Editing FM104 (section)

==History==
Capital Radio, as the station was originally called, was the first Independent Local Radio contractor to take to the air on 20 July 1989. The station was owned by a consortium of Irish media and entertainment figures and managed by Mike Hogan. Although initially moderately successful, following the launch of rival [[98FM]], the station consistently trailed in the ratings. In May 1991, the station relaunched as Rock 104; however, this was unsuccessful and in late 1991 it underwent a restructuring under new CEO Dermot Hanrahan, who relaunched the station in April 1992 as Dublin's FM104, using the tag-line "Superstars of the 80s and 90s". This format was moderately successful allowing the station to reach financial stability. However, the station still lagged behind its competitor 98FM. A change in programming direction in 1995, together with the introduction of the highly successful ''[[The Strawberry Alarm Clock (radio programme)|Strawberry Alarm Clock]]'', saw it finally overtake 98FM, though 98FM would itself undergo a (less radical) relaunch, dropping the "Classic Hits" moniker, and poaching Chris Barry for a time. In April 1996 FM104 moved into the Number 1 slot in the Dublin market for the first time. Since then, FM104 and 98FM have been keen rivals.

In 2004 the original shareholders sold the station to Scottish Radio Holdings for €30 million, in the first of a sequence of ownership changes. SRH were subsequently sold to EMAP, who in turn sold the station in 2007.

[[Denis O'Brien]]'s [[Communicorp]] was the highest bidder for [[Emap]]'s Irish operations when that company decided to sell its radio stations, buying FM104, [[Highland Radio]] and [[Today FM]] on 14 July 2007.<ref name=finfacts_16072007>{{cite news|url=http://www.finfacts.ie/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_1010600.shtml|title=Denis O'Brien's Communicorp to acquire Irish radio stations -Today FM, FM104 and Highland Radio - in €200m deal|work=Finfacts|date=16 July 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601184902/http://www.finfacts.ie/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_1010600.shtml|archivedate=1 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2007/0716/91245-emap/|title=Emap sells radio stations to O'Brien|publisher=RTÉ News|date=16 July 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305184807/http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0716/91256-obriend/|archivedate=5 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50147|title=O'Brien buys Emap radio stations in €200m deal|newspaper=The Irish Emigrant|date=18 July 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601184709/http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50147|archivedate=1 June 2015}}</ref> In October 2007, the [[Broadcasting Commission of Ireland]] (BCI) approved Communicorp's proposed takeover of Today FM and Highland Radio, but not FM104.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/blow-for-obriens-200m-radio-bid-44789.html|title=Blow for O'Brien's €200m radio bid|work=Irish Examiner|date=9 October 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601185911/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/blow-for-obriens-200m-radio-bid-44789.html|archivedate=1 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Arthur|last=Beesley|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/denis-o-brien-cannot-buy-fm104-as-part-of-200m-deal-1.970714|title=Denis O'Brien cannot buy FM104 as part of €200m deal|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=9 October 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601185635/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/denis-o-brien-cannot-buy-fm104-as-part-of-200m-deal-1.970714|archivedate=1 June 2015}}</ref> The deal was completed by January 2008.<ref name=times_12012008>{{cite news|first=Ciarán|last=Hancock|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/o-brien-seals-200m-deal-for-emap-s-three-irish-radio-outlets-1.927929|title=O'Brien seals €200m deal for Emap's three Irish radio outlets|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=12 January 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601190146/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/o-brien-seals-200m-deal-for-emap-s-three-irish-radio-outlets-1.927929|archivedate=1 June 2015}}</ref> Due to a [[Competition Authority (Ireland)|Competition Authority]] decision, Communicorp was required to sell-on FM104, which it did (to UTV Media) immediately upon its acquisition. O'Brien offloaded Highland Radio in mid-2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58148|title=Denis O'Brien sells Highland Radio|newspaper=The Irish Emigrant|date=11 May 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601191258/http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58148|archivedate=1 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ciarán|last=Hancock|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/o-brien-sells-highland-radio-1.919851|title=O'Brien sells Highland Radio|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=12 January 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601191359/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/o-brien-sells-highland-radio-1.919851|archivedate=1 June 2015}}</ref>

On 8 October 2007, it was announced by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland that it would not agree to the sale of FM104 to Communicorp, although it granted approval for the acquisition of Today FM and Highland Radio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1008/communicorp-business.html|title = O'Brien gets approval on Today FM|website = [[RTÉ.ie]]|date = 8 October 2007}}</ref> On 19 December 2007 it was announced that UTV Media had agreed to purchase FM104, subject to approval from the BCI and the Competition Authority. Under the structure of the agreement, Communicorp acquired FM104 but sold it immediately to UTV Media, thus keeping to the spirit of the earlier BCI ruling and allowing it to acquire the other EMAP stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.utvplc.com/indepth.asp?sub=ps&sublk=prl&id=564 |title=UTV Corporate |website=www.utvplc.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102174004/http://www.utvplc.com/indepth.asp?sub=ps&sublk=prl&id=564 |archive-date=2 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/utv-raises-over-pound5m-to-help-fund-e52m-takeover-of-fm104-station-1250156.html|title = UTV raises over £5m to help fund e52m takeover of FM104 station}}</ref> The sale of FM104 to UTV Media was completed on 10 April 2008.