Strangest/worst schedule decisions in Irish Radio history

05-10-2021 1:06pm #1

The one that really sticks in my mind was late 2003, Larry Gogan and his Golden Hour was moved to drive time on 2fm, whoever decided that must have been on something, thankfully it only lasted a little over a year and Larry was back on afternoons by Spring 2005.

ford fiesta · 05-10-2021 8:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058211776/strangest-worst-schedule-decisions-in-irish-radio-history

I actually enjoyed it, was good for the drive home

EmmetSpiceland · 05-10-2021 9:37pm

Newstalk creating the dreadful ‘Lunchtime Live’ show. Rubbish radio. The last thing the airwaves need is another ‘Live Line’.

Losty Dublin · 05-10-2021 11:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058211776/strangest-worst-schedule-decisions-in-irish-radio-history

On the contrary it isn't a bad idea. Put the strongest performing music presenter onto an important yet predominantly music led show.

06-10-2021 11:48am

I used to listen to 98 fm a show, can't remember lady presenter's name, program was about family issues, parenting, The audience would text her in about their familial problems. Then 98 fm in their wisdom moved the show to a much later slot in the night. When nobody would be listening.

One Who Waits... · 06-10-2021 11:54am

Newstalk putting George Hook on at lunchtime. Holy Jaysus.

07-10-2021 11:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117982917#Comment_117982917

What I found odd was that everyone made such a big deal about George retiring from The Right Hook, he popped up on every TV chat show and everything but moving from drive time to lunchtime is hardly retirement, anyway I'm sure he wishes he did retire that time as we know how his career ended.

ford fiesta · 07-10-2021 11:29am

maybe thread should be renamed in the last 25 years.

...or do we go back to the 1920's (Irish Radio History)?

L1011 · 08-10-2021 11:00am

Putting Mo K on between two dance shows on 2FM. Audiences are not the same.

Fandymo · 08-10-2021 11:07am

Putting Lottie Ryan on the radio in any timeslot.

08-10-2021 1:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117992086#Comment_117992086

Yes, I had forgotten that one, I was thinking that they'd fix the Saturday night schedule after a few months but he's still there 3 or 4 years on. Absolutely bonkers

08-10-2021 1:10pm

Another strange one about the current 2fm weekend schedule is, the 5pm to 7pm slot hasn't had a permanent presenter since Keith Walsh left 14 months ago and is presented by random hosts every weekend.

wmpdd3 · 14-10-2021 1:46am

Killing Eds songs of praise

US2 · 14-10-2021 2:06am

Getting rid of Premier League Live on Today FM every Saturday afternoon

Losty Dublin · 14-10-2021 8:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017331#Comment_118017331

Hardly a decision; Today FM lost the coverage rights to Wireless Group.

iseegirls · 14-10-2021 10:47am

And seeing what happened to 3pm kickoffs between Mar 20 - Aug 21, they were probably lucky to not have renewed it.

14-10-2021 11:19am

Iirc Today FM let their rights lapse and wireless picked it up the following season.

thejuggler · 14-10-2021 8:41pm

Today FM when they lost their entire weekday daytime lineup in the space of a year or two:

Ray Darcy to RTE

Ray Foley to 98FM

Tony Fenton RIP

Not an intentional change of course but very damaging

griffin100 · 14-10-2021 11:23pm

Jennifer Zamparelli in any way, shape or form. Her presence on the airways in any context is the worst decision ever.

Loafing Oaf · 14-10-2021 11:51pm

Newstalk trying to turn Tom Dunne into a morning magazine show presenter. Pat Kenny fronting an indie band would have been a better fit.

Also an ongoing one and not massively weird but Communicorp having competing drivetime news shows on Newstalk and Today FM. If BAI are obliging Today FM to do a daily news show, surely they could find a different slot for it.

sligeach · 14-10-2021 11:59pm

Letting Ray D'Arcy on the air. I make more of an effort spelling his name right than he does researching any facts. Ask me again tomorrow?

spurious · 15-10-2021 12:38am

Creedon on Radio 1 overlapping for an hour with John Kelly on Lyric always seems a bit odd to me.

