RTÉ Radio

RTÉ Radio
Company typeDivision of Raidió Teilifís Éireann
IndustryMedia
Founded1 January 1926
Headquarters,
Ireland
Area served
ServicesRadio broadcasting
OwnerGovernment of Ireland
ParentRaidió Teilifís Éireann
Websitewww.rte.ie/radio

RTÉ Radio is a division and service of Irish public broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), which broadcasts four analogue channels and five digital channels across Ireland.

Beginning on 1 January 1926 as 2RN, it was the new Irish Free State's broadcasting service. In 1932 a 60-kw transmitter was set up in Athlone to cover a major event - the 1932 Eucharistic Congress. In 1933 the service became Radio Athlone (Irish Raidió Áth Luain) and in 1938 was renamed as Radio Éireann. After launching a television service in 1961 (Telefís Éireann), it became Raidió Teilifís Éireann, or RTÉ in 1966.

Similar to its parent company, RTÉ Radio is a statutory body, overseen by a board appointed by the Government of Ireland, with general management in the hands of a committee of senior managers, currently an interim leadership team, headed by the Director-General. It is regulated by Coimisiún na Meán, and is mostly financed through the radio license fee, while some funds come through advertising.