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FM104

Logo used since 2022
Dublin
Broadcast area	County Dublin
Frequency	FM: 104.4 MHz Virgin Media Ireland: 930 Online: fm104.ie/player iOS & Android Apps
Programming
Format	Contemporary Hit Radio
Ownership
Owner	News Broadcasting
History
First air date	20 July 1989; 35 years ago (1989-07-20) (as Capital 104.4FM)
Links
Website	fm104.ie

FM104 is an independent local radio station broadcast across Dublin, Ireland, on the frequency 104.4 MHz. It is operated by Capital Radio Productions Limited (unconnected with, and not to be confused with, Capital Radio plc), and is a subsidiary of News Broadcasting, itself a subsidiary of News UK. The station broadcasts under a contract from Coimisiún na Meán. FM104 broadcasts from Macken House in Dublin's Docklands.

History

Capital Radio, as the station was originally called, was the first Independent Local Radio contractor to take to the air on 20 July 1989. The station was owned by a consortium of Irish media and entertainment figures and managed by Mike Hogan. Although initially moderately successful, following the launch of rival 98FM, the station consistently trailed in the ratings. In May 1991, the station relaunched as Rock 104; however, this was unsuccessful and in late 1991 it underwent a restructuring under new CEO Dermot Hanrahan, who relaunched the station in April 1992 as Dublin's FM104, using the tag-line "Superstars of the 80s and 90s". This format was moderately successful allowing the station to reach financial stability. However, the station still lagged behind its competitor 98FM. A change in programming direction in 1995, together with the introduction of the highly successful Strawberry Alarm Clock, saw it finally overtake 98FM, though 98FM would itself undergo a (less radical) relaunch, dropping the "Classic Hits" moniker, and poaching Chris Barry for a time. In April 1996 FM104 moved into the Number 1 slot in the Dublin market for the first time. Since then, FM104 and 98FM have been keen rivals.

In 2004 the original shareholders sold the station to Scottish Radio Holdings for €30 million, in the first of a sequence of ownership changes. SRH were subsequently sold to EMAP, who in turn sold the station in 2007.

Denis O'Brien's Communicorp was the highest bidder for Emap's Irish operations when that company decided to sell its radio stations, buying FM104, Highland Radio and Today FM on 14 July 2007. In October 2007, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) approved Communicorp's proposed takeover of Today FM and Highland Radio, but not FM104. The deal was completed by January 2008. Due to a Competition Authority decision, Communicorp was required to sell-on FM104, which it did (to UTV Media) immediately upon its acquisition. O'Brien offloaded Highland Radio in mid-2008.

On 8 October 2007, it was announced by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland that it would not agree to the sale of FM104 to Communicorp, although it granted approval for the acquisition of Today FM and Highland Radio. On 19 December 2007 it was announced that UTV Media had agreed to purchase FM104, subject to approval from the BCI and the Competition Authority. Under the structure of the agreement, Communicorp acquired FM104 but sold it immediately to UTV Media, thus keeping to the spirit of the earlier BCI ruling and allowing it to acquire the other EMAP stations. The sale of FM104 to UTV Media was completed on 10 April 2008.

List of current FM104 presenters

Weekdays

• Jim Nugent (The Strawberry Alarm Clock)
• Thomas Crosse (The Strawberry Alarm Clock)
• Zeinab Elguzouli (The Strawberry Alarm Clock)
• Tara Murray (10-3 Show)
• Graham O’Toole (Graham & Nathan)
• Nathan O’Reilly (Graham & Nathan)
• Mikey O’Reilly (The Hit Mix)
• Louise Tighe (Switched On)
• Al Gibbs (Freaks)

Weekends

• Enya Martin (Gerrup Outta Dat)
• Mikey O’Reilly (Gerrup Outta Dat / The Hit Mix)
• Ciarán Halpin (Weekends on 104)
• Frank Jez (Block Party Mix / Big Urban Mix)
• Eamon Duffy (Now That's What I Call 90s and 00s)
• Helen Galgey (Deireadh Seachtaine)
• Seán Munsanje (The Juice)
• Louise Tighe (Select Irish)

FM104 News

FM104's News output, is branded on air as FM104 Live. Intro of the updates reference the various ways of accessing FM104 (FM, Online, Mobile). The news focus is local to Dublin, with coverage of national public interest stories, and major international events. Main news bulletins are simulcast on sister station, Dublin's Q102

FM104 News Team

• Kevin O’Mahony (Head of News)
• Jonathan Byrne
• Hazel Nolan
• Louise Phelan D'Cruz

FM104 sports reporters

• Peter Branigan
• Declan Drake

References

1. "Denis O'Brien's Communicorp to acquire Irish radio stations -Today FM, FM104 and Highland Radio - in €200m deal". Finfacts. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
2. "Emap sells radio stations to O'Brien". RTÉ News. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 March 2015.
3. "O'Brien buys Emap radio stations in €200m deal". The Irish Emigrant. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
4. "Blow for O'Brien's €200m radio bid". Irish Examiner. 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
5. Beesley, Arthur (9 October 2007). "Denis O'Brien cannot buy FM104 as part of €200m deal". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
6. Hancock, Ciarán (12 January 2008). "O'Brien seals €200m deal for Emap's three Irish radio outlets". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
7. "Denis O'Brien sells Highland Radio". The Irish Emigrant. 11 May 2008. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
8. Hancock, Ciarán (12 January 2008). "O'Brien sells Highland Radio". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
9. "O'Brien gets approval on Today FM". RTÉ.ie. 8 October 2007.
10. "UTV Corporate". www.utvplc.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
11. "UTV raises over £5m to help fund e52m takeover of FM104 station".

External links

• Official website

• Contemporary hit radio stations in Ireland
• Mass media companies of Ireland
• Mass media in Dublin (city)
• Radio stations in the Republic of Ireland
• Adult contemporary radio stations in Ireland
• Radio stations established in 1989
• News Broadcasting
• 1989 establishments in Ireland