Flirt FM/College Campus Radio DAC

What Flirt FM/College Campus Radio DAC does

Flirt FM (legal entity: College Campus Radio DAC) is a student and community of interest radio station broadcasting on 101.3 FM from the University of Galway campus since September 28, 1995. It serves the 20,000+ University of Galway student body and the wider Galway community through a mixed-format schedule including local news, sports coverage, Irish music (25% of output), talk content (40%, including 20% current affairs), and community-led strands such as Community Takeovers involving 40+ community groups annually. The station is part of the Community Radio Ireland network of 20+ stations and operates under Irish broadcasting regulation via Coimisiún na Meán.

The technical stack is professional broadcast-grade, anchored by a Calrec Type R Digital Sound Desk, Genelec studio monitors, RØDE and AKG microphones, and a remote recording system developed during COVID-19 that enables distributed production. Software tooling includes Adobe Audition, Reaper, and Audacity. Content is distributed across FM, a 24/7 webstream, TuneIn smart speakers, Spotify podcasts, and Mixcloud, extending reach beyond the Galway geographic footprint.

Operationally the station runs a hybrid community-led model: two full-time and one part-time paid staff, supplemented by up to 150 volunteers annually plus student placements. Revenue is diversified across Coimisiún na Meán Sound & Vision scheme grants, in-kind institutional support from the University of Galway (facilities and equipment), commercial studio and equipment hire (Studio 2 at €70-75/hour, Studio 3 at €40-45/hour), and charitable fundraising via RAG Week radiothons (€53,275 raised in 2024). No audited revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

Flirt FM/College Campus Radio DAC

Legal name

College Campus Radio DAC

Website

https://flirtfm.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Flirt FM is Galway's student and community of interest radio station, broadcasting on 101.3 FM from University of Galway since 1995. It serves 20,000+ students and the Galway community through news, music, sports, and community-led programming, funded by public grants, university support, studio hire, and charity events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Student radio station
• Irish music programming
• Studio rental services
• Volunteer media training

Headquarters

HQ city

Galway

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Broadcasting Authority Funding: Government funding through Coimisiún na Meán (formerly BAI/BCI) as a licensed community radio station. Receives Sound & Vision scheme funding for specific programming.
2. University of Galway Support: Facilities, equipment and operational support provided by University of Galway. GMIT (now ATU) was previously a partner until 2010.
3. Studio and Equipment Hire: Revenue from hiring out studio facilities and equipment to University of Galway students, staff, and external parties for non-commercial and commercial projects.
4. Charitable Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including RAG Week radiothons raising funds for designated charities such as Galway Rape Crisis Centre and GOAL.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Flirt FM is a community/student radio station that broadcasts on 101.3 FM in Galway and streams 24/7 online, producing news, sports, music, Irish language, and community programming largely by volunteer presenters. Beyond broadcasting, the station hires out its studios and portable recording equipment to University of Galway students, staff and external parties for non-commercial and commercial projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FM Radio Broadcast (101.3 FM) Terrestrial FM radio service covering Galway city and county on 101.3 FM, broadcasting live programming weekdays 11:30-04:00 and Saturdays 13:00-22:00 during term time for Galway listeners.
• Webstream Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ community groups take over the station annually through Community Takeover programming
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Creative IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Government initiative partnership for Youth Lates at Cruinniú na nÓg 2026, delivering live music event for ages 14-18.
• Music Generation Galway CityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Music education partnership for Youth Lates at Cruinniú na nÓg 2026 event.
• Galway City Council Night-Time EconomyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Local government partnership for Youth Lates event as part of night-time economy initiative.
• Galway City Comhairle na nÓgminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Youth council partnership for Youth Lates at Cruinniú na nÓg 2026.
• Youth Work Ireland GalwayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Youth work organization partnership for Youth Lates at Cruinniú na nÓg 2026.
• CÚRAM / Science Foundation IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices partnered with Foróige and Flirt FM to create Science Waves - science radio shows and podcasts made by kids for kids.
• University of GalwaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Primary institutional partner providing facilities (Áras na MacLéinn), operational support, and student recruitment since 1995. Formerly UCG (University College Galway). Joint application with GMIT for original broadcast license.
• ForóigecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth organization partnering for Science Waves project with CÚRAM/SFI. Also collaborates on other programming.
• Atlantic Technological University (ATU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer partner (as GMIT) in original joint application for broadcast license. GMIT left the partnership in 2010 after difficulties running service meaningfully from both campuses. ATU students continue to volunteer individually.
• Community Radio IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of 20+ member Community Radio Ireland network of community radio stations across Ireland.
• Acadamh na hOllscoillaíochta GaeilgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic department at University of Galway for Irish language providing programming content and student involvement.
• University of Galway Department of JournalismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic department providing student placement opportunities and curriculum connections for journalism students.
• GoCom RadiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity radio station whose producer Islammiyah Saudique-Kadejo produces 'Voices of New Ireland' series for Flirt FM broadcast.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RTÉ: Ireland's national public service broadcaster, which sets the broader context for Irish community broadcasting policy, administers Sound & Vision funding indirectly through the licence fee, and overlaps with Flirt FM's news, music, and Irish-language programming.
• KEXP: Seattle-based community-supported music radio station with a much larger global footprint but comparable DNA: listener-funded, music-discovery focus, strong podcast/streaming distribution, and community-event partnerships.

Direct peers

• WFMU: Long-running US listener-supported community/freeform radio station with a volunteer-driven programming model, eclectic music mix, and strong digital distribution — a close international analogue in operating philosophy.
• Near FM: Dublin-based community radio station operating under the same Irish regulatory framework (Coimisiún na Meán) with a similar volunteer-driven, community-of-interest model and Sound & Vision funding pathway.
• Cam FM: Cambridge University student-run radio station broadcasting on FM and online with a volunteer presenter base and university partnership — structurally similar to Flirt FM's campus/community hybrid model.
• Phoenix FM: Dublin northside community radio station licensed by Coimisiún na Meán, comparable in scope as a small, volunteer-supported broadcaster serving a defined local community.
• UCC 98.3FM (University College Cork Campus Radio): University campus radio station affiliated with University College Cork, mirroring Flirt FM's student-volunteer model, FM + online distribution, and integration with a third-level institution.
• CRC FM: Cork-based community radio station operating under the same Irish community broadcasting framework, with a comparable mix of volunteer presenters, local programming, and Sound & Vision–funded strands.

Regional players

• WLR FM: Waterford-based regional commercial radio station serving a comparable Irish county-level audience with news, music, and local programming — a structural parallel to Galway Bay FM in Flirt FM's competitive set.
• Galway Bay FM: Commercial local radio station serving the Galway region with much broader FM hours and a paid-staff model, competing directly with Flirt FM for the same Galway listener base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/flirtfm
• TikToktiktok.com/@flirtfm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flirt-fm-college-campus-radio-ltd-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Flirt FM/College Campus Radio DAC