Ireland

The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland has called for far more urgent action at domestic and European level on the promised provision of support for public service content and news.
IBI held a briefing for Ireland’s MEPs in Brussels today where support was expressed for its practical proposals aimed at protecting the viability of public service content on Ireland’s 34 local, regional, and national radio stations.
MEPs across all parties and groups voiced their genuine understanding of the value of the fair and balanced news and current affairs which the independent radio stations broadcast and of the need for the stations to be practically supported in providing those services.
IBI told the meeting that in the current environment, the speed at which media supports and policies are delivered needs to undergo a step-change in urgency to match the level of challenges in the international political environment.
At the briefing in Brussels, IBI expressed concern at the speed of delivery of accessible and proportionate funding to help Ireland’s independent stations continue to deliver their public services and unique obligations.
The Chief Executive of IBI, Michael Kelly, said: “We were very impressed by the pledges in the Programme for Government and with the support and understanding of the value of the contribution of our sector’s public service content expressed by the Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., in recent weeks.
“The preparatory work is now in place and what is needed is a step-change in the rate of policy delivery. Five years after the deliberations of the Future of Media Commission, there is still no support available for independent radio stations’ highly respected news and current affairs services.”
“The recent statements by political figures from the US equating a totally unregulated social media with freedom of speech, are a wake-up call to policy-makers in Europe, and they reinforce the need for fair, balanced and accurate media like independent radio broadcasting.”
“There is no time to delay further in providing fair and proportionate support for independent radio, a sector which delivers huge value to listeners through its public service content.”
At the event, IBI published figures showing that the total number of direct employees in the independent radio sector across Ireland is 1,069 and that when indirect employment resulting from that is included the figure rises to 2,555.
The total economic contribution of the independent radio sector to Ireland in 2024 was €147.3m, the statistics showed, with the large majority of that in rural Ireland.
Annual Investment by independent stations in maintaining and operating critical radio transmission infrastructure was €3.7m last year.
This was the type of infrastructure that enabled independent radio to keep providing essential information to its listeners across Ireland during the recent weather emergencies, when mobile telecoms and broadband failed in widespread regions.
Independent radio stations operate and maintain 221 radio transmission sites across the State.
The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland has urged action across the following areas:

Quick delivery of proportionate and accessible funding for independent radio which recognises its unique statutory and regulatory role.
A level playing-field, without market distortions and ensuring fair and appropriate regulatory conditions are in place to support stations.
State support for critical radio transmission infrastructure, which is vital for communications at all times, but particularly during emergencies.
Action to ensure that Irish radio stations remain easily-accessible to Irish audiences on digital devices like smart speakers and in connected vehicles
Clear and predictable regulation, allied to practical media development assistance from Coimisiún na Meán where needed. […]

Wireless Ireland is planning on launching “a suite of new digital radio services” on DAB+ this year.
The move comes as RadioToday breaks the news that a new DAB+ trial will operate for 12 months from April by FáilteDAB.
Wireless Ireland says it will work closely with Coimisiún na Meán to secure the necessary content licences to ensure compliance with broadcasting standards and regulations.
The new stations are set to launch in the spring, with more details announced in coming weeks.
Sean Barry, Managing Director of Wireless Ireland, said: “Wireless Ireland is proud to lead the charge in Ireland’s transition to digital broadcasting.
“The new FáilteDAB platform will offer listeners a broader and more immersive experience, with a blend of existing and new content offerings, creating diversity of choice for listeners across a large coverage area.
“Wireless Ireland’s commitment will see us become the largest content provider on this new and exciting platform.
“We’re delighted to build on the strength of our existing network of popular radio stations, and will continue to invest to entertain and engage new audiences across new territories.”
RadioToday has contacted Bauer Ireland and other operators to find out which other services might appear on the trial, but has not heard back at the time of publication.

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Comreg has commissioned FáilteDAB to carry out a new high powered DAB+ trial in Dublin and surrounding areas for 12 months.
The experiment, starting in April, will be operated by Foothold Communications, which owns and operates transmission towers around Ireland and currently has over 1000 radio link and broadcast systems under management.
FáilteDAB says only Irish Coimisiun na Mean Licensed radio operators will be allowed to participate in the trial.
We’ve contacted the regulator to see if a process is in place to licence new DAB+ services.
A 20kw transmitter in Three Rock will cover Dublin, along with a number of 8kw and 10kw sites, giving coverage along the coast from Belfast to Rosslare, and inland to rach Kilkenny, but stopping short of reaching Limerick, Cork and Galway.

