Opinion
20 Nov 25

RTÉ to close 2XM, Pulse and more digital stations next month

"It is an enormous shame that a station that champions so many independent and alternative acts is closing down," said Ailsha Irish metal musician and host of RTÉ 2XM's AMPLIFY.

RTÉ is set to permanently shut down four digital radio stations next month.

The stations — RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Pulse and RTÉjr Radio — will no longer broadcast from December 31.

RTÉ cited a "number of factors" as reason for the shutdown in a letter to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

The letter listed "streamlining" of audio content offerings, low audience demand for digital radio services and "financial and efficiency factors."

RTÉ said any monetary savings resulting from the shutdowns will be reinvested into developing new digital platforms including an RTÉ radio app, which is projected for launch in 2026.

RTÉ said there will be no job losses as a result of the decision and the impact on listeners will be minimal.

The broadcaster added that much of the content from the affected stations will be relocated to existing audio services such as the RTÉ Player, podcasts and the upcoming app.

The decision to cut the stations was initially announced in 2019 as part of a wave of cost-cutting measures and reiterated in its 2023 "New Direction" reform plan.

Today is the first time RTÉ has confirmed a specific date for the shutdowns.

RTÉ 2XM — focused on independent and underground music — and RTÉ Pulse — focused on dance and electronic music — have already scaled back their programming since the shutdowns were first announced.

AMPLIFY, RTÉ 2XM's weekly alternative music show hosted by Irish metal artist Ailsha, announced the shutdown "with a heavy heart" in a post on Instagram.

"It is an enormous shame that a station that champions so many independent and alternative acts is closing down, but I am full of hope that AMPLIFY can continue in another form as there is a huge demand for the support of heavier and alternative acts to be played on air in Ireland," Ailsha said.

"It’s been truly incredible to be a part of this community and to champion all of the incredible acts who submitted their music."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AMPLIFY RTÉ2XM (@amplifyrte2xm)

John Kenny, host of the JK Experience on RTÉ 2XM, said he "will be very sad to see it go" in a post on X.

Sad to report our little oasis @rte2xm is to close permanently on dec 31st 2025. I’ve been with it since it opened in 2007 and I for one will be very sad to see it go and the JK EXPERIENCE will be no more we have a few shows left so pitch up every Sunday at 1400 if you would pic.twitter.com/fjA4nopDgW

— john kenny (@JohnKennyMedia) November 19, 2025

Dudley Colley, weekly RTÉ 2XM presenter and musician in The Dudley Corporation, said the station has "eked out it's notice as long as possible" before the closure.

"Just to add, support your local radio/arts etc., because bit by bit, it's all getting taken away," Colley said.

Sad to say, it eked out it's notice as long as possible but RTE have decided @rte2xm is finally to shut up shop. Last day will be Dec 31. Will get in as many Click Clacks as possible before then, do tune in, and gimme a show elsewhere!https://t.co/DhekQ7hpjZ

— Dudley Colley 🧢 (@thecorpo) November 20, 2025

Beta Da Silva, host of the RTÉ 2FM New Music Show and former presenter on RTÉ Pulse, said he was "sad to hear" of the closures.

"I had just turned 18 when I first joined Pulse & met some really cool people over the years," wrote Da Silva on an Instagram story.

"It was such a pivotal part of my journey just starting out in radio fresh from leaving college. I learned a lot about being a presenter there. Grateful for all the opportunities & interviews I got to have in that room."

According to national media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, RTÉ plans to transition what it calls "niche content" from 2XM and Pulse to a new 2FM schedule as well as on-demand digital listening formats.

2XM and Pulse, along with RTÉjr Radio (which provides children's programming) and Radio 1 Extra (the digitally distributed sister station of RTÉ Radio 1), do not generate commercial revenue, thus making their closures "financially low-risk," said Commisiún na Meán.

Digital stations such as the four to be discontinued were first launched as part of the broadcaster's national Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) network trial period.

The trial aimed to offer genre-specific or specialised content not usually available on traditional FM radio.

RTÉ shut down DAB in 2021. Since then, digital radio in the country has largely operated on TV, cable and online streaming.