert every 6-8 weeks and regularly fill venues
across the region. In 2013, we will promote seven country
music concerts and one traditional music concert.
Tours: There is a good market for attractively priced 2-3 day
tours to locations such as Tralee or Lisdoonvarna from the
North West. We have combined hotel and bus transport with
entertainment by well-known artists in these locations and
have established a loyal customer base.
Events: Building on our own reputation for quality coverage
of local and international motorsport and in response to the
drop in car sales, we worked with all the major car brands to
establish the North West Car and Bike Show, the first of which
was held at IT Sligo with over 7,000 people in attendance.
Planning is well advanced for another show in 2014.
7.
SECTION
customers throughout the region and has also acted as an
effective “door opener” for our other services.
We looked at our strong programming track record and its
potential to become a driver of additional revenue. The result
has been a major growth in documentary, drama and education
programme production that, in turn, has allowed us to retain
existing and employ new staff to add further depth to our
programming team.
Sources of programme funding include:
•
Sound and Vision
•
Cross Border “Peace Funds”.
•
The Heritage Council
While Sound and Vision funding is secured in a competitive
process and is not predictable, we have invested heavily in a
permanent team that manages applications and programme
production. The result has been a high level of successful
applications and a strong pipeline of programmes that are
largely produced in-house.
Building on this success, we have also secured funding from
other bodies to make distinctive and original programming.
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7.
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Finally, after reviewing the effectiveness of our traditional
sales model, built around professional, face to face sales, we
decided to develop a parallel telesales operation focusssed on
smaller customers who traditionally used local print media.
Telesales: Telesales has traditionally been a sales method used
by newspapers, but as order values have dropped in radio we
took the decision to develop a telesales model that would
complement our team on the road. Telesales now accounts for
15% of our local direct sales and is growing.
While many of these activities only launched in the middle of
2012, they are now well established and contributed to the
station moving back into profitability in 2012 and in 2013.
vi) The expected impact of the proposed service on existing
services, both in the short and medium term, in terms of
listenership and revenue.
7.2.2 Strategies for achieving proposed listenership and
revenue targets
When Ocean FM first went on air, we invested heavily in
establishing our brand and personality in the North West, using
high impact strategies such as outdoor campaigns, intensive
on-street promotion and direct marketing. This has paid off in
delivering a resilient and recognisable brand that is part of life
in the North West.
Just because Ocean FM is now an established station, we do
not rest on our laurels. We are aware of the need to constantly
reinforce and promote our service within the North West
region. Our approach to achieving this has been a high level
of participation at all levels in the community and retaining
profile for our brand through relevant programming and high
visibility.
i) Channels of distribution
Listenership
Ocean FM is an established broadcaster with a strong reach
within its franchise area. While we are predicting a modest
increase in reach, we will be focussing over the next three
years on increasing market share. We believe these increased
listening hours will not come at the expense of any particular
local, regional or national station.
Revenue
Ocean FM has a strong customer base and has managed to
maintain rates in the face of declining local newspaper rates.
We believe our share of advertising spend in the region will
continue to grow as local newspaper circulation and advertising
revenue further declines in the coming years.
116
Introduction
Our sales strategy is to maximise revenue through our core
advertising and sponsorship and promotions offer while building
revenue from other non-core sources. The rationale for this
approach is to maximise revenue in a market that is limited
in size but also to reflect the broader development of the
business from a narrow FM based platform to a multi media
and multi platform content creator.
Spot advertising
Our sales team have an excellent track record of devising
creative and effective campaigns. Our Production Manager,
Kevin Blessing, is one of the most experienced in the industry
and has a well deserved reputation for scripting and producing
Ramona Nicholas,
Dragons Den and
MD Cara Pharmacy
•
We believe our core competency of programme making can be a source of income for the station.
Sponsorship
As customers shift away from the focus on tactical advertising
that has characterised the last 3-4 years and begin to focus
again on brand building, sponsorships will move to the centre
of campaign planning. We have developed a range of cost
effective programme and feature sponsorships across our
schedule that enable advertisers to focus on key demographics
in the region.
•
Concerts and tours are now a key component of our revenue stream.
•
The North West Car and Bike Show is now an established part of the calendar for car dealers in the region.
