Q Radio Network

Q Radio is a network of radio stations in Northern Ireland airing an adult contemporary format. The network is the fifth most listened to radio station in Northern Ireland, with a combined figure of 362,000 listeners as of September 2023, according to RAJAR.[1]

Not to be confused with Q Radio.

Q Radio
Broadcast areaNorthern Ireland
Frequencies
  • DAB:
  • 12D Bauer Northern Ireland
  • FM:
  • 96.7 & 102.5 MHz Greater Belfast
  • 97.2 & 97.6 MHz North Coast
  • 100.5 MHz Newry
  • 101.1 MHz Kilkeel
  • 101.2 MHz Omagh
  • 102.1 MHz Enniskillen
  • 102.9 MHz North West
  • 106.0, 106.3 & 107.2 MHz Mid Ulster
  • 107.0 & 107.6 MHz Mid Antrim
Programming
FormatAdult Contemporary
Ownership
OwnerNorthern Media Group
History
First air date
9 August 2015 (2015-08-09)
Links
WebcastRadioplayer
Websitewww.qradio.com

Network

Q Radio covers seven licence areas:[2]

  • Belfast - 96.7 & 102.5 FM and DAB
  • North West - 102.9 FM
  • North Coast - 97.2 & 97.6 FM
  • Mid Antrim - 107.0 & 107.6 FM
  • Mid Ulster - 106.0, 106.3 & 107.2 FM
  • Newry & Mourne - 100.5 FM & 101.1 FM
  • Tyrone & Fermanagh - 101.2 & 102.1 FM

The various stations in the network previously had local opt-outs from the network schedule, including the Q Cafe on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. There are currently no opt-outs on the schedule with all stations taking the network at all times, except for local news, traffic and advertising.[3]

History
Former Q101.2 studios in Omagh

The first use of the Q brand in Northern Ireland came with the launch of Q97.2 from Coleraine, County Londonderry, on 26 January 2000. Additional stations were opened in Derry (Q102.9) and Omagh, County Tyrone (Q101.2).

Further stations that would later become part of Q Radio launched in the mid-2000s. Seven FM launched on 1 November 2005 from its base in Ballymena.,[4] while Five FM won a licence to broadcast to Newry and Mourne on 100.5 MHz in 2006,[5] signing on 12 December.[6] That same year, River Media bought Mid 106 FM in Cookstown[7] from CN Group and rebranded it as Six FM. In 2011, Five FM, Six FM and Seven FM were rebranded as Q Radio stations.

In 2015, Q Radio acquired CityBeat in Belfast from CN Group, marking its entry into that market.[8] The station was then rebranded as Q Radio Belfast.

In 2017, "QHQ", the network's main studios, were opened in Belfast's Fountain Centre.[9] A series of licence extensions in 2018 brought Q Radio additional coverage in Northern Ireland, including transmitters covering Larne, Newcastle, Draperstown, Enniskillen and Ballycastle.[10]

Presenters/former presenters
  • Stephen Clements
  • Gareth Stewart
  • Gareth Woods
  • Ryan A
  • Steve Turnbull
  • Jordan Humphries
  • Yazz
  • Cate Conway
  • Owen Larkin
  • Mark Lima
  • Carl Kinsman
  • Eoghan Quigg
  • Sean Hegarty
  • Declan Wilson
  • Ibe Sesay
  • Connor Brennan
  • Victoria Quinn
  • Sean Mckeown
  • Errol Doherty
  • Olga Kaye


Cushla

Q Radio Schedule as of June 2023 Monday to Thursday

  • 12am-6am Q Thru The Night
  • 6-10am Q Radio Breakfast with Declan, Andrew & Amy
  • 10am-1pm Q Radio Mid-Morning with Yazz
  • 1pm-4pm Q Radio Afternoon with Jordan Arnold
  • 4pm-7pm Q Radio Drive with Ibe Sesay
  • 7pm-10pm Q Radio Evening with Connor Brennan
  • 10pm-12am Q's Keeping It Quiet with Cushla Rice

Friday

  • 12am-6am Q Thru The Night
  • 6am-10am Q Radio Breakfast with Declan & Amy
  • 10am-1pm Q Radio Mid-Morning with Yazz
  • 1pm-4pm Jordan & Gerry's Jukebox
  • 4pm-7pm Q Radio Drive with Ibe Sesay
  • 7pm-10pm Q Radio Weekend Party with Gareth Woods
  • 10pm-12am Q Radio Weekend Party with Ryan Hand

Saturday

  • 12am-6am Q Thru The Night
  • 6am-10am Q Radio Weekend Breakfast with Connor Brennan
  • 10am-2pm Q Radio Weekend Mid-Morning with Ryan Hand
  • 2pm-6pm Q Radio Weekend Afternoon with Jordan Arnold
  • 6pm-10pm Q Radio Weekend Party with Gareth Woods
  • 10pm-12am Q Radio Weekend Party with Sean McKeown

Sunday

  • 12am-6am Q Thru The Night
  • 6am-10am Q Radio Weekend Breakfast with Dylan McKee
  • 10am-2pm Q Radio Weekend Mid-Morning with Ibe Sesay
  • 2pm-6pm Q Radio Weekend Afternoon with Rachael Sarah
  • 6pm-10pm Q Radio Weekend Wind Down with Gareth Woods
  • 10pm-12am Q Radio Alternative with Olga Kaye

References
  1. "RAJAR". www.rajar.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. "How to Listen - Q Radio".
  3. "Public File". Q Radio. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  4. "Seven FM launch day". RadioToday. 1 November 2005. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  5. "Five FM win Newry licence". RadioToday. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  6. "Five goes Live in Newry". RadioToday. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  7. "CN Group sells Mid 106 FM". RadioToday. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  8. "CN Group sells CityBeat to Q Radio Network". 29 January 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  9. "New studios and HQ for Q Radio in Belfast". RadioToday. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  10. "Q Radio extends FM coverage across N Ireland". RadioToday. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
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