TXFM
Phantom FM are a Dublin based radio station, originally founded in 1996 as a pirate radio station. They play generally alternative rock with a high emphasis on indigenous artists.
Notable Phantom presenters include Pete Reed ,"Sinister Pete", Steve Conway and Rob "Stitch" Taylor. Some Phantom talent later gained shows on FM 104 and 2FM presenting alternative and indie rock programs.
Until 2003, they operated as a pirate, staying on air the majority of the time, barring outages for frequency collisions with newly licenced stations, raids by Comreg, and at one stage, the theft of their transmission equipment from Three Rock Mountain. Since 2003, they have operated as an internet radio station, and as an occasional RSL radio station.
Funding during their pirate era came from sponsorship, which was run through an immensely complex arrangement of holding companies, so that sponsors could not be accused of helping pirates.
A number of times during this period, the station went off air for licence applications. After two successful RSL licenses, Phantom applied for an alternative rock license offered by the BCI for Dublin. They finally won a licence for an alternative rock station for the youth market in November 2004, beating the Zed FM consortium, XFM, Capital Radio and other applicants.
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 6th April 2006. Phantom FM are now expected to take to the airwaves in late summer 2006.