Promotions and Outside Broadcasts
Our high profile Ocean FM Roadcaster is a well established sight
out and about across the region. Outside Broadcasts are one
of the most effective tools we have to promote our customers’
businesses. Our team operate to the highest standards with
well equipped set ups and modern station branding.
Other sources
• www.oceanfm.ie is one the busiest local radio websites in the country. Display advertising on the site has proven to be effective for a number of our customers and is a key part of our sales offer.
•
www.oceandeals.ie is the leading deals site in the North West and a key part of our sales offer.
•
Training represents a modest revenue stream within the station but it enables us to interact with a wide range of community and business interests in a way that has a broader benefit than just revenue.
7.
SECTION
“I have dealt with
many different
media outlets both
nationally and locally
and have found the
Ocean FM approach
to looking after our
marketing needs
both innovative
and original. They
have gone beyond
‘just selling advert
space’ and actively
work with us on
developing our
overall media profile
as well as supporting
in store events and
charity events we
promote like the
Cara Challenge.”
great ads. We will continue to invest time and energy in
creating advertising campaigns that work for our clients.
ii) Sales methods and representations
Our sales strategy, with respect to methods, has changed
quite radically in response to the new market realities. Where
once, much of our business ‘walked in the door”, now we
have to fight for every euro; where much of our business was
comprised of large spends, committed for months at a time,
now the bulk of our orders are small spends, committed for
much shorter periods.
In
•
response to these trends we have
Developed a telesales team of two that can focus on lower spend, shorter term orders at a lower cost to the business. We have also developed a local business directory online targetting service businesses in the North West
•
Developed a new approach to larger advertisers centred around longer term integrated campaigns including advertising, sponsorship, promotions and online. We have succeeded, through this approach, in significantly increasing spend by a number of larger advertisers.
• Employed staff with a different skill set to help design and sell these campaigns.
117
Our sales structure comprises:
7.
SECTION
CEO:
Tim Collins
Sales Manager: Philip O’Brien
Telesales Manager: Emma Gilroy
Business Development Manager: Daniel Browne
Sales Consultant: Padraig O’Dwyer
Telesales Executives: Account Executives:
Kevin Brogan
Michael MacNamara
Anthony Marren
Pauric Bromley
The field sales and telesales teams meet every morning.
And every Thursday morning, the full team meet along with
Finance, Traffic and Production to review and preview sales
plans. This meeting is Chaired by the CEO.
All members of the team have a comprehensive knowledge of
the products they are selling and the local market. Our sales
team also takes part in regular training that is provided inhouse and through Learning Waves.
In addition to direct contact by telephone or face to face sales,
we market the station to advertisers in the region via a regular
newsletter (see appendix) and a broader branding strategy.
We also carry out regular customer satisfaction surveys to
assess how well our services are working and what additional
services we could offer.
The members of our sales team are well known in the area
and their experience and advice is respected and trusted.
Businesses in the North West know that advertising with
Ocean FM works, and they appreciate the fact that we will
118
recommend a range of tactics to use their budget most
effectively. Our reputation means that we consistently get
good repeat business from advertisers across Counties Sligo,
South Donegal and North Leitrim and are the first port of call
for new local advertisers. We also have a significant number of
customers based outside our franchise area in North Donegal,
Mayo, Roscommon, South Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh.
National/Agency Sales
Ocean FM has contracted with IRS for national sales. This
relationship is managed by Tim Collins, CEO and James
Kilmartin, Traffic Manager.
We also deal directly with major national brands through our
Business Development Manager, Daniel Browne.
iii) Proposed Rates
Advertising rates – Local and National
Single Unit
30 sec cost
Prime€32.00
T.A.P€28.00
Packages
Spots
30 sec cost
Prime25€762.00
Prime40€1192.00
Prime60€1728.00
T.A.P25€647.00
T.A.P40€1013.00
T.A.P60€1469.00
“We’ve had Ocean
FM broadcast
from our stores on
numerous occasions
over the past
number of years, and
we found that a lot
of people called in
on the days of the
broadcasts. Most
returned afterwards
and became regular
customers. Having
Ocean FM broadcast
from your business
is a very effective
way of reaching
current and future
customers.”
