Lots happens in the radio industry each week so here’s a summary of the week we just enjoyed.
Here’s what Happened
Last week in Quick Bits, we covered Joe Duffy’s criticism of Bauers Cash Machine in since deleted posts on x.
The subject came up for discussion on LiveLine this week, with the competition coming under serious fire.
First a few key points.
- When you enter the cash machine, you sometimes receive an offer encouraging you to send a second entry. They occasionally offer buy two get 3 or buy 2 get 4 offers, encouraging players to send 2 texts for €5 instead of the €2.50 for one text.
- Bauer cap each player/number at 12 entries per game, or a total of €30.
- Bauer would not disclose how many played the game in 2023, only reiterating the amount they gave away.
- If you don’t play the game on a given day, Bauer sometimes text the player the amount reminding them to enter.
Many of those who spoke with Joe were of the view that the cash Machine was a form of gambling, but Bauer dispute this. One listener told Joe how she was spending €250 a month on the competition, with this leading to conversations around the Cash Machines attractiveness to those with gambling addictions.
Others were concerned by the mental health impacts on those who receive a cash machine call and get the amount wrong. One listener spoke of a player receiving a call and missing out on life changing money because they got the cent amount incorrect.
The conversation took place over two days, with no regulator really taking responsibility for the competition.
The cash machine also got coverage on drive time this week, as well as the Irish times and Irish Independent.
Do you think the game is gambling? Should it be allowed? Share your thoughts on our social media.
Today FM are introducing a new weekend schedule from today. Breakfast presenters from other Bauer owned stations will take up weekend slots, with Red FM breakfast host KC taking the Saturday 2-6 slot, and Spin 1038 Fully Charged presenter Emma Nolan taking on Sunday Evenings.
KC will be hosting his show from studios in Cork, although it won’t be networked on his regular home of Red FM. It’s a return to Today FM for KC, who hosted on the station before leaving for the Cork market 10 years ago.
Emma Nolan has also hosted on Today FM in the Past, and has already been a regular voice on the weekend schedule.
Best wishes to both broadcasters with their new shows. Today FM have a really strong schedule already, and this further enhances their offering.
Finally for now let’s talk about Tubridy. I’m not going to do this every week as that would get old very quick, but where there are actual updates of significance I will cover them.
Right, here’s a list of all the main Tubridy news this week as far as radio is concerned.
- The Q102 and Virgin Radio apps received a combined 8,000 downloads in the Irish market on the week Ryans show launched.
- Ryan’s weekend show launched last Sunday in a two hour slot. The show is pre recorded, and Coimisiún na Meán were made aware of that before it went on air.
- Cork County Council were very disappointed that Ryan’s show cut Derry O Callaghan’s extremely popular Oldies and Irish show in half. They agreed to write to the government on the matter, with some politicians suggesting that if Ryan’s show is within the rules then the rules may need to change.
- This was a view shared in Limerick, with LABOUR Party councillor Conor Sheehan speaking out on the matter too.
It’s an interesting situation. Time will tell if this backlash has any impact, but for now at least Coimisiún na Meán seem satisfied.
Quick Bits
Ryan Tubridy is going to be writing a new column for the Irish Mail on Sunday
Annie Nightingale, the first female presenter on BBC Radio 1, has died aged 83
Aoife Kearns is the new news and sports editor at Beat
Corks Red FM have a new jingle package and tagline, ”Corks Good Times”
And that’s the summary for this week. Come back to radio land next week for more radio news📻 and be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for more fun from the world of radio.