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WLR FM

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WLR FM
  • Waterford
Broadcast areaWaterford City and County, Ireland
Frequency95.1fm / 97.5fm / 94.8fm
Programming
Language(s)English, with dedicated Irish Language programme and occasional Irish spoken on other programming
FormatAdult contemporary with local news, sports and specialist programmes
Ownership
OwnerThe Irish Times / Des Whelan
Beat 102 103
Absolute Irish Radio
History
First air date
8 September 1989
Links
Webcasthttps://www.wlrfm.com/player
Websitewlrfm.com

WLR FM, or more commonly WLR (Waterford Local Radio) is the local radio station covering Waterford City and County, Ireland. It is Ireland's Local Station of the Year 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022. In addition to the official franchise area, the station also enjoys a considerable listenership in South County Kilkenny and East County Cork. Licensed by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland since 1989, WLR had previously been a pirate radio station.

WLR broadcasts on three frequencies: 95.1 MHz for most of the county (and a low-power transmitter also on 95.1 MHz for Waterford city centre), 97.5 MHz for Waterford city and much of East Waterford, and a low-power transmitter on 94.8 MHz to cover the East Waterford coast.

WLR was announced as Ireland's IMRO Local Station of the Year for the third year in succession in October 2021. IMRO[1] On 1 September 2018 WLR launched a new Country and Irish digital radio station Absolute Irish Radio.

History

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The original WLR, which was a pirate station, launched on 23 June 1978 broadcasting from the garage of Rick Whelan at Killotteran just outside the city. This unlicensed operation was one of the longest lasting in the country and continued for just over a decade until its closure at the end of 1988 – new radio licences were to be awarded by the then IRTC (now BCI) in 1989. WLR, with a number of local businessmen on board formed a consortium to apply for the franchise to broadcast to Waterford city and county. This application had competition from two other applicants, one (Deise Broadcasting Company) involved former pirate ABC Radio and local business people, and another application (Waterford Radio/WRFM) which was backed by the then Waterford Foods and The Munster Express newspaper.[citation needed] The IRTC held oral hearings for the Waterford licence at the Tower Hotel in Waterford city on 27 April 1989 where all three applicants presented their case. Shortly afterwards it was announced WLR's consortium was victorious.[citation needed] The licensed WLR FM launched on 8 September 1989 from studios on Georges Street above the Georges Court Shopping Centre in Waterford City. The station broadcast from these studios for many years until the building of the present purpose-built Broadcast Centre, at Ardkeen, Waterford. The station's licence has been unchallenged on subsequent renewals.[citation needed]

The station was 75% owned by Thomas Crosbie Holdings until that company went into receivership in March 2013. The 75% stake was acquired by Landmark Media Investments.[2] In December 2017, a sale of the 75% stake to The Irish Times was agreed[3] pending regulatory approval. In July 2018, the sale of the station to The Irish Times was complete.[4][5]

Studios

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WLR's main talk studio
WLR FM commercial production studio

The station has purpose-built studios at "The Broadcast Centre", Ardkeen, Waterford City (shared with regional youth station Beat 102 103) and at the Dungarvan studio at The Plaza, Dungarvan Shopping Centre. The Broadcast Centre was opened by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 2003 replacing WLR FM's previous studio at Great Georges Street in Waterford City, while the new Dungarvan studio was opened by head of the BCI Michael O'Keefe (from Dungarvan) on 10 November 2007 replacing the existing studio at Harbour Bay in the town.[6]

As of 2022, a major studio re-fit was underway, and work on the first studio started in April 2022.[needs update]

Market share

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According to the JNLR 2018-1 National Radio Listenership Survey, WLR FM had an weekly audience reach of 64,000 in Q1 2018.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "WLRfm is chosen as Local Radio Station of the year- for outstanding achievement in broadcasting". WLR. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009. [dead link]
  2. ^ "Receiver appointed to publisher of Irish Examiner". RTÉ.ie. 6 March 2013.
  3. ^ "The Irish Times to acquire Landmark Media business". 6 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Irish Times completes purchase of Irish Examiner". RTÉ.ie. 10 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Irish Times complete purchase of Landmark Media; Pledge to protect 'identity and independence' of titles". 10 July 2018.
  6. ^ "WLR FM Dungarvan is on the move!". The Munster Express. Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2009 – via radiowaves.fm.
  7. ^ "WLR records listenership figures among the highest in the station's history". 26 April 2018.
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