Stephen Byrne, DIY
and Garden Stores,
Arivo Co-Op
iv) Promotion and Marketing Policy
Marketing strategy
Our marketing strategy is focussed on making the best use
of the tools we have at our own disposal so as to maximise
visibility and brand presence across the region. We combine
tactical branding and sponsorship with grassroots engagement
and awareness building measures at all levels across Sligo,
South Donegal and North Leitrim.
Marketing tactics
Branding
Our own voice is a powerful marketing tool and we have
invested heavily in station imaging and on-air branding that
reinforces the identity and ethos of the station to our listeners.
We promote across our schedule, making sure that listeners
and advertisers are fully aware of the range of programmes
available and the services offered by the station.
We re-designed our station logo in 2008 to more closely
reflect our strong links with the sea and a brighter and more
fun, outdoors image. Our logo is distinctive and immediately
recognisable throughout the region.
One of the true success stories of the North West in recent
years has been that of Sligo Rovers Football Club. The team
is hugely important to the pride and social life of our region.
Ocean FM is closely associated with the club, is one of the main
sponsors and among other initiatives has secured prominent
and fully branded Ocean FM signage in The Showgrounds, Sligo
Rovers’ home stadium.
Our branding is also prominent at our building in Collooney, Co.
Sligo, which is situated next to two of the main road arteries in
our franchise area – the N4 Dublin-Sligo and N17 Sligo-Galway
routes. Thousands of our branded car stickers have also been
distributed across the region.
Ocean FM Roadcaster and Jeep
Our strongly branded Ocean FM Roadcaster is central to
keeping Ocean FM uppermost in the minds of listeners and
advertisers. The Ocean FM Roadcaster is prominent at all major
events in the franchise area, regardless of whether these are
free or sponsored broadcasts. The Ocean FM Roadcaster is
heavily branded, our staff are equipped with branded jackets
and we have a range of banners and stands for use indoors and
outdoors. We also have a fully branded jeep on the road seven
days a week.
7.
SECTION
Discounts are available for charities. Credit terms are 30 days
from issue of invoice.
Community Engagement
Our on air team is another key resource. All are well known
and respected people locally and they are engaged with
local communities and grassroots initiatives across the North
West. Although this engagement is part of the station’s ethos,
presenters such as Kevin Blessing, Margaret Carr-Flynn, Shane
Smyth and Francie Boylan do this out of personal choice.
Whether it is a charity fundraiser, a local awards ceremony
or an event to raise awareness of local issues, one of our
presenters will be on the spot giving a hand, compering or
lending their personal and on air support.
119
Sponsorships
At a corporate level, the station itself is closely involved with
community events, participating in fundraising, sponsorships
and events. A case in point is the station’s sponsorship of an
event that has caught the public imagination in recent years
- The Ocean FM Warrior of the Sea. This is an endurance sea
swim linking two iconic points at either side of Sligo Bay. The
station has sponsored the event since inception, promoting it
on air, providing prizes and with staff members participating
in the 6km swim. Starting as a small local event just four years
ago, the race now attracts swimmers from across Ireland, from
as far away as Canada and South Africa and has grown to be
one of the biggest open sea swimming events in Ireland.
SECTION
7.
Over the past two years alone, Ocean FM has been a main
sponsor and a media sponsor of a wide range of other events in
the region including, for example, The Rosses Point Triathlon,
Sligo Live and Bundoran’s Sea Sessions Surf and Music Festival.
Our brand has been included in marketing material including
web sites, banners used at the events themselves, Ocean
merchandise in “goodie bags” and extensive use made of
outside broadcasts.
Social Media
We are an active user of Social Media, particularly Twitter and
Facebook. Both platforms afford us the opportunity to reach
outside our core listenership with messages about our content,
whether it’s local sports or breaking news. One of our senior
staff, Emma Gilroy, recently completed a Diploma in Digital
Marketing and has been implementing a new Social Media
strategy for the station. In recent months, we have seen a 76%
increase in followers of our Facebook page and a 71% increase
in followers on Twitter.
120
We also use Linkedin, You Tube and Sound Cloud. We use Social
Media to communicate significant news and sports stories,
podcasts, photos and news about celebrity guests, photos of
the staff out and about and competitions.
www.oceanfm.ie
Online and mobile listening are important growth areas for
Ocean. We are in the process of developing a new responsive
website that will facilitate greater engagement by listeners
and non-listeners, both in the North West and overseas.
