The economic viability of commercial radio in Ireland

To help inform its assessment of the current economic environment and its impact on the commercial radio sector, the BAI/CnaM commissioned Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates (O&O) to produce a report looking at the economic viability of commercial radio in Ireland. To provide context we started by considering recent and expected developments in the European audio markets, before looking more closely at the Irish audio market and the implications for Irish radio. We then gathered and independently validated data on the costs, revenues and public funding for commercial radio in Ireland, produced radio sector financial forecasts for 2023 and 2024 considering developments in the sector and the wider economic environment, and set out the opportunities and specific pressures for the commercial radio sector in the coming years. We then considered any short-term measures that could support the sector in 2023, and the possible structure of the new broadcasting levy or levies on regulated commercial radio services. In doing so, we considered the different segments of the commercial radio sector, in particular by ownership status, geographic reach and size.

Click here to read our report in full.