RTÉ has today released the latest JNLR figures. RTÉ Radio 1 holds 17 of the Top 20 Most-Listened-To Programmes in Ireland (Adults 15+ grid below) and continues to be the only station in Ireland with a weekly reach of over +1 million at 1,388,000 (-6,000 BoB). RTÉ 2fm has a weekly reach figure of 702,000 of Adults 15+ (+4,000 BoB) while at RTÉ lyric fm, 309,000 listeners are tuning in on a weekly basis.

RTÉ Radio 1:

RTÉ RADIO 1 WEEKDAY MARKET SHARE 21.3%

RTÉ RADIO 1 INCREASED WEEKDAY REACH TO 894,000 LISTENERS

• Liveline continues to engage and inform the nation as 332,000 listeners are tuning in every weekday to talk to Joe.
• News at One with Bryan Dobson has an audience of 334,000 listeners every weekday lunchtime increasing by 1,000 since last book.
• Drivetime with Sarah McInerney and Cormac Ó hEadhra engross the nation with 216,000 listeners tuning in every weekday evening, up 1,000 listeners this book.
• Ronan Collins plays the music for 242,000 listeners every weekday.
• The Ray D’Arcy Show broadcasts to 197,000 listeners each weekday afternoon.

Weekends on RTÉ Radio 1:

• Countrywide gains 18,000 (BoB) listeners with a listenership of 274,000.
• The Business has grown its audience by 25,000 (BoB) with 334,000 tuning in each Saturday.
• Sunday morning listenership is up with Sunday Miscellany gaining 25,000 (BoB) listeners with 312,000 tuning in while Sunday with Miriam gains 11,000 (BoB) as 339,000 listeners engage every Sunday morning.
• This Week has an audience of 177,000 listeners on Sunday lunchtimes (+4,000 BoB).

Peter Woods, Head of RTÉ Radio 1 said: “We’re delighted to see that morning programmes in Radio 1 continue to break new ground in attracting listenership. Brendan O’Connor and Miriam O’Callaghan dominate listening on weekends and there is recognition too here for the wider cultural footprint of this station, our music programmes and substantial growth for Countrywide, Playback, The Business, Beo ar Éigean, Céilí House and Sunday Miscellany”.

RTÉ 2FM

RTÉ 2FM HAS A WEEKDAY MARKET SHARE OF 5.8%

321,000 LISTENERS TUNE IN TO RTÉ 2FM EVERY WEEKDAY

• 2FM Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha and Carl entertain 123,000 listeners every morning, with 9,000 more tuning in since last book.
• Jennifer Zamparelli on 2FM has 138,000 listeners.
• Tracy Clifford on 2FM has 127,000 listeners.
• Drive It with The 2Johnnies has 122,000 listeners.

Weekends on 2FM:

• Laura Fox at the Weekends enjoys 107,000 listeners on Saturday mornings (+8,000 BoB) and 95,000 tuning in on Sunday morning s (+11,000 BoB).
• Chris and Ciara have 113,000 listeners on Saturdays (+6,000 BoB), while 96,000 switch on on Sunday mornings (+4,000 BoB).

Dan Healy, Head of RTÉ Radio Strategy and RTÉ 2FM said: “A very good book for 2FM. Doireann, Donncha and Carl have had a stunning result and the 2 Johnnies look to be doing really well which augurs well for the next survey. The changes we made at the weekends seem justified, particularly with Laura Fox making big gains at 9am on Saturday and Sunday.”

RTÉ lyric fm

RTÉ LYRIC FM HAS A WEEKDAY MARKET SHARE OF 2.4%

RTÉ LYRIC FM HAS 309,000 LISTENERS TUNING IN ON A WEEKLY BASIS

• Movies and Musicals with Aedín Gormley has 64,000 listening in on Saturdays, (+5,000 BoB).
• Marty in the Morning has 50,000 listeners turning on every morning (+1,000 BoB).
• The Hamilton Scores with George Hamilton has 46,000 listeners tuning in on Saturday (+7,000 BoB) and 47,000 on Sunday (+6,000 BoB).
• Liz Nolan’s The Full Score has 45,000 listeners.
• Niall Carroll’s Classical Daytime reaches 38,000 listeners (+3,000 BoB).
• The Mystery Train with John Kelly (Monday – Thursday)/ The Lyric Concert with Paul Heriott (Friday) reaches 31,000, while The Mystery Train (Sunday) has 14,000 (+3,000) hopping onboard.