Recent improvements to our current site include: a new search
engine for our directory section; an e-commerce function; a
mobile friendly version of the site; web cam to watch us live
in studio on our Muzu channel; and a significant growth in local
display advertising.
Traffic to the site continues to grow. Our current traffic is
50,000 unique visits/month with 2.5m overall visits annually.
Most visitors are from within Ireland but significant numbers
are from the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, Spain and Canada.
Advertising
Apart from our own on air promotion of our service, we also
advertise in a number of local newspapers and occasionally use
more high impact outdoor advertising when appropriate.
Email
We have a large database of customer emails. Four times every
year, we send a newsletter with updates on station activity as
well as relevant sales information.
Media Relations
Ocean FM also uses its staff and news resources to promote
itself across other media in very cost-effective ways. Two of
Awards
We are proud of the quality of much of our programming and
never hesitate to enter appropriate industry awards. Our
success in the PPI Awards and recently, The Prix Europa, has
been useful in bringing our programming to the attention of a
wider audience.
Concerts, Tours and Events
Ocean FM concerts, tours and events are heavily branded
and promoted throughout the franchise area. They are also
attended by staff who use them as a way to interact face to
face with listeners and get feedback.
7.3 Overall Financial Strategy.
Please detail your financial strategy over the first three-tofive year period. The strategy must detail how the applicant
proposes to meet all pre-operational and subsequent funding
requirements.
Ocean FM is the smallest local station in the country and
because of our three County (Sligo, South Donegal, North
Leitrim) franchise area, one of the most costly to operate.
Three studio locations, opt-out programming and sports
coverage on many weekends, broadcasting live commentary of
sport involving all three counties is a service that is much more
expensive to run than a single county franchise. The economy
of the North West has been badly impacted by the recession
of the past five years and local advertising spend has fallen by
almost 50% with national/agency spend equally badly affected.
In spite of this, we have maintained and developed our
programming content and fully honoured our commitments in
our Programme Policy Statement.
7.
SECTION
our best known presenters, Niall Delaney and Kevin Blessing,
write regular columns for local newspapers, keeping their
names and opinions top of mind among potential listeners.
News and other material generated by Ocean FM is also
quite often picked up by other media outlets. The station
has a reputation for being first with important local stories
and wherever these are used by national or other local
media, Ocean FM is always credited, reinforcing the quality
and significance of the material produced by the station. In
addition, key contributors such as our Consumer Presenter,
Claire Ronan, are regular contributors on national TV.
Costs have been cut but our service to our listeners has not
been compromised.
While the station sustained losses in 2009 and 2010, we
brought it close to break even in 2011 and made a significant
trading profit in 2012. Ocean has turned the corner and is well
positioned to grow revenue in the coming years as the economy
slowly emerges from recession.
Over the past three years, we have invested €70,000 in
upgrading our studio, office and transmission infrastructure.
We will continue to invest as we replace and upgrade key parts
of our infrastructure in the next three years. We have allowed
for capital expenditure of €25,000/annum for the next three
years.
Our budgets for the next three years incorporate revenue
projections that are conservative and robust cost projections
that are based on nine years experience in operating this
business.
121
SECTION
7.
Our strategy of diversifying and expanding our business to
become a multi media and multi platform content provider,
offering a range of related services to businesses across the
region, will enable us to access a broader revenue stream that
will underpin the viability of the business.
7.5 Sources of Funding and Expenditure.
We have a stable and experienced management team and
highly motivated staff who love their work, are proud of
what we have achieved and look forward to the future
with confidence. These attributes will make a significant
contribution to our future financial success.
Not applicable
Please detail or provide:
i) The various sources of funding outlined in Table A above;
Where new borrowings are proposed.
Where the applicant is already a trading corporate body.
Please provide details of:
7.5.1 All borrowing facilities currently available to the
company,
7.4. Investment Proposal.
Please provide details of the total funding requirements, and
how these will be met, completing Tables A and B.
North West Broadcasting Ltd has no borrowings and is debt
free. It is not part of any Group.
Table A-Funding€
7.5.2 Any contingent liabilities and off-balance sheet
financing arrangements.
