Blast 106


Blast 106 is a FM radio station broadcasting to Greater Belfast on 106.4 FM with a core target audience of 18-35 year olds.
The station commenced broadcasting in 2009, and the results of a recent listenership survey shows that the station has a weekly audience of approximately 94,500 people on FM with a large online listenership.

Mission statement

“Blast106 is a radio station for students & young people living,
working or studying in Greater Belfast. The station will Educate, Inform, Entertain
and Represent the entire student and youth
community with programmes that reflect their tastes and interests.”

Schedule Monday - Friday

Time/DayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
7 am - 10 amFully Charged with Neil CurranFully Charged with Neil CurranFully Charged with Neil CurranFully Charged with Neil CurranFully Charged with Neil Curran
10 am - 1 pmBlast @ Work with KristynBlast @ Work with KristynBlast @ Work with KristynBlast @ Work with KristynBlast @ Work with Kristyn
1 pm - 4 pmBlast @ Work with Sean McKeownBlast @ Work with Sean McKeownBlast @ Work with Sean McKeownBlast @ Work with Sean McKeownBlast @ Work with Sean McKeown
4 pm - 7 pmThe Jam with Stefanie McCluskeyThe Jam with
Stefanie McCluskey		The Jam with Stefanie McCluskeyThe Jam with Stefanie McCluskeyThe Jam with Stefanie McCluskey
7 pm - 9 pmBlast Reloaded with Connor BrennanBlast Reloaded with Connor BrennanBlast Reloaded with Connor BrennanBlast Reloaded with Connor BrennanFriday Night Blast with Connor Brennan
9 pm - 12 amThe Lock In with Cushla RiceThe Lock In with Cushla RiceThe Lock In with Cushla RiceThe Lock In with Cushla RiceFriday Night Blast with Sarah Spellman

Schedule - Saturday

Time/DaySaturday
7 am - 10 amWeekend Breakfast with JR Jamie Robbo
10 am - 1 pmMore Music Weekend with Emma Dickson
1 pm - 4 pmMore Music Weekend with Dylan McKee
4 pm - 7 pmThe Takeover with Cushla Rice
7 pm - 10 pmSaturday Night Blast with Connor Brennan
10 pm - 1 amSaturday Night Blast with DJ ARG

Schedule - Sunday

Time/DaySunday
7 am - 10 amWeekend Breakfast with JR Jamie Robbo
10 am - 1 pmAirplay 40 with Spencer James
1 pm - 4pmBlast Reloaded with Dylan McKee
4 pm - 7 pmThe Buzz with Neil Curran
7 pm - 9 pmSunday Night Live with Big Chris
9 pm - 12 amThe Lock-In with Cushla Rice

Blast 106 Presenters

Blast Xtra was the online training station of Blast 106, this ceased broadcasting in September 2015 after 5 years on air.

Saturday Schedule on Blast Xtra

In August 2013 the station was found in breach of its licence. Communications regulator Ofcom found that the station was not meeting its licence obligations.
However in a court ruling against Ofcom the station won the right to continue broadcasting. The ruling which was delivered just hours before the station's licence was due to expire, the judge held that the process was unfair and disproportionate. The regulator's decision was quashed and an extension of Blast 106's community radio licence was granted. After hearing submissions the judge sat to give his verdict just before the expiry deadline. He held that Ofcom ignored a request from Blast 106's solicitors for an oral hearing after learning the regulator's preliminary view. A decision was made not to consider sanctions over the alleged breach - which would have involved due process safeguards. That meant all that was left to consider was the station's application in January for an extension to its licence.
The Ofcom report said: "During the three days in January 2013 and two days in November 2012 when we monitored output, we heard no local student news, coverage of student sports events, documentaries, or coverage of student politics."
The station responded by explaining that the days that Ofcom performed monitoring were exceptions to normal output, however following a subsequent monitoring period the station was again found to be under delivering its key commitments. The report concluded;
"As set out above, we have taken into account the following matters"
Communications watchdog Ofcom then went to the Court of Appeal after the decision to extend Blast 106's licence.
It was claimed that the case should instead have been sent back for the regulator to make a fresh decision following that ruling.
But senior judges in Belfast held that the body could not have carried out a fair re-hearing before the station's broadcasting permit expired.
Dismissing the appeal, Lord Justice Girvan said: "To refuse to make an order requiring an extension would be to visit on the licence holder a disproportionately unfair result compared to the alleged unfairness to Ofcom in having to grant a licence which, if abused, could be revoked."