A group comprising experienced radio investors has submitted an application to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to operate a ‘classic rock’ music radio station, aimed at Dublin city, county and the ‘commuter belt’ around the capital. Radio Nova 100 intends to provide a ‘first-rate and distinctive’ station, playing classic rock music from the 1960s to the present day, featuring some of the greatest rock artists of all time – as well as news, sport and local information.
The group includes Vienna Investments, fronted by Dermot Hanrahan, former CEO of FM104, Ulick McEvaddy and Maurice Casidy; Des Whelan, CEO of WLR FM and a shareholder in Beat 102 – 103; Bay Broadcasting, which operated a classic rock pilot in Dublin last year under the name ‘949 The Rock’; Barry O’ Callaghan and Pat McDonagh of Riverdeep. Radio Nova 100, if successful, will employ 20 full-time and 12 part-time staff across programming, marketing, sales and administration and will operate from Dun Laoghaire.
A spokesman for the group, Kevin Branigan, said, “We have put together a very realistic and well-researched proposal for a station that will be the only local operator in Dublin to include the commuter belt area in its franchise area. Our shareholders combine business leaders with experienced radio investors, who have proven their commitment to the radio sector over the long term. We are 100% Irish and we have a passion for classic rock music. We have already selected a highly-experienced management and presentation team with an enviable track record, comprising some of the most talented people in the country”.
The application to give Dublin a new Radio Nova comes during a week of media coverage of the 25th anniversary of the closedown of the original Radio Nova in 1983, in which the station closed in a blaze of publicity – the closedown was the subject of a TV3 documentary broadcast last Wednesday evening. “The original radio nova was in a class of its own when it came to standards and professionalism. In many ways, our choice of name for the station is a tribute to the legacy of Chris Cary and the original Nova team, who’s influence can be found in the high standard of radio broadcasting in Ireland today”, said Branigan.
If successful in its application, Radio Nova 100 would launch in August 2009.
