The thing is Craig, that I don't need to have done mathematical study to come to the conclusion that the £1million figure is very questionable.

The website has few adverts. The radio station has few adverts. So where would the money come from?

Never mind that elsewhere, the figure is £25 million...

Dave, Wigan,

The problem is though Craig, that whilst the £1 million pound figure is quite questionable (the website has few adverts, as does the actual on-air product) - in an article celebrating the award a Scottish paper gave him - the figure is quoted as £25million.

That is a very impressive projection, is it not?

Dave, Wigan,

May I say I have done Mathematical study at University and did you not think for one moment that possibly the 1million is just a ball part figure and is 'under-estimated', many businesses do! it then provides them with opportunity to beat goals etc.

The original 20k, that may have been to sort investment? Maybe this isnt all the story as Lets face it they wouldnt still be online if it werent true? Esspecially as PPL and MCPS-PRS are very well aware of its existence.

Nothing is ever what it seems paul, try and bare that in mind before attacking a child! Remember it doesnt matter what we think, at least hes not doing drugs and attacking old people!

Craig, London,

Thanks Craig,
I'm happy doing what I do and we'll see what transpires with Hitz Radio UK. However if the claims are true then it would take much more than £20250 of start-up costs to pay the license fees for so many listeners. Besides the license fees, there are server costs which will be at least 20 times more than the start-up costs for the number of listeners claimed.
Turnover of more than £1m in year 1, most as profit? That means there's no license fees to be paid and no server costs. How many businesses in any sector can say that they will have 51%+ bottom line profit margin? Get real!
I might not have advanced maths, but I can see the real story here. How's everyone else's perception and arithmetic?

Paul, UK,

most of it made up? Disaproved? sadly I think you are all just sour grapes or maybe just NOT IN THE RADIO INDUSTRY WHAT SO EVER! who in here can actually say they`ve done what Ryan has done? nobody! because it is an actual first, there has never really been a full blown independent radio stations in an overnight success and esspecially at his age, maybe things are starting to change and I look forward to your reactions when he is high flying are your still where you are!

Craig, London,

Trust me he was in my class at school before he left. he is talking absolute rubbish. Most of it is made up.

paul, Prestwick, ayrshire

Many, many 'facts' that have been reported in this article and in other articles before and after this one have been disproved. When you take time to look objectively at all the available information, it's obvious that nearly all of it is rubbish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitz_Radio_UK

Paul, UK,

I know Ryan quite well and he has done very well for himself, there has been the odd lie (e.g. he did not begin in his fathers garden shed - he told me so) but apart from that it is pretty much all true. Well done ryan!

Craig Anderson, Bridgwater, England

I think there are some sad people out there that have to investigate and attempt to bring down a child! Well done to Ryan and having spoken to people who know him in the past I KNOW HE WILL GO FAR.

Samantha, Glasgow,

The boy is clearly lying. There is no proof of any success and plenty of proof of lies.

Terry, UK,

I agree with Callum, alot of people in this world have no lives what so ever.

I wonder if Virgin would like to make their ACTUAL peaks online during drive time public? guessed not.

Very well done Ryan and everybody at Hitz Radio

Amy, Manchester,

Wow, James Cridland sounds like a real fantasist. very Jelous... and Paul you should be ashamed to listen to such people. I trust The Times and know from a few people that they did check the stats first.

Callum, London,

This makes very interesting reading. It shows Ryan Dunlop is a fantasist - and The Times should be ashamed of itself for running the original story unchecked!

\http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/03/08/fantasists-and-lazy-journalists/

Paul Easton, Surbiton, Surrey

He's 15 and setup 2 years ago with £20k from his family?

Yes, life must have been difficult. Well done for starting a website with £20,000.

You can start a digital TV station for £15k with the right contacts, I'm sure this is a drop in the ocean for the family - why wait until 2009?

Charles, Brighton,

Well Done Ryan! show the industry how its done!

Steve, London,

Sorry, don't believe a word of this. I could claim that 80,000 listen to me shouting from the roof of a car park.

It doesn't mean it would be any more true.

Ted, Cambridge,

well done u!!! what a great result from a 15yr old. although it dosent really matter wot ure age to a london based LARGE RADIO NETWORK!!!! disgusted at a certain persons attitude and threatening emails etc......

samson, prestwick, scotland

great stuff , good luck to him

Hope he has UK licence for broadcasting on the net?

If not, by the amount of listeners he is claiming that would cost him a fortune!

george, oxford, uk