A video by our radio station Midlands 103 proved a viral social media hit when the team gave away 200 pairs of flip flops following an expenses scandal involving Ireland’s public broadcaster.
Footage of the Midlands 103 team giving listeners the footwear at the Fleadh in Mullingar has been viewed 103,000 times, making it one of the station’s most popular videos to date.
The promotion was a cheeky reference to broadcaster RTÉ’s ongoing embarrassment at the investigation by Ireland’s Public Accounts Committee, which revealed the station spent €5,000 on 200 flip flops for clients at a summer party for corporate clients in 2016.
Giving out flip flops at the public event, Midlands 103 worked to a far smaller budget.
“Listeners shouldn’t expect a posh pair of Havaianas”, said Managing Director Will Faulkner.
Viral hit
“Penneys’ finest are available for €1.30 each – so RTÉ could have saved around €4,700 by shopping around.
“There’s genuine outrage about RTÉ finances and Irish people love to cheer the underdog.
“That said, we never expected the video to become such a viral hit so it’s a big win for us and our sponsor at Golden Island Shopping Centre.”
You can see the video here: https://www.facebook.com/Midlands103/videos/819423216563041
Serving Counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath, Midlands 103 is billed as “Feel Good Radio”.
The audience for Midlands 103 grew in the last three months, recent figures revealed.
The latest JNLR Listenership figures showed an extra 4,000 people tuned into Midlands 103 every week compared to three months ago.