MEDIA & MARKETING: New market share figures for Dublin radio stations show the so-called "Dunphy effect" is paying off handsomely for NewsTalk 106, at the expense of RTÉ Radio 1 in the morning.
While the next set of JNLR figures will not be published for several weeks, a survey by Dublin firm Business and Market Research (BMR) shows that NewsTalk's overall position has been boosted by the arrival of Eamon Dunphy into the key morning slot.
Earlier this year, the station had a market share of 5 per cent, but, since the Dunphy show has come on air, this has grown to 7 per cent.
However, RTÉ 1's market share in the capital is holding up well (up from 19 to 20 per cent), but in the morning market (7 a.m. to 10 a.m.) its share has slipped from 24 per cent to 20 per cent.
It is impossible at this stage to say for certain that Dunphy has pinched this audience but, if the figures are borne out in future JNLR reports, it should be good news for NewsTalk and chief executive Mr Dan Healy.
"Obviously the JNLR is what matters, but the station appears to be moving on the right track," he said yesterday.
BMR compiled the figures after interviewing 400 respondents in the Dublin area by telephone. It said the sample was controlled by age, sex and social class. The company, however, emphasised that its methodology differed radically from the JNLR and comparing the two would not be valid. Also, the figures refer to listeners between 15 and 54, which probably underestimates RTÉ's audience to some degree.
Overall, market share gains were made for RTÉ Radio 1 and 2 FM, but there was some slippage for Today FM (down from 12 to 11 per cent), 98 FM (down 1 per cent to 13 per cent) and Spin FM (down from 8 to 6 per cent). These figures compare data from the summer to September.
In the evening market (between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.), NewsTalk was also a big winner, with the Right Hook rising from 6 per cent to 10 per cent.
But RTÉ 1 in this slot is up from 18 to 21 per cent. This reflects the continuing success of Five-Seven Live. There was also some good news for Today FM, which performed well in this time period.
BMR also found a large overlap between listenership for RTÉ and NewsTalk, suggesting news junkies are flicking between the two.
New magazines
The magazine sector, despite some high-profile closures, is proving very resilient and, in the weeks, ahead several new titles are to set to hit the shelves.
In current affairs, Vincent Browne's the Village will be in shops this Saturday with a cover price of €2.95. According to the magazine's website, it will "seek to expose political, professional and corporate corruption and mal-practice".
A new woman's glossy, Prudence, is set to be published later this month. It will compete against Image. The publishers of Business and Finance, Moranna Ltd, are also hoping to put Magill, the title most associated with Vincent Browne, back on the shelves in early November. It is expected to have a print run of about 25,000 and is edited by author and former civil servant Eamon Delaney.
Meanwhile, Principal Media, the sales house for Emap's Irish editions of magazines such as Sugar and FHM, is reporting a healthy magazine market for December, with advertising space in both magazines almost sold out. FHM sells 24,000 copies in Ireland and claims 112,000 adult readers.
North-West goes off air
After endless court hearings and heated clashes in the press, North-West Radio will go off air this weekend.
A new station, Ocean FM, will serve the north-west region, including Sligo, south Donegal and north Leitrim. Among Ocean's shareholders are ex-footballer Packie Bonner, journalist Paul Williams and Tim Collins of Drury Communications. A contract will be signed tomorrow.
Meanwhile the BCI said yesterday that North West Radio had settled its legal action with them. An announcement is also expected tomorrow.
Search for sponsors
TV3 and RTÉ are seeking sponsors for programmes scheduled to hit our screens soon. TV3 is offering firms the chance to sponsor the ITV dual broadcast of Ant and Dec Saturday Night Take Away for €75,000, which restarts this weekend.
Dublin agency AFA O'Meara said that RTÉ recently approached the market for two programmes that begin in January. RTÉ is seeking €150,000 for the sponsorship of the House Hunters and House Hunters in the Sun set. RTÉ is also seeking a sponsor for the magazine version of their hit TV programme Off the Rails. The magazine will hit the shelves on November 12th and promises to be "packed with fashion and beauty news".
Curragh sponsorship
Racing at the Curragh will draw to a close on October 23rd but the Kildare venue has managed to secure 100 per cent sponsorship of their races for the first time.
New sponsors this year include Boylesports, which has signed a three-year deal, and also Nolan & Brophy Auctioneers, Bollinger, Kilboy Estate, Stanleybet, Skybet, the Leinster Leader, Emirates Airline, Waterford Wedgwood, Dunnes Stores, Anheuser-Busch, Audi, Crown Paints and Land Rover.
Plans for 2005 are well advanced with 20 race meetings scheduled to take place between March and October and a variety of sponsorship options still available.
Tesco campaign
Tesco Ireland has employed the services of Today FM's Ian Dempsey, actress Pauline McLynn and broadcaster Marty Whelan for its new advertising campaign.
Emmet Oliver can be reached at eoliver@irish-times.ie
