RTÉ Radio 1 to launch new weekday schedule this Monday
Dominique Farrell
RTÉ Radio 1 will launch its new weekday schedule this Monday, with David McCullagh taking over the Today programme, Kieran Cuddihy as the new host of Liveline, and Jacqui Hurley and Marie Crowe presenting new show Inside Sport.
The "refreshed" line-up also sees Oliver Callan's show now running for two hours from 11am to 1pm, Louise Duffy’s music programme airing at 3pm, and Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin taking over Drivetime from the earlier slot of 4pm.
The new hour-long Inside Sport will also debut after the 6 o’clock news, followed by arts and popular culture programme Arena, which has yet to announce its new presenter following the death of Seán Rocks last July.
The new-look schedule is being launched following the retirement of Joe Duffy, the departure of former Today host Claire Byrne to Newstalk, and RTÉ’s decision not to renew Ray D’Arcy’s contract for his afternoon show on Radio 1.
In a statement, RTÉ said, "Reflecting the lives and interests of modern Irish audiences, the new schedule is designed with the daily lives of RTÉ Radio 1’s million-plus listeners in mind."
Speaking about the new schedule, Tara Campbell, Head of RTÉ Radio 1 said: "The schedule brings fresh voices and sharp conversation in a vibrant new line-up.
"There are new presenters, new programmes and revised timeslots, all while maintaining RTÉ Radio 1’s known focus on reliable journalism and first-class entertainment."
In relation to Today with David McCullagh, the RTÉ statement added, "David will bring his distinctive sharp, skilled approach to breaking down the day’s top stories and news developments as they happen, with a variety of regular features including consumer advice, health and wellbeing, music, culture, science and technology and much more."
"Moving to a brand-new slot at 11am, Oliver Callan will double the fun, delivering two hours of entertainment, blending insightful commentary with Oliver’s unique humorous flair.
"Oliver will be discussing trending topics, the latest goings on in sport, culture and music - and everything else that matters to the listeners across the country, while bringing his inimitable bit of craic to it."
Former Newstalk and Virgin Media presenter Kieran Cuddihy will take over Liveline from Monday to Friday from 1.45pm.
"For over 40 years, Liveline has been on the frontline of Irish conversation and maintains its position as Ireland's number one public-access programme," RTÉ said.
"Kieran will be facilitating listeners' opinions, concerns and stories as RTÉ Radio 1 continues the evolution of this iconic Irish institution.
Drivetime moves to the earlier time of 4pm, with new hosts Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin "keeping you company each afternoon with the day's top stories, expert analysis and in-depth conversations covering news, politics, entertainment and culture".
New from 6pm, Inside Sport, presented by Jacqui Hurley and Marie Crowe, is an early-evening sports show "bringing the latest news, previews and reactions, live updates and straight-talking insight from guests and pundits".
At a glance: RTÉ Radio 1’s new weekday schedule
9.00am: Today with David McCullagh
11.00am: Oliver Callan
1.00pm: News at One with Rachael English
1.45pm: Liveline with Kieran Cuddihy.
3.00pm: Louise Duffy
4.00pm: Drivetime with Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin
6.00pm: Inside Sport
RTÉ Entertainment.
Flor Lynch
Now, I liked the placement of the Oliver Callan show between Morning Ireland, a heavyweight current affairs & Analysis show, and Today with Clair Byrne, another heavyweight show of a similar sort to Morning Ireland.
It was nice to go into a different gear, or switch off, something different, for a while, before returning to TCB.
So, how will they manage the usually heavyweight current affairs diet from 7 to 11 am, over four hours? Most people wil tune out for at least some of that time. The news events of the day have a way of taking over programme content in such shows.
It's good that Oliver gets another hour. He can now do some longer features, perhaps like what Brendan O'Connor does on his weekend shows, or tending towards what Ray D'Arcy did in his show, with a bit of that flair that Oliver is famed for. .
I do wonder about the 'Inside Sports' hour, 1 hour every weekday? 30 minutes sports news plus, would be sufficient sports coverage? No? There aren't usually any live games on in Ireland between 6-7pm. So it'd be interviews and analysis, and are there enough radio listeners in the sport fans for all of that? Maybe their aim is to take listeners away from Newstalk's Off The Ball.
Maybe more international and some obscure sports will be covered?
And what now for Game On, on 2FM? with extensions on evenings when there was live commentary a match being played involving the Republic of Ireland soccer team.
Game On? or Game Off?
(Perhaps they can still have Game On from 7 to 7.30pm on 2FM, with extensions for live games on after that, be they rugby or soccer.)
I think a good case could be made for a dedicated Irish sports radio channel, run by RTÉ Radio, etc, maybe including Newstalk and other independent broadcasters, that'd carry commentaries on games of national, Ireland, and local interest. (It'd be busy at weekends, especially Saturdays.) RTÉ Radio 1 at present is, I fear, filling out air time with sport discussion programmes during time set aside for sport during the weekends, at quiet times of the year.
It will be somewhat interesting to see how the new schedule works out. I would be a bit surprised if there are no further changes fairly soon after nexct week's shake-up.
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