The sale of Atlantic 252, the long-wave radio station which broadcasts from a transmitter in Meath, is being contested by a group claiming to represent Irish emigrants.
Irish Overseas Broadcasting (IOB) is calling for the transmitter, which it says is the only one with full national coverage, to be used as a national alert channel .
IOB says the station could serve communities both north and south of the border as well as Irish emigrants in Britain. "Before it is too late, we ask for your support in having the State redirect its [the station’s] use to the exclusive service of the Irish nation to which it was allocated at the signing of the Geneva Agreement in 1975," said a statement released by the group today.
A British group, TEAMtalk Media Group, is reportedly buying 80 per cent of Radio Tara, which operates Atlantic 252, for £2 million sterling. TEAMtalk has revealed plans to relaunch the station as TEAMtalk 252 after the sale, which is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
RTE currently holds 20 per cent of the station’s share, as well as its license.