Share Capital2,101,749
Loan StockNil
Medium/Long Term Borrowing
Nil
Leasing/HP Facilities (capital value)
Nil
Bank OverdraftNil
Other – Cash Reserves
(865,636)
Total1,236,113
Table B-Expenditure€
Capital Expenditures
(including capital value of leases)
190,617
Other Pre-operational Expenditure
N/A
Working Capital (at on-air date)
1,045,496
Total1,236,113
122
The Company has no such liabilities or arrangements.
ii) The timeframe for capitalisation of the Applicant,
specifying the amount of funding which will be put in place
prior to contract, prior to launch and after the launch of the
service.
Not applicable.
iii) Statements of, or copies of agreements, from all
proposed investors including details of the timing and
amounts of finance to be made available.
See Shareholders Agreement in confidential appendix.
Ocean FM will continue to use its modern, purpose-built
facilities in Collooney, Donegal Town and Manorhamilton.
We have made an allocation of €25,000/annum over the next
three years for upgrading/replacing studio and transmission
equipment.
the unlikely event that there is a further contraction in the
economy impacting on our ability to hit our revenue targets,
the Company has significant cash reserves and a strong balance
sheet that will provide an adequate cushion.
In the unlikely event that the Company requires further funds,
the shareholders are committed to providing whatever support
is necessary.
7.7 Staffing Matters.
7.6 Financial Projections.
Please set out:
i) Detailed projected profit and loss accounts for the first
three years;
ii) Detailed projected expenditure accounts by area of
activity;
iii) Detailed projected balance sheets for the first three years;
iv) Detailed projected monthly cash-flow statements showing
gross inflows and outflows for the first three years;
v) A full listing of the underlying assumptions on which the
financial projections are based, relating such assumptions
clearly to other sections of the application.
7.
SECTION
iv) The proportion of the capital expenditure provision that
has been allocated to transmission, studio buildings, studio
equipment, office fit out and other costs.
Please provide details of:
i) The proposed staffing structure in diagrammatic form,
clearly indicating the number and categories of staff employed
for the operation of the proposed service and the basis of
their employment.
This information is provided in the confidential appendices.
vi) The timeframe for achieving profitability.
Ocean FM returned to profitability in 2012 and we project a
significant profit for each of the coming three years.
vii) What measures will be taken if the financial projections
are not achieved (for example, commitments from
shareholders for additional funds).
Our revenue projections are prudent and conservative. In
123
See confidential appendix.
We use a mix of in-house training and Learning Waves to meet
our training needs. Our staff have travelled to Learning Waves
courses but we have also run a number of courses at the
station over the past few years.
iii) The applicant’s industrial relations policy, including its
policy on recognising trade union membership
All staff are reviewed annually with training needs assessed
and individual plans agreed.
Ocean FM is a small business, most of our staff are based in one
location and there is open and relaxed communication between
staff and management. We are lucky in that the attitude of our
staff to workplace flexibility is second to none, allowing the
business to innovate and develop to the benefit of all.
Our annual training budget is €5,000.
We recognise our employees’ right to be a member of a Trade
Union.
While none of our current employees suffer from a major
disability, we have worked closely with local organisations
involved in disability to facilitate work experience at the
station.
ii) The proposed salary level for each full-time and parttime post identified under i) or ii) above
SECTION
7.
We have contracted with Peninsula Business Services to assist
us in designing policies and implementing HR procedures.
iv) Proposed policies in relation to staff remuneration and
benefits, including pay agreements, pension and insurance
schemes, etc.
We have included a sample contract and a copy of our
employee handbook in the appendices.
v) The proposed staff training and development policy and
strategy, including the proposed annual budget.
Ocean FM has been a member of Learning Waves since its
inception. One of our Directors, Noel Shannon, has been a
member of the Board of Learning Waves for the past 4 years.
124
Disability
All our facilities were constructed in 2004 and are modern with
full disabled access.
This includes participation in the FAS “Job Shadow” scheme
and, for example, a recent work experience placement of a
visually impaired person.
vi) Proposals for the involvement of staff in share option
schemes.
Four of our senior staff became shareholders in the past year
and we hope more staff will follow in the period of the next
licence.
We do not have a formal share option scheme.
“I want to personally
thank Ocean FM and
in particular Francie
Boylan for helping me
to get the opportunity,
motivation, strength
and energy to realise
the dream of coming
from couch potato to
triathlete in 5 months.
