Paul King - Drivetime
Dublin South FM was the first local community radio station to go on air in 1995 and is the BCI-licensed community radio in South Dublin on the former (now defunct) 104.9 frequency. It was formed to solve the difficulty local groups had in letting people know what was going on in the locality and provide a new medium of scope for the community. What stated off as a somewhat 'pirate' station has now become a fully licensed BCI Service for South Dublin and beyond!
About 60 volunteers produce and broadcast 35 hours of quality programmes each week from our studios in Dundrum. Our aim is to use local access radio to enhance the quality of life in our community.
Lots are listening to local radio, as our formula of local presenters, and locally interest programmes, is seen as an ideal complement to national radio.
Dublin South FM broadcast's area covers approx 90,000 people (Up to 7KM in all directions form our physical location) and our service is not replicated by either RTE or the Dublin music stations. Unlike most other commercial stations, DSFM only plays adverts on about 20% of its programmes, and even when this is taken into consideration advert playout does not exceed over 15% of overall station output each year.
DSFM used to reside in the leafy South Dublin suburbs of Loreto, Rathfarnham (in a converted office!) for the most part of its existence before migrating twenty minutes down the road to the newer, more modern 'Community' floor of the Dundrum Town Centre. The team has fond memories of all that occurred in Rathfarnham, and acknowledges the help and support of the many great individuals who passed through its doors over the years.
The Website started approximately two years ago back in 2006, largely in part to the determined goodwill and effort of its founder Stephen Chubb. It was evident that DSFM needed a web resource at this stage in order to better interact with our listeners and give them a new medium for their station. A former DSFM website did exist up until 1998 or so, but had since fallen defunct. What started out as something small has now evolved into a regularly revised, strong, and dedicated DSFM website thanks to the determined efforts of the team.
Dublin South has now moved to Dundrum, Level 5, and is operating with new state-of-the art radio broadcasting equipment with new and improved studios/guest facility's. DSFM is now broadcasting on its new frequency, 93.9FM. Phantom FM is now located near the former 104.9 frequency
DSFM Presenters: Patrick Gallagher & Samantha Toner from Regatta Show