LOCAL radio has been rocked this morning with the news that Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has made a last minute bid for the radio franchise for north Donegal.
Highland Radio is bidding to add another 10 years to its 24 years on the air covering the north of the county.
But former Highland man Charlie Collins is hoping his DLFM station will be on air from September.
Both sides gave oral presentations in Letterkenny yesterday.
Now a loophole in the regulations of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has allowed a third bid, with a consortium financed by O’Leary making a submission later today.
O’Leary’s granny is from Ardara and he has two uncles living in Malin; it’s understood several wealthy cousins – one with a gold mining business in Carndonagh – urged him to get behind the third bid which is believed to be called Tir Chonaill FM.
One novel idea included in the bid is not to have a permanent studio, but to follow the example of the banks and go mobile, broadcasting from different villages and townlands every day from the mobile studio.
Listeners will be able to sit in part of the mobile studio for €1 and watch presenters in action. Listeners wanting larger seats will have to pay €2 extra. The money will help to offset the decline in radio advertising revenue.
O’Leary himself is said to be considering doing a live morning programme “but only during the summer months.”
One insider at TCFM told Donegal Daily: “We are delighted Michael is behind the whole idea. The airwaves in Donegal will never be the same again.
“He’s hoping to take over the Ocean FM franchise too, bringing the county together under one banner.”
He said the slogan – A County Once Again – could help TCFM win the deals.
“There will be no Derry news whatsoever on the station,” said the insider.
She approves of her grandson’s license bid, saying: “Cool. I like bit of metal music myself but I do hope Michael keeps playing Daniel O’Donnell.”
The BAI said Section 5, subsection 23, paragraph 1a,c of its code allowed for late bids and an announcement on TCFM would be made just after noon today.
However sources at DLFM and Highland say they are confident O’Leary’s bid will be scuppered.
“It will never take off,” said one source at Mountain Top.
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