Francie was a true
motivator to me and I
know for many others
too. Everyone on the
staff of Ocean FM went
above and beyond to
make our event unique,
special and overall fun!
I greatly exceeded my
expectation in that I
completed 3 triathlons
and now continue to
train.”
We have always adopted the view that our programming
commitments as set out in our Programme Policy Statement
would not be made contingent on revenue. As the recession
began to bite, we cut costs through wage restraint and wage
cuts, a reduction in the numbers of support staff, more
flexible working arrangements and driving hard deals with our
suppliers.
7.
SECTION
7.8 Additional Commitments.
In the event of an upturn and an increase in revenue, over and
above what we have projected, the first thing we will do is
reward our staff for their loyalty and commitment with modest
wage increases and the re-introduction of bonus schemes.
After that we will re-invest in the business, focussing first on
further resourcing our digital strategy and new web platform.
A key part of this strategy is to broaden and deepen the range
of content we produce and to this end, we would look to
recruiting another news and another sports journalist to enable
us to cover Courts and to edit and produce more web based
content.
We have an overarching commitment to high quality
programming and more resources will allow us to further
underpin quality at every level of our programming output.
Collette O’Hagan, Ocean
FM Triathlon Initiative
125
SECTION
8.
126
Proposed Commencement of Broadcasting
Ocean FM is currently broadcasting to the franchise area.
8.2 Critical path analysis.
If awarded the Licence we will continue to broadcast without
interruption.
8.
SECTION
8.1 Readiness Date.
127
SECTION
9.
128
Summary of Proposals
Music Output
Please provide the information requested in the table below.
Please give an indicative list of the categories of music that
will be aired and an average percentage for each having
All Staff47
Full Time19
Part Time28
Staff Costs€843,000
% of Total Expenditure
55%
regard to the type of sound broadcasting service.
Category%
New music (0-1 years)
20%
Recent (2-10 years)
30%
Contemporary (10-35 years)
40%
Old Gold (35+ years)
10%
9.2 Programming
Programme Categories
Please outline the percentage of programming under each
category for both the 7am-7pm and Total Broadcast Day time
periods.
Irish Music
Please indicate the percentage of Irish Music that will be
broadcast, in the 7am-7pm period and across the total
9.
SECTION
9.1 Staff
broadcast day.
Category
7am-7pm
Total Broadcast Day
News & Current Affairs
32%
20%
Music
36%48%
Speech
20%22%
7am-7pm
Total Broadcast Day
30%30%
Advertisements12%10%
129
SECTION
9.
9.3 Market Analysis
Ratio of Local/Direct to National/Agency Sales for the first
Daily Reach Projections
Please indicate the daily reach projections for the target
audience and for all adults during the first three years of
five years of operation.
operation.
LocalNational
Year 165%35%
All Adults (15+)
Year 151%
Year 252%
Year 353%
Market Share Projections
Please indicate the market share projections for the target
audience and for all adults during the first three years of
operation.
All Adults (15+)
Year 133.5%
Year 234.5%
Year 335.5%
130
Year 264%36%
Year 363%37%
Year 463%37%
Year 563%37%
30” Spot Rate
Please indicate the cost of a basic 30” Spot from 7am-7pm and
for the Total Audience Package.
7am-7pm
Total Audience Package
€32.00€28.00
Summary of Proposals
Investment Proposal
Please indicate the amount of funding that will come from the
sources indicated below.
NA
9.
Total€1,236
Projected Profit and Loss (Summary)
Source Amount ‘000
Share Capital€2,101
Loan StockNA
Leasing/HPNA
Bank OverdraftNA
Other Revenue Reserves
(866)
Total€1,236
‘000
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Turnover
€1,618€1,658€1,725€1,794€1,839
SECTION
Other (Please Specify)
9.4 Financial
(Cost of Sales)
(Operational) €1,523€1,548€1,602€1,643€1,684
Net profit (Loss) 95
110
123
151
155
Application of Funds
Please indicate the amount of funding that will be allocated
to the categories below.
CategoryAmount ‘000
Capital Expenditure€191
Other Pre Operational Expenditure
NA
(Please Specify)
Working Capital€1,045
131
132

“ A difference is only a difference if it makes... Ocean FM - Making a difference in the North West...

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