Today (25th February) The Bauer Group has announced its deal to aquire Dennis O\'Brien\'s Communicorp Group. Bauer will extend its reach into Ireland and eight other countries. Communicorp own Ireland\'s Newstalk and TodayFM, they also own local Irish broadcasters Spin, Spin South West and 98FM, along with online services Off the Ball, audioXI and GoLoud. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
RTÉ Radio 1\'s Today with... will be presented by Claire Byrne. Currently the show is hosted by Sarah McInerney, who took over the role on a temporary basis when Sean O\'Rourke retired from RTÉ earlier this year. The show is considered one of RTÉ Radio\'s flagship shows having previously been presented by Pat Kenny who left the station in 2013 for rival Newstalk. Sarah McInerney will continue in a different role at the broadcaster, which will be announced later this month.
As Ivan Yates retires from broadcasting Newstalk has announced his successors in a shake up of the schedule. The Pat Kenny Show remains in the mid-morning slot between nine and midday. Moncrieff keeps is mid-afternoon slot between 2 and 4. Kieran Cuddihy leaves behind the early mornings to take on The Hard Shoulder, while Ciara Kelly moves to Newstalk Breakfast with Shane Coleman. Taking over Lunchtime Live from Ciara Kelly is Andrea Gilligan.
In all the latest complaints came to 16. The Last complaint decided on by the BAI was on 25th of January 2019, some 6 months ago. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) rejected all complaints with just 4 complaints seen by their Compliance Committee, rest where rejected by the The Executive Complaints Forum of the BAI. Three complaints were made against The Late Late Show, one against a Prime Time promo on RTÉ ONE. RTÉ Radio 1's Ray D'Arcy Show, RTÉ2's TRTÉ, Sunshine FM's More Music Drive, Red FM's Neil Prendville Show, RTÉ's Six One, Virgin Media's Celebrity Juice, RTÉ's Nine News, Radio 1's Marian Finucane Show and Radio Nova's Colm and Lucy Show each received one complaint. Newstalk's Lunchtime Live received 2 complaints.
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has written to Communicorp following its decision to ban journalists from The Irish Times. Communicorp own 5 radio stations licensed by the Authority. Two national services, Newstalk FM and Today FM; two music-based services operating in Dublin city and county, 98FM and Spin 1038; and, a regional, music-driven service for the south-west, Spin South West. The BAI say they are concerned with the editorial independence of each station.
Following on from controversial statements made by George Hook on The Right Hook Newstalk has taken the decision to move him to the weekend starting in December. An internal review was carried out by the broadcaster in relation to the lead up to the comments made by Mr. Hook. Mr. Hook stated on Newstalk that their are times when the victim is to blame for their rape. This caused uproar and contraversy for the station. On September 9th Mr. Hook stepped down from his usual daily lunchtime slot.
