Bay Broadcasting Ltd.
Bay Broadcasting Limited is the operator of premium radio brands Radio Nova, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, and Sunshine 106.8. Prior to 2007 Bay operated two temporary broadcasting licences targetting older (over-45s) listeners. These were issued by the then Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (then BAI, now the Media Commission). In 2008 it was part of the Choice Broadcasting consortium (which originally included the Irish Times, Thomas Crosbie Holdings and Vienna Investments) which successfuly bid for the first multi-city radio licence in Ireland. This station started broadcasting in February 2009 as "4FM" until 2018 before adopting the current name "Classic Hits Radio".
In September 2008 Bay Broadcasting was a leading member of the consortium which secured the licence for a Dublin-based rock music radio station. Other investors included Vienna Investment Limited, Des Whelan and Pat McDonagh.
Bay Broadcasting are also majority-owners ofDublin-based rock music station Radio Nova which went on air in September 2010. In 2018 the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI, now the Media Commission) approved Bay's taking 100% control of Radio Nova, buying out the other shareholders.
In 2012, Bay Broadcasting acquired a 45% shareholding in Star Broadcasting, the operator of Sunshine 106.8FM.
In 2012, Bay Broadcasting had publicly expressed interest in acquiring some or all of the radio assets of Communicorp owner Denis O'Brien at a point when the BAI was considering whether Mr O'Brien should be ordered to sell some of his media assets over media pluralism and diversity concerns. In the event that BAI consluded that Mr O'Brien's holdings were not sufficient to require divestment of any of his media assets.
Business Form
Private
Legal Form
Private Limited Company
Individual Owner
General Information
Founding Year
2005
Founder
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Contact
Bay Broadcasting
Castleforbes House
Castleforbes Road
Dublin 1
D01 A8N0
Telephone: +353 (1) 524 1100
Email: info@baybroadcasting.ie
Website: www.baybroadcasting.com
Tax/ ID Number
IE400200
Financial Information
Revenue (Financial Data/ Optional)
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Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
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Advertising (in % of total funding)
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Management
Non-Executive Board
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is the Executive Chairman at entertainment.ie, and the Chairman at Pearl and Dean Ltd., Wide Eye Media, and the Electric Media Group. He is currently a director at Red FM and Radio Nova.
Prior to this he was a director and co-founder of Newstalk, and the CEO and founder of East Coast FM.
has been the CEO of Sunshine 106.8 since 2004. Prior to this Ashmore had worked at Live 95FM in Limerick and East Coast FM in Wicklow.
He is a 50% shareholder of Heart Media, giving him an over stake of 17.83% in Sunshine 106.8.
He is a director at 13 other companies connected to Irish radio, including Star Broadcasting Limited, Broadcast Investments Limited, Fessenden Radio Investments Limited, Fessenden Limited, Independent Radio Sales Ireland Limited, Broadcast Public Relations Limited, Broadcast Formats Limited, Choice Braodcasting Limited, Classic Rock Broadcasting Limited, County Kildare Broadcasting Limited, County Kildare FM Radio Limited, Bray Jazz Limited, and East Coast Radio LImited.
He is also a director at Local Insurance Network Designated Company Limited and Bray South Business Park Owners Management Company Limited by Guarantee.
is the CEO of Wide Eye Media. He has worked at Wide Eye Media for over 17 years, previously as a general manager, and a senior account manager. Prior to this, he was an Agency Account Manager at ITV sales from 2000 until 2006.
