98 FM
98FM originally launched in November of 1989 as “Classic Hits 98FM”, as a regional station, covering the Dublin area, while also reaching into neighbouring counties. It has an audience share of 8.1% in the Dublin market, making it the 5th most popular radio station in this region.
The station targeted a broad audience, initially focusing on popular music, entertaining presenters, and engaging content. Over time however, its range of output became more diverse, coming to include talk shows, news segments, and current affairs discussions. On 12 June 2008, the station was renamed Dublin's 98.
In 1992, Communicorp acquired a 51% stake in the station. They effectively took control of the station in 1997, when they increased their ownership percentage to 98%. Ownership transferred again in 2021, when the Communicorp was bought by Bauer Media Group, and became Bauer Media Audio Ireland.
Audience Share
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Ownership Type
Private
Geographic Coverage
Local
Content Type
Free content
Media Companies / Groups
Bauer Media Group
Ownership Structure
98FM is owned by Bauer Media Audio Ireland (formerly Communicorp), a subsidiary of Bauer Media Group Ltd.
Bauer Media Group Ltds is owned by Yvonne Bauer (85%), and her sisters Saskia Bauer (5%), Nicola Bauer (5%) and Mirja Bauer (5%)
Voting Rights
N/A
Individual Owner
General Information
Founding Year
1989
Affiliated Interests Founder
In the 1980’s Denis O'Brien founded Esat Telecom, a telecommunications company, which would become one of the major players in Ireland's telecom industry. He is the founder of Communicorp, a media company with operations in Ireland and the United Kingdom, which operates several radio stations, including Dublin's 98fm, Today FM, Newstalk, and Spin 1038, which was eventually sold to Bauer Media in 2021. O’Brien also owned 29.9% of Independent News and Media, publishers of The Irish Independent and The Sunday Independent, as well as a number of other popular titles, before they were eventually sold to Belgian media conglomerate Mediahuis in 2019.
Affiliated Interests Ceo
Is currently the interim CEO of Bauer Media Ireland. His career in Irish radio began in 1999 when he became the Operations Manager of East Coast FM. He joined Communicorp in 2002, where he was the CEO of Spin 1038 until 2008. He subsequently served as the CEO of Dublin’s 98fm from 2008 until 2013. Between 2014 and 2021, he worked in a number of positions at Today FM and Newstalk 106 – 108, and in 2021 became Group Operations Director Ireland for the Bauer Media Group. He is the Chairperson of the IMRO Radio award, and a member of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland’s board of directors.
Affiliated Interests Editor-In-Chief
John Keogh has been the Group Director of News for Bauer Media Audio Ireland since January 2021. Prior to this he worked as a special advisor in the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and as the Director of News & Managing Editor of Network News for Newstalk 106-108FM, where he also worked as relief presenter.
Contact
98FM
Marconi House
Digges Lane
Dublin 2
Email: info@98fm.com
Telephone: +353 (0) 1 804 9000
Website: /www.98fm.com
Financial Information
Revenue (in Mill. $)
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Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
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Advertising (in % of total funding)
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Market Share
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Further Information
Meta Data
The audience share is 8.1% of the Dublin Market. It is taken from the 2023 Joint National Listenership Research Survey, looking at “yesterday listenership” of 15+ population. Because 98fm is a regional station, the percentage reflects only those in the Dublin area.
Revenue, operating profit, and advertising revenue not available for individual stations.
Information about Voting Rights of owners unavailable.
Within the media industry in Ireland reporting on income levels are generally at group level rather than individual title level. On top of this, overall revenue details for the market as a whole are unavailable. Due to these factors it is not possible to report accurately on market share for individual titles or groups.
