Should Radio Nova Be Allowed To Extend Rock Channel Across Ireland?

The organisers of recent temporary radio station, The Rock, have described it as "a great success", following three weeks of broadcasting by the station to the major urban areas outside the Dublin commuter belt.

During the month of September. The Rock broadcast a specialist classic rock music service to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny and the North East, including counties Louth, North Meath, Cavan and Monaghan, playing music by Thin Lizzy, led by the incomparable Philip Lynott (pictured), Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC and more.

The temporary station was operated by a group connected to the shareholders of Radio NOVA.

Kevin Branigan of The Rock – who is also CEO of Radio Nova – pointed to thousands of messages received from people "of all ages" over the course of the station's short period on air as proof that the temporary station brought "real diversity" to its broadcast area.

It's the second time in two years that The Rock has broadcast to these areas.

"The strong response to the pilot station suggests there is a large constituency of people outside Dublin and commuter belt that would enjoy, and actively listen to, a service like this if it were available on a full-time basis,” Branigan added.

The Rock operated under a pilot license from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Branigan describes the BAI as "visionary" in its policy of allowing access to the airwaves to groups wishing to trial new formats through temporary licences.

Radio Nova has long expressed an eagerness in to extend its service to other parts of the country. "There is no service like Radio Nova outside the Dublin Commuter area,” Branigan pointed out. "Rock music is a very popular genre and, given the meteoric rise of Nova in recent years, we have no doubt that it would be embraced around the country and would greatly add to diversity should the BAI decide to license new services in the future.

The Rock is still available online and as a separate digital radio channel on the Radio Nova mobile app.