Christmas FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Various |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Christmas Music |
| Subchannels |
|
| Network | Radiohub |
| Ownership | |
| Halloween FM, Sound of Ireland | |
| History | |
First air date | November 2008 |
| Links | |
| Website | christmasfm.com |
Christmas FM is a seasonal radio station based in the Republic of Ireland dedicated to Christmas-themed music, billed as "Ireland's Christmas Station". Airing during the Christmas season, it is a temporary licensed station, traditionally broadcasting from 28 November until 27 December since 2008. The station streams over the internet and maintains social media presence.
History[edit]
It began broadcasting in Dublin in 2008. Cork was added in 2009. Limerick, Galway and the South East of Ireland were added in 2010.[1] With the inclusion of an additional transmitter, Kildare was added in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, transmitters were added in the North Midlands, in the North East and in North Wicklow.
In 2018 the station broadcast network was in Sligo 95.0, Dublin 105.2, Cork 106.7, Galway 87.7, Naas 88.1, South East 103.8, Nth East 99.4, Nth Midlands 101.6, Kilkenny 104.3, Wicklow 106.6, Nth Wicklow 99.5, Limerick 105.5, Ennis/Clare 105.2, Letterkenny 105.7, Kllarney/Tralee 105.0.
The format is music driven with the addition of Christmas-themed content, billed as trying to bring the 'Magic of Christmas'.[2] As a temporary licensed station it does not carry commercial advertising but does have both on-air and online sponsors to cover operational costs each year.
Dunnes Stores and Cadbury were the main sponsors of the station for 2017, and in 2018 Coca-Cola joined these two main sponsors.
Charity work[edit]
The station has chosen charity partners in each of its broadcast years with the objective of raising awareness and funds for the partner. Funds are raised through a mixture of premium SMS, on-line and in-branch donation. 100% of listener donations go directly to the chosen charity. Charity partners are listed below:
- 2008: ISPCC, raising €35,000[3]
- 2009: Simon Communities Dublin and Cork, raising €70,000
- 2010: Barnardos, raising €86,000
- 2011: Focus Ireland, raising €117,000
- 2012: ISPCC/Childline,[4] raising €100,000
- 2013: Aware[5] raising €85,000
- 2014: Age Action, raising €107,000
- 2015: Make-A-Wish Foundation, raising €278,000
- 2016: Focus Ireland, raising €365,000[6][3]
- 2017: Sightsavers Ireland, raising €214,000[7][8][9]
- 2018: Temple Street Children's University Hospital, raising €404,551[10][11][12]
- 2019: Barretstown, raising €412,021 [13]
- 2020: ALONE, raising €284,000[14][15]
- 2021: Barnardos raising €331.515 [16]
- 2022: The Magic of Christmas Initiative - Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and The Community Foundation for Ireland [17]
Christmas FM also operates a song competition in the run up to the broadcast period with the short list being aired for a listener voted winner to be selected.[18]
Previous Winners from the Christmas FM Song Contest[edit]
- 2023: Aimee - Grafton Street Lights
- 2022: MULLED - A Perfect Christmas
- 2021: Phil Redmond - Home for Christmas
- 2020: The Ivy Sisters - Mele Kalikimaka
- 2019: Niall Teague - Santa Claus
- 2018: Mark Leen - Fly Home for Christmas
- 2017: Aisling and Maeve - This Christmas
- 2016: Malcolm Lally - Christmas Time
- 2015: Celtic Chique - Ireland in my Heart
- 2014: Monster Monster - Christmas in Liverpool
- 2013: Showstoppers - CHRISTMAS
- 2012: The Henry Girls - Mr. Snowman
- 2011: [Unknown]
- 2010: Snow Business - Christmas Time
- 2009: Funzo - This Christmas
- 2008: [First on air no-song contest]
Online stations[edit]
Christmas FM also operates two online-only Christmas themed music stations: Christmas FM Classical and Christmas FM Classics and Christmas FM UK.[19]
Staff[edit]
The station is staffed by approximately 100 volunteers and provides a 24-hour service during the license period. The voice-over used in many of Christmas FM's charity promotional appeals since 2008 belonged to Bob Gallico (1930–2013).
The founders of the station were Paul Shepard, Walter Hegarty, Garvan Rigby and Daragh O'Sullivan. It was conceived by Garvan Rigby. All had previous experience in pirate radio and in temporary licensed stations, with the first two having been among the principals of temporary licensed Premier FM. The first station manager was the late Jim Kenny. Chris Maher, an expert in soul music, did a stint as station manager. The current station manager is Dan McDermott, who occasionally presents on Christmas FM, but is best known as a presenter on alternative-oriented online station 8Radio.[citation needed]
References[edit]
- ^ Christmas FM, the charity seasonal radio station now in its third year Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christmas FM song contest voting open to the public on Saturday
- ^ a b "Our History". Christmas FM.
- ^ "Childline: 1,212 calls, texts and messages from children on Christmas Day". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ "Christmas FM". Christmas FM. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Russell, Cliodhna (10 January 2017). "Christmas FM raised more than €360,000 for Focus Ireland". The Journal. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "€214,000 raised for Sightsavers in 2017". Christmas FM. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Christmas FM listeners fund thousands of sight-saving operations". Sightsavers. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ O'Brien, Cillian (9 January 2018). "Christmas FM raised more than €200,000 for Sightsavers". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Christmas FM raises over €400,000 in 2018". Christmas FM. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ Hanratty, Dave. "Christmas FM raises over €400,000 for Temple Street Children's Hospital". Joe.ie. Joe.ie. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Christmas FM raises over €400k for Temple Street Children's Hospital". Irish Examiner. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ https://christmasfm.com/thanks-for-helping-us-raise-e412021-for-barretstown/
- ^ "Christmas FM announces ALONE as official charity partner for 2020". christmasfm.com. Christmas FM. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ https://christmasfm.com/christmas-fm-raises-e284000-for-alone/
- ^ https://christmasfm.com/christmas-fm-raises-e331515-for-barnardos/
- ^ https://christmasfm.com/themagicofchristmas/
- ^ Christmas FM to return, song contest announced
- ^ "Classical Christmas FM". Christmas FM. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
External links[edit]