Stephen Foley, Managing Director of Foothold Communications, described the announcement as a historic moment for Irish radio: “Today marks a major milestone in Irish broadcasting as we work alongside ComReg to develop DAB+ services.
“With 80% of radio listening happening in vehicles, and all cars sold in Ireland since 2021 equipped with DAB+ as standard, the time is right to expand and enhance this technology to reach a wider audience.”
Foley also expressed gratitude to Ireland’s media and communications regulators, Coimisiún na Meán and ComReg for supporting the initiative: “We appreciate the opportunity to roll out this critical DAB+ service, which aligns with Ireland’s Broadcasting Services Strategy.
“This trial will showcase the immense potential of digital audio broadcasting for both listeners and broadcasters.”
Foothold Communications has partnered with GatesAIR and Paneda to power the FáilteDAB network.
DAB never managed to take off in Ireland, unlike its neighbours in the UK and Europe, where it is now the dominant broadcast platform.
Following years of tests, pirate, and local DAB multiplexes, the platform was officially retired on March 31 2021 when RTÉ switched off its DAB transmissions.
Bay Broadcasting has welcomed to move: “We in Radio Nova and Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio welcome the forthcoming DAB+ trial and we intend to embrace it, said CEO Kevin Branigan.
“Both Nova and Classic Hits are premium radio brands, with a strong track record of delivering great content, with award-winning personalities and we’re excited about the opportunity DAB+ will afford us to repurpose and create new content for a terrestrial and digital audience.
“We have significant experience in creating new radio services, having run many temporary licenses alongside our main Radio Nova and Classic Hits Radio services, and we’re looking forward to the DAB+ trial.” […]

BBC Studios has expanded its partnership with digital advertising company Digitize to represent the BBC’s podcasts to the advertising market in Ireland.
Digitize has a longstanding partnership with BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, selling inventory across online and video platforms.
The expanded deal will see Digitize also represent hundreds of hours of premium BBC podcasts in the market.
Ronan O’Loughlin, Commercial Director, Digitize, said: “Our team is so excited to be partnering with BBC Studios to offer their incredible audio content to the Irish market.
“The Irish are one of the biggest consumers of podcasts globally and are very discerning in their tastes, and advertisers are constantly looking for quality, trustworthy content with which to align their brand messaging.
“BBC Studios and Digitize are delighted to be able to join forces to offer this huge opportunity to advertisers.”

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Off The Ball has entered into a national radio agreement with the League of Ireland to broadcast 30 live SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division matches throughout the 2025 season.
The deal ensures that a minimum of 15 of these fixtures will air on Newstalk, with live commentary and post-match analysis.
Nathan Murphy and Stephen Doyle will provide commentary for the broadcasts, with fans able to follow the live action on Off The Ball’s online platforms and during the Newstalk evening show.
In addition to the live match coverage, Off The Ball will continue to offer comprehensive League of Ireland content, including a weekly podcast, LOI Late Night on X Spaces, and analysis before and after matches on both its morning and evening shows.
The season kicks off on Friday, February 14th, with Shelbourne facing Derry City, with Off The Ball broadcasting live from Tolka Park.
Ger Gilroy, Managing Director of Off The Ball, expressed excitement over the new partnership, noting the increased interest in the League of Ireland. He highlighted the expanded coverage that will offer live commentary, pre- and post-match insights, and additional podcasts for Irish football fans.
“This deal, alongside our English Premier League rights, makes Off The Ball the home of football,” he added.
Mark Scanlon, Director of the League of Ireland, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing that the deal would enhance the league’s visibility across various platforms.
“This agreement with Off The Ball, along with recent developments with LOITV, will bring a new level of coverage and reach to fans nationwide,” he said. […]

