Is Irish Radio Really That Terrible Compared to Other Countries
“I'd say nearly everyone here will agree that Irish radio is terrible. On most stations, you have... Generic Pop/Chart Music with a handful of tunes being repeated multiple times per day. Radio Presenters who range from thinking they're unbelievable craic (even though they're not) to middle-aged outrage peddlers. Voice clips singing the Stations name in an American Accent. Presenters talking about cash prizes to be won if you text (Insert phone number here). "You must be in it to win it!" Loads of ads for Insurance companies, Window Glazing, Holidays and Car dealers. Probably others as well. etc. But why is it like this? Is it this bad in other countries?”
Summary
Irish radio does receive criticism for repetitive music, generic jingles and frequent contests, but audience measurements show that roughly 79‑80 % of Irish adults listen daily, indicating it remains popular overall. The negative view is not a consensus across the population, and there is no comparable evidence that radio in other countries is broadly considered “terrible.”
Sources 100 searched
- Radio in the Republic of Ireland - Wikipedia
Licensed radio broadcasting in Ireland is one element of the wider media of Ireland, with 85% of the population listening to a licensed radio broadcasting service on any given day. Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian inventor and the father of long-distance radio transmission, had a significant ...
- why is irish radio so bad? — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'
Most of them are really stupid shows too stupid to be funny.
reflectionsfromdamagedlife.blogspot.com- Reflections From Damaged Life: Why RTE Radio 1 Is So Awful
Individual figures such as George Lee were well aware of the problems in the Irish economy and in the state's finances, and issued warnings, but would never have offered an analysis or policy prognosis other than that of austerity. This means that RTE is mostly a vehicle for versions of neoliberal TINAism - 'There is no alternative'. There's none coming out of Montrose, to be sure, but then one remembers that RTE tends to think that south Dublin is the centre of the universe. The sheer vapidity of much of this programming is evident in much more trivial ways, also.
- Ipsos/JNLR 2025/1 Summary Results - Dublin
The latest results show 3.42 million listeners (15+) tune into radio every weekday – that is daily radio listening at 79.5% of all adults. Listening levels in the past week increase to 89.7% of the population.
- Irish radio maintains reach across 79% of the population • RedTech
RedTech • The latest JNLR/Ipsos report shows Irish radio reaching 79% of adults daily, dominating the national audio market despite rising digital listening.
- JNLR Press Release 2025 – 4 Summary Results - Ipsos B&A
The latest results show 3.47 million listeners (15+) tune into radio every weekday – that is daily radio listening at 78.1% of all adults. Listening levels in the past week stand at 89.7% of the population.
- RTÉ radio wanted more modern jingles. Now it sounds like an illegal rave circa 1989 – The Irish Times
The aim, says Patricia Monahan, RTÉ’s director of audio, is to “ensure RTÉ Radio 1 is not only heard but will be instantly recognised and felt”. Anything RTÉ does is fair game for criticism and so it has proved with these new jingles, which have been taken to task for sounding generic and lacking a distinctly Irish quality.
- TV & Radio News & Features | Irish & International Broadcast | The Irish Times
Stay up‑to‑date with the latest TV & radio news, in‑depth features, interviews and reviews on Irish and international broadcast programmes. Brought to you by Ireland’s quality news brand, The Irish Times.
- Five separate complaints from same listener about profanity on Irish radio among issues rejected by BAI | Irish Independent
Ireland's broadcasting watchdog has rejected five separate complaints made by the same listener over the use of profanity on some of the nation's most popular radio shows.
- RadioScope - Radios étrangères - Fréquences Irlande
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