Dave Fanning is moving back to 2fm as part of a repositioning of the station, which as from 2010 will see it shift its audience profile from 15-34 to 25-44.
Fanning, who’s been doing most of his broadcasting recently over on RTÉ Radio 1, will present “a new fast-moving topical chat show” every weeknight at 7pm.
In the short-term, at least, there are few personnel changes with all of 2fm’s main presenters keeping their gigs.
Over on Radio 1, there are no fewer than three new arts programmes – a nightly “hour-long topical cultural digest”, Arena, presented by Seán Rocks; Monday’s ArtsNIGHT, which promises a series of “one-hour specials and in-depth one-on-one interviews and panel discussions”; and a Saturday night magazine as Gaeilge, Ardán na nEalaíon, which debuts in January.
On RTÉ Lyric, there’s a new weekday lunchtime slot for Marty Whelan and a weekend programme, All About The Music that finds Orange Prize-nominated novelist Deirdre Purcell playing everything “from Handel and Wagner to John Rutter and crossing over to John Spillane to Willie Nelson.”
Highlights of the RTÉ Digital schedule include Wired For Sound, a new weekly 2XM magazine show “by music fans for music fans” presented by Jan Ní Fhlanagáin, Barry Bracken and Hot Press contributor Lauren Murphy.