Sinéad Wylde, Head of RTÉ lyric fm said “This book once again endorses the valuable space RTÉ lyric fm creates for listeners where they can experience beauty and joy through many musical adventures. I am delighted to see that RTÉ lyric fm is maintaining it’s 4% Reach (Weekdays) which was achieved in our last book, and we continue to have a solid Share performance particularly with increases on Saturdays for The Hamilton Scores with George Hamilton and Movies and Musicals with Aedín Gormley. Weekday mornings are also growing for Classical Daytime with Niall Carroll and Marty in the Morning with Marty Whelan hitting 50k listeners for the first time.”

Notes:

Book-on-Book (BoB) = Source: JNLR/Ipsos MRBI 2022-2 release vs. 2022-1.

We do not have a Year-on-Year information as there was no equivalent release in 2021.

RTÉ together with ZDF Studies has announced that a new thriller drama Clean Sweep starring Charlene McKenna is set to premier on RTÉ and Sundance Now in the US with ZDF Studios having secured international distribution rights to the thriller drama (6 x 52’).

The series is being co-produced in Ireland, by one of Ireland’s biggest and most successful indie producers ShinAwiL (Dancing with the Stars Ireland, Miss Scarlet and the Duke) and Canada’s Incendo (Be Mine Valentine, Terror Train), internationally renowned for producing and distributing high quality content.

RTÉ continues to be the home of quality Irish drama with filming now underway. The award-winning Irish actress Charlene McKenna (Bloodlands, Peaky Blinders, Vienna Blood) stars in the lead role as Shelly Mohan, a housewife, mother of three, married to a Garda detective, who kills her former partner in crime when he threatens to expose her dark past. With her unsuspecting husband hunting for the killer, Shelly must cope with pressures of the tightening noose as well as continue caring for an ailing son, her unfaithful husband and all usual burdens of motherhood.  Inspired by true events, it is a compelling and relentless story of mothering and the price paid for long-buried sins. Clean Sweep is created by Gary Tieche who has written on Preacher for AMC, I Know What You Did Last Summer for Amazon as well as worked on Medium for CBS.

Dermot Horan, Director of Acquisitions and Co-Productions for RTÉ says: “Clean Sweep is a compelling thriller with a rich backdrop of strong Irish characters and the unique Irish landscape. RTÉ believes it will attract a very large audience on RTÉ One and on the RTÉ Player, but that the story will be equally attractive to an international audience. As such we are delighted to be working with such a great range of partners – Incendo, Sundance Now, ZDF Studios and of course Shinawil, one of Ireland’s most renowned production companies“.

Larry Bass, CEO ShinAwiL and Executive Producer, says: “When we first read Gary’s script we knew this was a story for a global audience, a classic “why done it?” that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. ShinAwiL are delighted to partner with Incendo and ZDF Studios in delivering this exciting modern thriller. From the time RTÉ first boarded Clean Sweep, we have been looking to find the best distributor to take this story to the world, we look forward to working with ZDF Studios on making this a global success. “

Yi Qiao, Director Drama, ZDF Studios, says: “Clean Sweep is a binge-worthy addition to our growing slate of English language productions. Irish content has significantly gained in importance in the international market so we are proud to partner in this production, a thriller full of twists and turns that will captivate audiences worldwide.”

“Clean Sweep radiates elevated, smart writing, brought to life by an incredible cast led by Charlene McKenna. This gripping drama is sure to have audiences on the edge of their seats. We’re thankful to Element 8 for bringing us into the fold, and elated to debut the series on Sundance Now,” said Shannon Cooper, Vice President, Programming, Sundance Now.

Clean Sweep is written by Gary Tieche alongside Francesca Harris in Ireland. Executive Producers include Patty Lenahan Ishimoto, Larry Bass, Aaron Farrell, Mary Callery, Jin Ishimoto, Harvey Myman, Gary Tieche (ShinAwiL); David Crean and Dermot Horan for RTÉ; Shannon Cooper (Sundance Now); Graham Ludlow, Jean-Philippe Normandeau and Shari Segal (Incendo). Ronan Burke (Harry Wild) will direct.

This summer six of the country’s top food trucks went head-to-head in an intense culinary competition in search of the chef who could handle the heat and create the best eating experience to win the ultimate prize of €5,000.