The J Stands for Jay · 15-10-2021 12:47am

Wedging an hour of talking about sport into a music station. Turn on 2fm, getting a little bit of Jenny Greene and then listening to some crew talk about sport.

steinbock123 · 15-10-2021 1:03am

Letting Joe Duffy or Lottie Ryan anywhere near a microphone.

radiotrickster · 15-10-2021 3:20am

Moving Brendan O'Loughlin (at the time a newsreader) and Rebecca Shekleton (at the time a full-time social manager/weekend presenter) to breakfast on 98fm seemed strange at the time, but they got nominated for the breakfast IMRO this year so the 98fm bosses must have really known what they were doing.

15-10-2021 11:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118021818#Comment_118021818

At least when George Hook and later Ivan Yates were hosting the Drivetime slot on Newstalk, communicorp had left wing v Right wing hosts but yerman Kieran Cuddihy has the same world view as Matt Cooper so it no longer makes sense having the two shows head to head.

JoeA3 · 15-10-2021 9:40pm

As been mentioned, Today FM in general. I can’t understand their schedule changes over the last 6-7 years and the dreadful music policy that seems to be strictly enforced, regardless of presenter. So you have this crazy situation where the individuality of the presenter doesn’t seem to matter. The wonderful Ed Smith stood in for the appalling D’Arcy last week but not so you’d notice much. It was the same crap music as always. Clearly the presenters from 7-7 have no say in music choice. When Ed got back to his regular slot a couple of nights ago, normality resumed. Iano must have to lock the studio doors on the rare occasion he plays a Bowie record.

And maybe the likes of D'Arcy aren't as bad as they seem. It would be interesting to hear them do a show with a bit more freedom.

JoeA3 · 15-10-2021 9:57pm

Agree with the 2FM comments too. That station peaked about 25 years ago (mid '90's) and has probably had 15 schedule shuffles since. All of them gradually worse than before, with some bizarre choices - "Game On" at 6pm, Larry Gogan on drive time, Dave Fanning on drive time, shafting Will Leahy for the appalling Colm Hayes, etc, etc, etc.

16-10-2021 8:26am

Does anyone remember that time RTE tried to make Des Cahill a midmorning talkshow host on radio 1 ? I think it lasted less than a year.

16-10-2021 7:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118026245#Comment_118026245

I actually think you are being very conservative with that estimate of 15 schedule shuffles at 2fm since the 90s, I think it could be double that. The 1999 to 2009 period under John Clarke was absolutely manic, he literally reshuffled the schedule after every Jnlr. Poor Larry Gogan went from Drivetime to afternoons to weekends to back on weekdays again in the space of 2 years

ford fiesta · 17-10-2021 11:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118026119#Comment_118026119

I'd say Ian doesn't care at this stage of his career what he can or can't play.....just going through the motions tbh.

24-02-2023 8:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117992086#Comment_117992086

This scheduleing blunder which has been in place since 2017 is finally getting fixed this weekend with MO-k moving to Friday evening and Dave Tracey taking over the Saturday night slot between Jenny Green and Mr Spring

Declan A Walsh · 24-02-2023 10:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118026119#Comment_118026119

Did you mean Ed Smith was standing in for Ray Foley? Ray D'Arcy is on Radio 1 and Fergal D'Arcy is gone from Today FM a year now. Funnily enough a thread about the latter has been bumped up again in the last 24 hours!

its_steve116 · 24-02-2023 2:24pm

Dermot & Dave never getting a show on 2FM.

Lord Nelson · 25-02-2023 12:15am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120283518#Comment_120283518

Wouldn’t imagine they’d be interested in taking a step down to join that yoke?

L1011 · 25-02-2023 12:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120282525#Comment_120282525

You're quoting a two year old post.

Hesh's Umpire · 25-02-2023 12:58am

Marty Morrissey standing in on Countrywide at the weekend. Dreadful stuff.

its_steve116 · 25-02-2023 2:38am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120285713#Comment_120285713

How is leaving Today FM for RTÉ a "step down"? Dermot Whelan has done a lot of TV work for RTÈ over the years so I would have thought a show on 2FM would have been inevitable for him.