IRTC uneasy over direction of Today FM

The Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) is "uneasy" about the direction being taken by Radio Ireland/Today FM, according to a commission source.

"The question is whether the unease will get to the stage where a formal warning regarding the schedule is made," according to the source. Radio Ireland was relaunched with a new format and new name on Monday. It is now called 100 to 102 Today FM.

Today FM director, Mr Robbie Wooton has said the station is now producing the type of radio programming originally envisaged and set out in the licence application. As well as broadcasting music based on intensive market research, the station is also producing quality speech radio such as The Last Word programme, with Eamon Dunphy.

Any interference by the commission in the running of the station would be likely to end up in the courts, according to the commission source. However, the commission also fears legal action by applicants who were unsuccessful in their bid for the licence.

Mr Dermot Hanrahan, a shareholder in FM 104, who led a unsuccessful consortium including The Irish Times, said this week he was considering legal action.

The commission source is not impressed with the new Today FM format. "We will monitor it before we will move. There is unease in the commission for some time; there is the constant change of personnel, the way the station is going, the way the original promises are not being lived up to."

The source said the commission would prefer to see the station's owners "decide what they are doing rather than the commission deciding for them".

Another commission source was more positive. "My attitude would be to give it time. You have to give them a chance. There is no way the commission has given up on this station, no way."