Christopher Braganza who runs the Spice Genie food truck from his Cork base has been selected as this year’s winner of Battle of the Food Trucks.  Christopher is originally from India and moved to Ireland in 2012. He makes home cooked authentic Indian food.

Chris said, “Winning this title really means the world to me. First of all I’m representing Goa, my family, India, Cork, my suppliers and my customers and everybody has been a part of this journey. I really thank everybody who’s been there through the ups and downs – through bad weather and good weather they always show up and encourage me to do what I love the most! It really means a lot to me – I’m honoured.” 

Runner up Scott Holder of Los Chicanos said: “I’m delighted for Christopher – we both cooked our hearts you know, he obviously pulled out some amazing food. To be honest with you I just wanted to get to the final because I wanted to put all those dishes out in front of the judges. I’ve done that, they loved them, it was an adventure with twists and turns and I met a lot of cool people.” 

Battle of the Food Trucks host with the most James Patrice said, “Well, what a series it’s been this year on Battle Of The Food Trucks! Each of our chefs were utterly outstanding in their talent, passion and sensational skills – not to mention the fact that they were all mighty craic! The finale was the definition of a nail biter (I’m flat out on the manicures since) and to see the culmination of Scott and Christopher’s journeys in such a feast of fabulous food was an absolute joy. All hail King Chris and his incredible Spice Genie food truck! We’ve had amazing feedback from audiences and on social media, which further proves that Ireland’s love for food trucks is only getting bigger and better. Sure we’re full of notions altogether! Of course, Justine and I still can’t fry an egg to save our lives but look – we’ll keep her lit!” 

Co-host and comedian Justine Stafford said, “Huge congrats to Chris on winning the competition. Chris and his food were trucking amazing! I can’t wait to visit his truck in Cork and inhale every dish on the menu. He was a spice genie and a gent and I’m not saying it helped his luck, but he also had one of the best novelty sock ranges of any contestant… Either way he cooked his socks off and we are delighted to see where he and his truck go next!”

Chris and the other food truck owners were put through their culinary paces by judges Eric Matthews and Gráinne Mullins over the course of six episodes. Some of the challenges included creating their competitors signature dish, creating a delicious dish from a mystery box of ingredients and a blind taste challenge.

Judge Eric Matthews (who has over 17 years’ experience working in Michelin starred restaurants around the globe and was former Head Chef at Dublin’s famous Chapter One Restaurant) and award-winning pastry chef Gráinne Mullins of Grá Chocolates crowned Chris the winner of this year’s series.

All episodes of series 2 of Battle of the Food Trucks, are now available to binge watch on the RTÉ Player – word of the wise though – don’t watch it while you’re hungry! (Unless you live near a food truck and can satisfy your cravings!)

Battle of the Food Trucks is an RTÉ Player Original and proudly sponsored by 7UP Free

Reignite – Saturday’s at 10am from July 30th

Reignite, presented by Áine Kerr, returns with a third series designed to help listeners find the motivation, information, and tips they need to take an idea and run with it or to upgrade their lives, whether they are running a business, a home or just want to learn lessons from some of the world’s deep thinkers.
Áine Kerr speaks to inspirational leaders, researchers and acclaimed industry experts about their experiences and expertise. With a blend of practical advice, popular psychology insights and real-world solutions, the show hopes to improve the day-to-day lives for all of us.

The County Measure – Sunday’s at 10am from July 31st

What makes a county? A landmark series celebrating the individual identities of the thirty-two counties of Ireland as they are today, one hundred years on from the formation of the state, beginning this summer and spanning the next two years. Writer and broadcaster Vincent Woods, travels the motorways and backroads of the country, taking the temperature of each county and exploring just how the culture of each place is so distinctive. Full of local characters sharing their opinions and insights, the programmes will also feature newly commissioned music and writings, all of which will seek to conjure up what makes each county. This programme is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023.

Documentary On One – Saturdays at 2pm from August 6th

The multi award winning RTÉ Documentary On One returns with a new season of 14 documentaries, airing on RTÉ Radio 1 each Saturday. Documentaries covered in this season include a doting story of elderly love, going in search of the true identity of a homeless man, travelling to Afghanistan to see life under the Taliban, while also delving deep into a near 100 year old murder mystery in Dublin – and much else besides.

Second Captains Saturday – Saturdays at 1pm 

The lads are back for another summer series on RTÉ Radio 1, in their search to find the Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportperson of the Year. Previous ‘champions’ include the likes of Malcolm Gladwell, Gabby Logan and Senator George Mitchell. Expect similarly high-profile guests this season explaining how sport has impacted their lives for good and for bad. The novelist and oscar-nominated screenwriter Nick Hornby is currently top of the leaderboard for 2022.

