A new radio station for the North East, based in Ballymena, called Seven FM and broadcast on 107FM, went live today (Tuesday 1st November).
The model for Seven FM is very different from other local radio stations in Northern Ireland. The new station is making a large investment in content and high quality programming with an emphasis on local news and sport.
Robert Walshe, Managing Director of Seven FM told us:
?At the core of our service is a commitment to local programming, be it news, sport traffic, weather or special interest features. All of these things differentiate us from other radio stations in Northern Ireland but at the same time will enable us to generate more revenue.
?We are confident that Seven FM will provide a high quality product for listeners and advertisers alike and we are using our commercial expertise to bring a radio station with a genuine interest in what?s happening locally to the people of Ballymena, mid-Antrim and further afield.?
Seven FM?s approach to sales is different from other radio stations in Northern Ireland and based on making radio advertising work in a tailored way for each client. The radio station is being launched with an unprecedented marketing spend featuring a special free newspaper, extensive leafleting of homes and television advertising. The principle towns within the Seven FM franchise area are Ballymena and Antrim.
The backers of Seven FM include; the Alpha Group of newspapers, owners of the Ballymena Guardian; The Irish News; leading local business men Sam Morrison and Billy O?Kane; Ulster and Irish rugby star David Humphreys and people with experience of operating radio stations; Tim Collins, Padraig O?Dwyer and Robert Walshe.
Tim, Padraig and Robert were promoters of Sligo-based radio station Ocean FM, which recorded 63% ?yesterday listenership? figures (the percentage of its audience that tuned in yesterday) in the Republic of Ireland within nine months on air, according to the JNLR MRBI survey 2005.