Bauer Media acquires Celador Radio & Lincs FM Group

05 February 2019 - Press release

Bauer Media Group has today announced it will acquire Celador Radio and Lincs FM Group. Celador Radio comprises of 25 licences broadcasting across East Anglia, Thames Valley, Solent and the South West and Lincs FM Group comprises of nine licences across Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Rutland.
 
This news follows its successful national launches of Hits Radio in June 2018, Greatest Hits Radio in January and the announcement of the launch of Scala Radio arriving on 4 March 2019.
 
Paul Keenan, CEO Bauer Media UK and European Radio commented: “The UK’s love of radio shows no signs of diminishing and we are investing to extend our reach and broaden our offer. Radio enjoyed record revenues last year and continues to exceed advertiser expectations, offering proven positive brand impact within an uncertain landscape.“
 
The Celador and Lincs FM Group stations add 1.1 million weekly listeners to the Bauer portfolio and extends its coverage of the UK, building on previous successful acquisitions such as Jazz FM, Orion Media and Nordic broadcaster SBS Discovery.
 
Keenan adds, “Bauer’s strong position on new listening platforms - with more than 60% of our listening now digital – will help secure the future of the acquired stations in the new audio world. Through this investment Bauer Media is demonstrating its fundamental belief in the UK, one of its key markets, which it is certain will continue to offer great opportunities for growth and economic success and in the continuing relevance of radio as a medium.“
 
Bauer has agreed to sell The Breeze and Sam FM in the Solent region and KCFM in Yorkshire to Nation Radio as it already operates in these markets with Wave 105.2 FM and Viking Radio respectively.

Bauer Media will continue to pursue opportunities to further extend its portfolio in the UK and Europe.