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Bauer Media Audio Ireland LP

Formerly	Communicorp Group (1989–2021)
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Mass media (radio stations)
Founded	1989; 35 years ago (1989)
Headquarters	Dublin, Ireland
Key people	Chris Doyle (CEO)
Number of employees	250+
Parent	Bauer Media Group
Website	www.bauermedia.ie

Bauer Media Audio Ireland (formerly Communicorp Group) is a media holding company based in Ireland, owned by Bauer Media Group.

History

Communicorp Group Ltd was formed by Denis O'Brien in 1989. It launched its radio operations in Ireland that same year and entered the Czech Republic in 1992. Later, it added stations in Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, and Hungary. Based in Dublin, the company now owns radio stations including Ireland's Newstalk, Today FM, 98FM, SPIN 1038 and SPIN South West. By then, O'Brien owned both of Ireland's independent (non-state-operated) national radio stations.

O'Brien's Communicorp was the highest bidder for Emap's Irish operations when that company decided to sell its radio stations, buying FM104, Highland Radio and Today FM on 14 July 2007. In October 2007, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) approved Communicorp's proposed takeover of Today FM and Highland Radio, but not FM104. The deal was completed by January 2008. Due to a Competition Authority decision, Communicorp was required to sell on FM104, which it did (to UTV Media) immediately upon its acquisition. O'Brien offloaded Highland Radio in mid-2008.

On 21 July 2008, a joint bid from Boxer TV Access and Communicorp, supported by BT Ireland, were successful in obtaining three digital terrestrial television multiplex contracts from the BCI. Boxer DTT Limited withdrew from its agreement to provide a DTT platform on 20 April 2009.

The group divested its assets in Latvia, Finland and the Czech Republic in 2012; Hungary in 2013.

On 6 February 2014, Communicorp announced it would be acquiring eight UK stations from Global Radio, subject to review by Ireland's Competition Authority. The stations were required to be sold off by the Competition Commission following Global's acquisition of GMG Radio in 2012. The formation of Communicorp UK on 1 April 2014, headquartered in Manchester, allowed Communicorp UK to be operated as an independent operating arm.

The Bulgarian stations were sold in 2018. A restructuring of Communicorp Group at the same year later ceded Communicorp UK's control to O'Brien, making it an independent company.

In February 2021, Bauer Media Group announced it was to acquire Communicorp Group subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition was completed on 1 June 2021 and the company was renamed Bauer Media Audio Ireland.

In August 2023, it was announced that Bauer Media Audio Ireland had acquired the Irish music-driven youth radio station, iRadio.

Stations

Ireland

• 98FM
• Newstalk
• Red FM
• SPIN 1038
• SPIN Southwest
• Today FM
• iRadio
• Beat 102-103
• TXFM (30% ownership; closed in 2016)

United Kingdom (Communicorp UK)

• Capital South Wales
• Capital Scotland
• Heart Hertfordshire
• Heart North and Mid Wales
• Heart Yorkshire
• XS Manchester
• Smooth East Midlands
• Smooth North East
• Smooth North West

(All with the exception of XS Manchester under licence from Global Radio).

Other subsidiaries

Communicorp have an interest in the digital and PR agency ICAN, and previously (through its subsidiary Demirca) also operated the online marketplace AppliancesDelivered.ie. The latter began as a magazine called 'Buy & Sell', and changed ownership several times, before being acquired in 2015 and rebranded in 2016. AppliancesDelivered.ie ceased operations in 2019.

References

1. ^ "Denis O'Brien's Communicorp to acquire Irish radio stations -Today FM, FM104 and Highland Radio - in €200m deal". Finfacts. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
2. Byrne, Elaine (16 October 2011). "So who's afraid of Denis O'Brien? Enda Kenny is". Sunday Independent. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
3. "Emap sells radio stations to O'Brien". RTÉ News. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 March 2015.
4. "O'Brien buys Emap radio stations in €200m deal". The Irish Emigrant. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
5. "Blow for O'Brien's €200m radio bid". Irish Examiner. 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
6. Beesley, Arthur (9 October 2007). "Denis O'Brien cannot buy FM104 as part of €200m deal". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
7. Hancock, Ciarán (12 January 2008). "O'Brien seals €200m deal for Emap's three Irish radio outlets". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
8. "Denis O'Brien sells Highland Radio". The Irish Emigrant. 11 May 2008. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
9. Hancock, Ciarán (12 January 2008). "O'Brien sells Highland Radio". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
10. "Communicorp CEO says advertising market is growing again". independent. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
11. Martin, Roy (6 February 2014). "Communicorp buys 8 Global stations". RadioToday UK. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
12. "Communicorp sells Bulgarian radio stations". RadioToday Ireland. 22 June 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
13. "Communicorp Group disposes of Communicorp UK". RadioToday Ireland. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
14. Newstalk. "Bauer Media Audio to acquire Communicorp Group". Newstalk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
15. "Bauer takes official control of Communicorp Group". RadioToday Ireland. 1 June 2021. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
16. Healy, Alan (16 August 2023). "Midlands broadcaster iRadio is acquired by Newstalk owner Bauer". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
17. "Slowey steps down as Communicorp CEO". marketing.ie. Marketing Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
18. ^ "O'Brien shuts down online appliances retailer due to 'market forces'". Irish Times. 18 October 2019. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2019. Accounts for Demirca, the immediate Irish parent of AppliancesDelivered, show it had accumulated losses of about €5.5 million by the end of 2017
19. "AdLib: Time to get set for Google Shopping". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 16 February 2017. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017. AppliancesDelivered.ie part of Denis O'Brien's Communicorp
20. "Associated to offload 'Buy and Sell'". Irish Independent. 13 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
21. O'Faolain, Aodhan. "Liquidator seeks sale of 'Buy and Sell' to Demirca - Independent.ie". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
22. People, Bray. "Newtown's Philip behind new online retailer AppliancesDelivered.ie - Independent.ie". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.

• 2021 mergers and acquisitions
• Bauer Media Group
• Communicorp
• Irish companies established in 1989
• Companies based in Dublin (city)
• Mass media companies established in 1989
• Mass media companies of Ireland
• Pan-European media companies
• Radio stations in Northern Ireland
• Radio stations in the Republic of Ireland