The latest JNLR Ipsos report gives Bauer Media Audio Ireland 2.29 million weekly listeners and more than 1.53m daily listeners across its portfolio, which includes Today FM, Newstalk and 98FM. The German-owned group recorded a prime-time market share of 29.46 per cent, which it claims now gives it a bigger share than RTÉ, which is on 28.2 per cent.
Almost two million people tune into RTÉ radio stations. Radio 1 leads the way, reaching 1.354 million listeners each week. Morning Ireland retains its number one position as the country’s most popular radio show with 457,000 listeners, up 5,000 on the previous book. Today with David McCullagh has 422,000 listeners, while Oliver Callan averages 285,000.
News at One has an audience of 273,000, while Liveline has 254,000 listeners. Drivetime, co-presented by Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin, reaches 211,000 listeners. At weekends, Brendan O’Connor attracts 400,000 listeners on Saturday and 399,000 on Sunday. The Business averages 342,000 listeners and Sunday with Miriam 317,000.
Share
RTÉ 2FM increased its share among 15-34-year-olds to 9.4 per cent. RTÉ claims the music station now reaches 325,000 adults on an average weekday, with its daily reach up 13,000 and weekly reach up 30,000. RTÉ Lyric FM reaches 358,000 listeners each week and has a market share of 3.5 per cent. Marty in the Morning is Lyric’s top show with 85,000 listeners.
Today FM’s share increased to ten per cent, up by 0.4 per cent compared with the last book. It is the first time the station has reached that level in more than a decade. Today FM has a weekly reach of 974,000, an increase of 20,000 on the previous book and 46,000 annually. Daily reach stands at 524,000, up 4,000 on the last survey and 25,000 more than a year earlier.
The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show (above) has 240,000 listeners, Dave Moore 211,000 and The Last Word with Matt Cooper 195,000. Ray Foley’s afternoon audience was up by 13,000 to 179,000. Newstalk’s weekly reach jumped to 855,000, up 9,000 on the last book. Daily reach increased by 18,000 to 484,000. Its overall market share remained at 7.8 per cent.
Almost 3.5 million adults in Ireland listen to radio weekdays
The Claire Byrne Show has an audience of 210,000, while Newstalk Breakfast with Anton Savage improved by 10,000 to 168,000. Evening drivetime show The Hard Shoulder has 153,000 listeners, Lunchtime Live 115,000 and Moncrieff has 105,000. With regards to Bauer’s regional and local stations, Red FM in Cork has a 21.2 per cent market share.
On a weekly basis, Spin 1038 has 253,000 listeners and iRadio 336,000 across 15 counties.
Weekdays
Radiocentre Ireland reports that almost 3.5m adults in Ireland listen to radio most weekdays, which accounts for 78 per cent of Irish adults. Radio reaches 2.6m main shoppers weekdays, representing 80 per cent of that audience, while 76 per cent of ABC1 adults tune in on an average weekday.The latest book covers the 12 months from July 2025 to June 2026.
Local radio remains an important part of the overall market, with almost 2.3m adults listening to a local or regional station every weekday. Connected devices now account for 12 per cent of total radio listening, rising to 18 per cent among 15-34-year-olds. Smart speakers account for eight per cent of all radio listening and 9.5 per cent among adults aged 15-34.
