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Dooley reacts to News Corp takeover of Irish radio stations

Timmy Dooley
Timmy Dooley

Clare TD Timmy Dooley has expressed his concerns with the reported takeover of several local Irish radio stations by multinational mass media group News Corp.

Earlier this week it was alleged that the Rupert Murdoch owned corporation was to buy Wireless Group which controls a number of radio stations in the country including Limerick’s Live95 FM. Wireless Group was previously UTV Media before the sale of its television assets to ITV.

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Other radio stations under the Wireless Group umbrella include FM 104, Dublin’s Q102, Cork’s 96FM and C103, Belfast based U105 and LMFM in the north of Leinster.

The all-cash offer values the company at approximately €266 million. The offer indicated that Ireland and the UK are key markets for News Corp, while it added that “Wireless’ audience complements the audience of The Sun” newspaper, which is also owned by Mr Murdoch.

News Corp owns the Wall Street Journal and the Sun newspapers, as well as the Dow Jones wire service, the Times newspaper and HarperCollins publisher. It is looking to diversify as print revenue across the industry declines due to a shift in reader preference to digital media.

Chief Executive of News Crop, Robert Thomson commented “We look forward to welcoming Wireless into News Corp’s global family of businesses. With its strength in radio, as well as its digital and international growth potential, Wireless will help improve the engagement of our publishing brands, especially those within News UK”.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications was taken aback with the announcement. “The news of this takeover will have taken many by surprise and I know that there will be concerns surrounding job security for those employed by these stations.

He added “The huge success of local radio in this country has been down in large part to the community based and independent character of the stations. Given Mr. Murdoch’s activist nature in other jurisdictions, there will also be some concern that these fundamentals are protected into the future.

Deputy Dooley revealed that he is seeking to organise a meeting with representatives from the corporation. “I will be seeking a meeting with representatives of News Corp at the earliest possible opportunity to express these concerns and see what reassurances are available.”

A spokesman for the Department of Communications said every media merger in the State has to be approved by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural resources before it can be completed, however no notification regarding this merger has been received by the department.

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