My Passion My Power – Saturday’s 8pm from August 6th

In this three-part feature series, three extraordinary Irish women bring us their inspirational stories of passion, resilience and survival. Featuring Mary Kate Slattery and her battle against anorexia, Amy Dunne and her ongoing fight to change abortion legislation, and ice swimmer Nuala Moore. Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

The Irish Soundtrack – Saturday at 8pm from August 27th

The Irish Soundtrack presented by Fiachna Ó Braonáin, will celebrate the story of Irish film, television and screen music from the early 1900s to the present day. The series will highlight the outstanding contribution Irish composers have made to cinema featuring composers, musicians, actors, directors, producers, curators and academics.

And our midweek evening offering while Late Debate is off the air, is a mix of entertainment and specialist music programming featuring Sure ‘Twas Better, Caravan Radio and the Classic Rock Hour.

Caravan Radio  – Wednesday’s 10pm

Meath musician and songwriter Oisin Leech presents Caravan Radio Wednesday nights at 10pm on RTE Radio 1 this summer. All aboard for a musical safari across all the genres with a few side roads along the way. A sonic treat on a Wednesday night.  Oisin Leech has collaborated over the years with the likes of Paul Muldoon, M Ward and Arctic Monkeys. He is one half of Irish duo The Lost Brothers.

Sure Twas Better – Tuesday’s 10pm 

Will Hanafin is back with a bumper Summer Special series of ‘Sure Twas Better‘ – RTÉ Radio 1’s archive raiding comedy panel show.
Will is joined by the legends that are Pauline Mc-Lynn, Jules Coll and Emer McLysaght.  The three wise women listen to long buried archive to discover if it was better… or worse …back in the day.

Classic Rock Hour with John Kenny – Thursday’s 10pm
​Like a bat out of hell, sports presenter John Kenny breaks out of the dressing room to bring us an hour of rock classics on Thursday nights.

Long-running soap Neighbours will take a bow on RTÉ next week and to mark the end of an era RTÉ player have a jam-packed schedule of classic episodes to binge watch from today.

Fans of the Aussie soap can watch the last three episodes on RTÉ starting on Monday 1st August, with the final installment airing on Wednesday 3rd August. Neighbours will air in its usual timeslots on RTÉ2, RTÉ One and RTÉ player.

Looking back on 37 years of the soap, viewers will remember the hot air balloon crash, when Toadie visited London and the amazing 35th anniversary specials. Now fans can reminisce with the help of Neighbours: Fan Picks on RTÉ player. Over 50 classic episodes of Neighbours are available to re-watch from big weddings and shocking deaths to disasters and heartwarming birthday and anniversary specials and featuring much-loved characters including Toadie, Dee, Sonya, The Kennedys, Lou, Paul and many more.
The finale of Neighbours will see Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan reprise their roles for one last goodbye to the soap. The final scenes will feature Toadie’s wedding to Melanie and as friends and family gather for their nuptials Ramsay Street has some magic in store for everyone.

Watch Neighbours finale on RTÉ2 and RTÉ player at 6pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Dates and times of final episodes of Neighbours on RTÉ:  

(All episodes streamed live and available for catch-up on RTÉ player)

 Episode 8901 – Monday 1st August – 12.45pm on RTÉ One and 6pm on RTÉ2  

– THE KENNEDY’S FACE OFF WITH IZZY

– TOADIE AND MELANIE PREPARE FOR THE WEDDING

– A BELOVED RESIDENT RETURNS AFTER 33 YEARS

Episode 8902 – Tuesday 2nd August – 1.45 pm on RTÉ One & 6pm on RTÉ2

– JANE AND MIKE EMBARK ON A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

– SUSAN GRAPPLES WITH THE DEPARTURES OF ALL HER NEIGHBOURS

– TOADIE AND MELANIE’S WEDDING GETS UNDERWAY

Episode 8903 – Wednesday 3rd August – 1.45pm on RTÉ One & 6pm on RTÉ2  

– THE PAST AND PRESENT COLLIDE AS WE SAY GOODBYE TO RAMSAY STREET 

Limerick’s momentous win over Kilkenny in Sunday’s enthralling All Ireland Hurling final was watched by an average of 774,000 viewers and a share of 72% of those watching TV at the time. Viewing numbers on RTÉ ONE peaked at 17.05 with 882,000 watching as the nail-baiting final whistle was blown. There were 113,000 live streams on the RTÉ Player, up from 92,000 last year.

