Denis O’Brien, also unknown in Belgium, sells Communicorp Media
Boer Media, originally a German multimedia conglomerate, has since become a major international player, also reaching around 22 million ‘clients’ in the UK. The company is now taking its first steps in Ireland by purchasing Communicorp Media, owned by media mogul Dennis O’Brien. It will change the ownership of commercial broadcasters Today FM and Newstalk, as well as several local radio stations, including 98FM in Dublin.
This sale ends O’Brien’s long and important engagement (Photo) Which, by the way, is not alien to Belgium. In 2019, he sold his 29% stake in Independent News & Media to Mediahuis, publisher of De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad and owner of radio stations Nostalgie and NRJ.
It is not known how much Bauer paid for his Irish purchase, sources familiar with the matter speak of an amount in excess of a hundred million euros. The sale has not yet been approved by the various cartel watchdogs. Ireland will be the eighth country in which Bauer is active in the field of radio.
Radio Kiss, Absolute and Greatest Hits are already owned in the United Kingdom. In Poland there are RMF FM and RMF Classic. For Sweden, this is Mix Megapol and Rockklassiker. Radio Expres (Slovakia), Norge and Kiss Radio (Norway), Radio Nova, Iskelmä (Finkland), Nova FM, Pop FM and Radio 100 (Debemark) are also sailing under the Bauer flag.
Communicorp in the UK will remain in O’Brien’s hands for the time being. The media mogul already owns dozens of radio stations, most of them are licensed. These global brands include Capital and Heart and Smooth. Only XS Manchester is still independent. An attempt to replace this terminal with Capital Xtra last year failed. (BVP- radio.nl)
