Radio

The audience share commanded by the three radio stations operated by the state-owned PSM, RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) is the largest of any radio group in Ireland. RTE Radio 1, 2FM and RTE Lyric FM) account for a nearly 28% share of minutes listened on Irish radio in 2022. The PSM is funded by a combination of licence fee (approximately €200m per annum) and advertising income (€150m).

The second largest player in the Irish radio market is Bauer Media Audio Ireland LP. The German-based Bauer Group entered the Irish market in 2021 when they acquired the five-station Communicorp Group, adding a sixth station, Cork’s Red FM in 2022 and a seventh, iRadio in 2023. Bauer owns both national commercial stations, one Dublin station and five other local/regional stations. Together these stations enjoy a market share of approximately 25%. However, in terms of content Bauer has an even higher reach, as they supply national and international news content via their Bauer News service to all local and regional commercial radio stations. Recently they expanded even further, cementing their position in the Irish market, by acquiring Media Central, a cross-platform advertising sales agency.

The final player of significant size is Wireless Ireland, a six-station group (including two in Dublin) which accounted for just over 12% of the radio market in 2022. Wireless is ultimately owned by News Corporation which acquired the Irish operation in 2016 along with 12 UK-based stations.