2FM
RTÉ 2FM, or 2FM as it is commonly referred to, is RTÉ's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young audience.
RTÉ Radio 2, as it was originally known, began broadcasting in 1979. "Like Clockwork" by the Boomtown Rats was the first song on air, played by Larry Gogan. It was developed as a response by RTÉ to the pirate radio craze sweeping Dublin and the country. Its main inspiration in format was BBC Radio 1. Its original slogan was "Radio 2 Comin'atcha" and as well as broadcasting popular music, it carried a number of other musical strands as well as news and current affairs. Its original broadcast frequencies were 612 kHz MW (until 2004) and later, 90-92 MHz FM. Original DJs included Larry Gogan, who moved over from RTÉ Radio 1, and Dave Fanning.
In 1988 "The Gerry Ryan Show", a morning topical radio show, began broadcasts. Not long afterwards, RTÉ began radical changes to Radio 2's format. Most non-pop music programming was dropped. The station was rebranded as "2FM" in 1988. At this stage the basic schedule for the next decade or so was put in place: Ian Dempsey, Gerry Ryan, Larry Gogan, Garreth O'Callaghan, Tony Fenton, and Dave Fanning were staples of this period.
2FM in this era was at its most popular. Its mobile broadcasting unit, the Roadcaster, made regular trips nationwide, and 2FM organised live events throughout Ireland, such as the "Beat on the Street" and "Lark in the Park". New bands would often get their "big break" by being featured on the Dave Fanning Show. Gerry Ryan's radio show became a national institution.
However by 2000, this schedule was looking very stale. In addition, 2FM suffered the high profile departure of Ian Dempsey to independent national radio station, 100-102 Today FM. Both Today FM and the emerging Independent Local Radio sector had eroded 2FM's once unassailable listnership base. Today FM continues to sign up disillusioned 2FM staff, with Tony Fenton being the most recent departure, in September 2004.
John Clarke, a new Controller of 2FM, was brought in to sort out the station. He rebranded 2FM with a new blue and red logo and re-arranged the schedule. Ryan Tubridy was poached from RTÉ Radio 1 to present "The Full Irish" breakfast programme. Though in 2005 he returned to Radio 1, being replaced by Ruth Scott and Rick O'Shea who in turn will be relpaced after 5 months by Marty Whelan in September 2005. DJ Mark McCabe arrived to present a dance music show at weekends. Later, more changes saw Larry Gogan being moved from his lunchtime slot to "drive time". A news programme, Newsbeat, was added to the schedules in response to criticisms that 2FM was not fufilling its remit as a public service broadcaster. Newer DJs such as Canadian Jenny Huston and Kerbdog front-man Cormac Battle have also joined the line-up in recent years.
2FM still faces criticism that for a youth station, many of its DJs have been there for a very long time. Larry Gogan and Dave Fanning have worked with the station since the beginning. Many other DJs have spent the best part of twenty years with the station. Nevertheless, 2FM remains the most popular music-driven station in Ireland.
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Television: RTÉ One | RTÉ Two | TG4 | ||
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Radio: RTÉ Radio 1 | 2FM | RTÉ Lyric FM | Raidió na Gaeltachta |