Funding of €97,500 for Mayo radio station under Covid-19 initiative

A Mayo TD has welcomed funding of €97,500 being allocated to MidWest Radio by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Deputy Alan Dillon is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, which has been examining the future of local media funding models.

This funding is a part of a €2.5 million allocation to funding for the country’s independent commercial radio stations.

It has been awarded under the Sound & Vision Covid-19 initiative to promote greater awareness and understanding of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy Dillon said: “The maximum available funding under this scheme was €100,000 so to see MidWest Radio secure €97,500 is testament to the high-quality and calibre of their broadcasting.

"This Sound & Vision Covid-19 initiative provides funding to independent commercial radio stations to promote greater awareness and understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Needless to say, their work has been invaluable at keeping the public informed of the Public Health restrictions and how best to protect ourselves and our communities.

“While this funding is very welcome for our broadcast sector, it is important to support our print media and particularly our local newspapers as their revenues have been hit hard by the pandemic.

"If you can afford to do so, buy a local newspaper of interest to you as their work is invaluable.

"I have been closely monitoring the Future of Media Commission which commenced their work in October 2020 as part of my membership on the Oireachtas Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

"Earlier this month, Fine Gael had engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in local media and fully understand the pressures they are facing as they compete with multi-national social media giants.”

The full list of allocations to radio stations is as follows:

98FM €60,000.00

Beat FM €80,000.00

C103 Cork 96 €95,000.00

Clare FM €100,000.00

Classic Hits 4FM €37,500.00

Cork 96 C103 €60,000.00

Dublin's Q102 €40,000.00

East Coast Radio €97,500.00

FM104 €65,000.00

Galway Bay FM €95,000.00

Highland Radio €97,500.00

iRadio NE & Midlands & NW €80,000.00

KCLR €100,000.00

KFM €97,500.00

Limerick's Live 95FM €97,500.00

LM FM €97,500.00

Mid West Radio €97,500.00

Midlands 103 €97,500.00

Newstalk €80,000.00

Northern Sound €95,000.00

Ocean FM €100,000.00

Radio Kerry €100,000.00

Radio Nova €37,500.00

Red FM €62,500.00

Shannonside €95,000.00

South East Radio €97,500.00

Spin 103.8 €40,000.00

Spin SW €75,000.00

Sunshine €37,500.00

Tipp FM €100,000.00

Today FM €62,500.00

WLR FM €100,000.00