Bauer Media has further extended its European footprint by acquiring Communicorp Group from Denis O’Brien, who exits the Irish media market after three decades. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
It means the Absolute and KISS owner reclaims national AC network Today FM (sold to its current owners by EMAP in 2007) and adds the first speech station, Newstalk, to its international portfolio as well as Dublin stations SPIN 1038 & 98FM, SPIN South West in Limerick and online-only sport station & podcast network Off The Ball.
It also gets digital audio exchange audioXI (similar to its UK joint venture with Wireless, Octave Audio) and aggregated listening platform GoLoud (similar to its Radioplay platform across the Nordics).
Communicorp UK, a separate company which mostly owns Global-operated stations through a brand licensing agreement, remains untouched and O’Brien is still the majority shareholder.
It was formed in 2014 to buy eight local/regional stations in response to a ruling by the Competition Commission surrounding Global’s £70m acquisition of GMG Radio.
The UK-operating arm was spun off in 2018 to avoid its performance being affected by the Euro.
It’s possible that Bauer’s UK regional brand strategy (GHR/Hits Radio) could make its way across the border eventually, although I think it’s unlikely, certainly at this stage.
Another point is about how DAB has failed to make moves in Ireland thus far - just 0.5% of adults listen according to the latest Ipsos MRBI/JNLR report.
Bauer’s push for DAB and DAB+ elsewhere in Europe suggests this acquisition could be a game-changer.
RTE are currently the only Irish broadcaster using the platform and coverage isn’t great at present - but all cars sold in the country are required come with DAB as standard according to EU law, not to mention the number of compatible consumer receivers, so there’s an opportunity to be had.
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