The latest Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR) results for the period January to December 2024 reveal continued growth across Ireland’s radio landscape, with more than 3.4 million adults tuning in daily.
RTÉ remains Ireland’s most listened-to radio network, reaching over 2 million adults weekly, with strong audience growth among younger listeners.
RTÉ Radio 1 retains its position as the only station with over 1 million weekly listeners (1.387 million, +24,000 YoY).
RTÉ 2FM is the leading station for 15-34-year-olds, while RTÉ lyric fm continues to grow, reaching 323,000 listeners weekly.
RTÉ holds 18 of the top 20 radio programmes in Ireland. “Morning Ireland” remains the most listened-to program (466,000 listeners). RTÉ 2FM sees strong audience growth, with “2FM Breakfast” gaining 10,000 listeners (152,000 total).
RTÉ lyric fm’s “Marty in the Morning” reaches a record 71,000 listeners (+15,000 YoY).
RTÉ credits this success to its commitment to engaging content and new talent, with further programming changes expected to build on this momentum.
Around the independent stations
WLR FM has recorded its highest listenership figures ever, with daily reach increasing by 5,000 to 45,000 and weekly reach hitting a three-year peak of 66,000.
The station maintains a strong market share of 33.3%.
CEO Michael Byrne celebrated the results, stating, “These figures reaffirm radio’s relevance and the loyalty of our audience.”
Radio Nova remains the top music station in Dublin and its commuter belt, boasting an 8.2% market share. The station reached a record 264,000 weekly listeners (+10,000) and 154,000 daily listeners (+14,000). CEO Kevin Branigan hailed Nova’s success, calling it “a giant on the radio landscape.”
Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio has reached an all-time high of 387,000 weekly listeners. The figures are the latest in a series of positive JNLR books for the station.
CEO Kevin Branigan said, “We’re very enthused by these latest JNLR ratings. We’ve been working hard on growing Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio and it’s gratifying to see us reach all-time high listenership like this in such a competitive marketplace.”
Sunshine 106.8 recorded its best-ever listenership figures in its 24-year history. CEO Seán Ashmore expressed pride in the station’s success, stating, “Dublin loves to relax with Sunshine 106.8.”
Newstalk continues to gain traction, now reaching 871,000 listeners weekly (+10,000) and 512,000 daily (+4,000), making it the second most-listened-to station in the country. The Pat Kenny Show remains the top commercial radio programme with 237,000 daily listeners.
Managing Editor Eric Moylan attributed the growth to “engaging discussions that resonate with our audience.”
Despite a slight decline in numbers, Today FM remains Ireland’s top commercial radio station with 953,000 weekly listeners.
The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show leads the station’s programming with 202,000 daily listeners.
Managing Editor Fyona Smith emphasised Today FM’s focus on “delivering top-tier entertainment and journalism.”
James Brownlow, Managing Editor Music & Entertainment added: “In a period defined by some of the most pivotal news and current affairs moments in Ireland and across the globe, Today FM’s top-line performance held strong.”
As the country’s largest radio group, Bauer Media now commands a prime-time market share of 29% and a combined weekly reach of 2.2 million. Stations under its umbrella, including Newstalk, Today FM, and Red FM, continue to perform well, with highlights such as Red FM’s Neil Prendeville Show growing to 82,000 daily listeners.
SPIN 1038 in Dublin holds a 6.8% market share and reaches 254,000 weekly listeners. SPIN Hits with Steve K grew by 3,000 to 65,000.
98FM maintains a 5.4% market share, with 98FM Breakfast with Rebecca & Brendan growing to 47,000 (+5,000 BoB / +12,000 YoY).
Cork’s Red FM increased its market share to 21.9% and weekly reach to 180,000 (+6,000 BoB). The Neil Prendeville Show leads with 82,000 listeners (+4,000 BoB), while Home Run with Colm O’Sullivan gained 55,000 (+6,000 BoB).
SPIN South West’s market share rose to 11.9%, reaching 160,000 listeners. Fully Charged with Ed & Valerie grew to 33,000 (+3,000 BoB), and SPIN Hits with Eoghain Fitz climbed to 55,000 (+9,000 BoB).
iRadio, spanning fifteen counties, recorded an 8.3% market share and 337,000 weekly listeners. Dave & Fionnuala remained the top show with 87,000 listeners (+4,000 BoB / +11,000 YoY), while Cooper & Oonagh on Breakfast hit 70,000 (+1,000 BoB).
BEAT 102 103 saw significant gains, with a market share of 16.5% and a weekly reach of 172,000. Beat Breakfast rose to 56,000 (+6,000 BoB), and Beat Drive reached 49,000 (+6,000 BoB).
Bauer Media Audio Ireland CEO Chris Doyle stated, “These JNLR results highlight the continued strength of our stations and the connection with our listeners.”
In Tipperary, 80,000 adults now tune into Tipp FM each week, which is an increase of 3,000 from the previous year.
Key points from the latest book:
90% of all adults and 85% of 15–34-year-olds listen to radio every week.
The daily listenership levels are also hugely impressive with the daily weekday audience now at 3.47 million, growing by 72,000 listeners.
69% of 15-34 year olds listen to radio each weekday, while daily weekday listening levels for the hard to reach 15-24 year old cohort is also very impressive with 65% listening each weekday.
Listening levels to local and regional radio continues to be very strong with over 2.2 million adults listening to their local or regional station every single weekday.
In terms of how people listen, 12% of all radio listening is now through a connected device with 7% of all listening through a smart speaker while listening via a mobile device is at 3%.
For the younger 15 to 34 age cohort, 22% of all their radio listening is now through a connected device with a smart speaker accounting for 8% of all 15-34 listening, while listening through a mobile device also accounts for 8% of all radio listening for this audience.
23-092916-JNLR-Sales House Report 2024-4 (Final) shows that Radio is enjoying record levels of listenership with 3.9 million people now listening to radio every week, the highest weekly listenership ever recorded, growing by 105,000 listeners compared to the same 12 month period previously (Jan-Dec ’23).
The average weekday audience listening at any time between 7am to 7pm is now at 1,095,000, the highest recorded average audience ever. This clearly shows that despite competition from so much media, Irish people have a deep passion for live radio and listen in increasing numbers across broadcast and online platforms. […]