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TXFM (formerly Phantom 105.2) was a Dublin-based radio station, founded in 1997 as a pirate radio station. TXFM broadcast under a contract awarded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). The station ceased broadcasting on 26 October 2016.
TXFM played mostly alternative rock with an emphasis on local artists, as well as alternative dance music and hip-hop from local and international acts.*Wright, Ian "Radio's Phantom Saviour", Cluas, October 2006, accessed 2 July 2009 Apart from general programming TXFM also has run many specialist shows dedicated to a specific genre of rock or to premiering new Irish and international acts.
Following the re-advertisement of the 'Alternative Rock' radio licence by the BAI in December 2015, no formal applications had been made by the closing date, and on 30 March 2016 it was announced that the station was to cease broadcasting by October of that year.
The frequency of 105.2 MHz is now used for temporary licensed stations such as Freedom FM, Classic Hits 80s and Christmas FM at a maximium ERP of 2.00kW.
Funding for Phantom during their pirate era came from sponsorship and advertising from local bands and promoters and even contributions from station staff.
A number of times during this period, the station went off air for licence applications. After two successful temporary licenses, Phantom applied for an alternative rock license offered by the BCI for Dublin in July 2004. They finally won a licence for an alternative rock station for Dublin in November 2004, beating the Zed FM consortium, XFM and two other applicants.*Mulally, Una "Phantom and Zed's rock 'n' roll radio ructions at the BCI", Irish Independent, 12 February 2006.
Phantom's expected launch was delayed due to a legal challenges against the BCI regarding the license from Scrollside Ltd./Zed FM. An unsuccessful challenge to the High Court was followed by an appeal to the Supreme Court which was rejected on 6 April 2006.*Mulally, Una "Phantom Apparition" , Sunday tribune, 29 October 2006. Phantom returned to the airwaves on 31 October 2006, broadcasting on 105.2 FM.*Hickey, Shane "Phantom to go on air at the end of October", Irish Independent, 14 September 2006.
Phantom 105.2 won the award for best music driven local station at the 2007 PPI Awards.
In 2010, Communicorp took a 30% stake and the station was relocated to Marconi House in January 2011 where it shares facilities with Today FM and Newstalk. A number of redundancies resulted from the move and cost cutting including the redundancies of Marketing Manager Brian Daly and Traffic Manager Laura Lee Conboy (she continued with her presenter role) along with the resignation of Chief Executive Ger Roe and the dismissal of General Manager Simon Maher. Ricky Geraghty replaced Ger Roe as CEO and Keith Walsh replaced Fiona Scally as programme director.
In August 2012, it was announced that a number of weekend presenters would be leaving the station in a bid to cut costs.
In February 2014, it was announced that an agreement had been reached with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to restructure the station resulting in the loss of many full and part-time staff with the exception of a handful of presenters. The station would then be rebranded as TXFM with closer operational links with Today FM, also owned by Communicorp and who also broadcast from the same building.
On 16 March 2014 the station ceased broadcasting as Phantom 105.2. The last live show was Power House presented by John Caddell. Back to back music was then broadcast with the station being renamed 105.2 with no reference to Phantom. A number of on-air, backroom and support staff lost their jobs.
On 30 March 2016, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland announced that no applications had been received for the license held by Dublin Rock Radio Limited, broadcasting as TXFM.
Some of the station's specialist content such as The Set-List, Metal March, TXFM Evenings, The Pick-Up, Souled Out, Transmission, Nialler 9, Friday Nights, The Listening Post and Another Side were axed from the station at the end of June 2016, while Songs in the Key of Life with Nadine O'Regan made the transition from its slot on TXFM to sister station Today FM which is also a national radio station. From July 2016, the stations schedule was reduced to only a few hours of live content each day with the majority of the schedule made up of automated songs. irish music feed – .Media: Communicorp Begins to Unravel TXFM. Irishmusicfeed.tumblr.com (2016-06-23). Retrieved on 2016-07-22.
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