It is the first time ever that an All-Ireland final has been held in the month of July. Limerick join only Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary in becoming one of the only teams to win three All-Ireland titles in a row. Yesterday, Limerick’s Declan Hannon made history as he became the first ever team captain to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup four times. They have now won four titles in five years.

This coming weekend sees bumper RTÉ GAA coverage continuing. Marie Crow will be joined by Anne Marie Hayes and Paudie Murray for live coverage from Croke Park of Saturday’s All-Ireland Camogie semi-finals. In the first clash, Cork will meet Waterford, throw-in 3.15 pm followed by Galway v Kilkenny, throw-in at 5.30 pm. The Saturday Game Live will begin at 2.45 pm on RTÉ2.

On Sunday, Joanne Cantwell will be joined by Ciaran Whelan, Pat Spillane and Sean Cavanagh for live coverage from Croke Park of the All-Ireland Football final between Kerry and Galway. Commentary will come from Darragh Maloney and Kevin McStay. The build-up on The Sunday Game Live will begin at 2 pm with throw-in at 3.30pm. Later that evening highlights of all the weekend’s Championship action can be seen on The Sunday Game (9.30pm, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player).

Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 will have live commentaries, reports and reaction from all the games across the weekend while RTÉ.ie/sport will keep fans up-to-date with all the action.

Shamrock Rovers UEFA Champions League Qualifier away against Bulgarian champions Ludogorets to be shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player

Shamrock Rovers UEFA Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round, 1st Leg tie away against Ludogorets of Bulgaria will be shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player next Tuesday 19 July.

The game kicks-off at 6.45pm Irish time in the Ludogorets Arena, Razgrad with coverage beginning at 6.30pm.

[IMAGE: A first-look photo of actors Claire Dunne and Charlie Cox by James Mather, KIN 2 Director of Photography]

The Kinsellas are back! BRON Studios, the award-winning media tech company, and Headline Pictures, announced today the second season of Kin began production in Dublin last week. The new series of the gripping drama Kin will be broadcast on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player next year. The 8-episode 1-hour crime drama has enjoyed success with international critical acclaim and huge ratings in key markets.

Returning cast includes Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Clare Dunne (Herself), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), Sam Keeley (Joe vs Carole), Emmett J. Scanlan (Peaky Blinders), Maria Doyle Kennedy (Outlander), and Yasmin Seky. Francis Magee has been upped to series regular this season.

The new season will see the Kinsellas as the top dogs in Dublin but killing Eamon Cunningham having created as many problems as it solved. They have incurred the wrath of an enemy even more dangerous than him. And where once there were unbreakable bonds of blood and family, now there is only suspicion, distrust, and resentment. But the greatest threat to the family emerges from within- in the shape of a ruthless, bullying, agent of chaos. Fortunately, from positions of great adversity the boldest plans are often forged. And so it is with the Kinsellas.

Kin is produced by BRON Studios and Headline Pictures, in association with RTÉ, with support by Screen Ireland. Peter McKenna (The Last Kingdom, Red Rock) is the series showrunner/executive producer, writer, and creator. Episodic directors are Felix Thompson (The Letter for the King), directing partners Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor (Helen), and Kate Dolan (You Are Not My Mother).

Executive Producers on the series are BRON Studios’ David Davoli (Ten Percent, That Dirty Black Bag), Samantha Thomas (Jessica Jones, Daredevil), Steven Thibault (Pieces of a Woman, Capone) and Aaron L. Gilbert (Bombshell, Joker, Fences), Headline Pictures’ Christian Baute (Ten Percent, Man in the High Castle), Laurence Lenica and Franck Calderon, and Ciarán Donnelly (Wheel of Time) who is also the co-creator. James Flynn (Vikings, Into the Badlands) is producing through his Metropolitan Films banner, with Emma Fleischer on as supervising producer and Gemma O’Shaugnessy as line producer. Dermot Horan and David Crean are Executive Producers for RTÉ and Andrew Byrne Executive Producer for Screen Ireland,

Global licensing partners include AMC Networks in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Spain and Portugal, joining RTÉ in Ireland, Viaplay in Scandinavia and NPO in Netherlands. BRON Releasing is handling worldwide sales.