EXPERIENCE in media is the main selling point of Ireland 100 Production's presentation to the IRTC.
The coming together of FM 104 in Dublin, Downtown Radio in Belfast, Virgin Radio from Britain and The Irish Times offered the surest bet that a national radio station would work, according to consortium members during the oral hearing yesterday.
The Irish Times is the largest shareholder, with 25 per cent. The combined holding of the directors of FM 104 is 30 per cent. Downtown Radio holds 12.5 per cent, Virgin Radio in London has 12.8 per cent and the chairman of Downtown, Mr James Donnelly, 2.5 per cent. The remainder will be made available to local stations and institutional investors.
Ms Maeve Donovan, head of sales and marketing at The Irish Times, and chairwoman of Ireland 100, said the consortium was well resourced and financially sound. The fact that all the shareholders were involved in media meant they understood the problems. "If we cannot deliver, then no one can.
Mr Sean Flynn, the opinion and news features editor of The Irish Times, said there was a clear need to provide a strong, reliable and independent alternative to RTE.
The chief executive of FM 104, Mr Dermot Hanrahan, said the station would be chasing an audience between the ages of 25 and 45, comprising the older end of 2FM and the younger end of RTE Radio 1's audience.
The target age group comprised 40 per cent of the adult market. That audience would be served with a range of news, current affairs and music.
MrFlynn emphasised the role of The Irish Times in terms of the station's news service.
This offered Ireland 100 a particular strength based on the reputation of the newspaper.
Irish Times correspondents would give priority to the new station.
When asked by the IRTC chairman Mr Niall Stokes, about the dangers of cross media ownership, Mr Flynn said the Irish Times was in competition with RTE and with a newspaper group that had diversified into many media areas at home and abroad.