WLR FM

History

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 Broadcasting Authority of Ireland) 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. 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.

The WLR consortium won and 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.

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. In December 2017, a sale of the 75% stake to The Irish Times newspaper was agreed pending regulatory approval. In July 2018, the sale of the station to the newspaper was complete.

Studios

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 the taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in 2003. It replaced WLR FM's previous studio at Great Georges Street in Waterford City, while the new Dungarvan studio was opened by head of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Michael O'Keefe, on 10 November 2007, replacing the existing studio at Harbour Bay in the town.

An outside broadcasting unit was launched in 2020. The first studio opened in April 2024.

Market share

According to the JNLR 2018-1 National Radio Listenership Survey, WLR FM reached a weekly audience of 64,000 in the first quarter of 2018.

References

References

1. (2009-10-03). "WLRfm is chosen as Local Radio Station of the year- for outstanding achievement in broadcasting". WLR}} {{Dead link.
2. (2023-03-31). "Civic reception in recognition of WLR FM's four in a row 'Local Station of the Year' accolade".
3. "WLR Crowned Ireland's IMRO Local Station of the Year for 2024".
4. (2018-09-13). "WLR launches Absolute Irish Radio from Waterford". RadioToday.ie.
5. Walsh, John. (2023-12-28). "Waterford Local Radio prepares for closedown".
6. (6 March 2013). "Receiver appointed to publisher of Irish Examiner".
7. (6 December 2017). "The Irish Times to acquire Landmark Media business".
8. (10 July 2018). "Irish Times completes purchase of Irish Examiner".
9. (10 July 2018). "Irish Times complete purchase of Landmark Media; Pledge to protect 'identity and independence' of titles".
10. "WLR FM Dungarvan is on the move!". [[The Munster Express]].
11. (2020). "WLR FM welcomes state of the art Outside Broadcast Unit".
12. (2024-04-16). "Moncrieff Launched WLR Studio". [[WLRfm.com]].
13. (26 April 2018). "WLR records listenership figures among the highest in the station's history".