The importance of radio to Irish society and business has been highlighted with the release of the latest JNLR/Ipsos B&A figures.
In a statement, Radiocentre Ireland, a collaboration between RTE and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, say radio offers advertisers a powerful combination of mass reach, trusted content and proven advertising effectiveness.
You can read the full statement below –
Irish Radio Advertising Revenue Grows 4.3% in Q3 as Market Momentum Strengthens
Positive Q3 performance lifts advertising revenue to €118.1 million for the first nine
months of 2026, with digital audio revenue up 28%.
Irish radio advertising revenue increased by 4.3% in the third quarter of 2026, marking a
strong performance for the sector, according to the latest figures released by Radiocentre
Ireland.
The positive third-quarter performance brings total advertising revenue for January to
September 2026 to €118.1 million, an increase of 1.5% compared with the same period in
2025.
The results highlight growing momentum across Irish radio, with both media agency and
direct advertiser revenues increasing, alongside continued strong growth in digital audio
and branded content.
Digital audio continues impressive growth
Digital audio remains the fastest-growing revenue category for Irish radio broadcasters,
increasing by 28.1% to €7.3 million during the first nine months of 2026.
Revenue from digital audio advertising placed through media agencies increased by 26.0%,
while direct digital audio revenue grew by 36.1%.
The figures demonstrate the growing commercial importance of digital audio as Irish radio
broadcasters continue to expand their advertising opportunities across broadcast and digital
platforms.
Digital audio figures relate exclusively to revenue generated by Irish radio broadcasters and
exclude global audio platforms.
Branded content and direct advertising also perform strongly
Branded content, including sponsorships, partnerships and integrated content solutions,
increased by 4.7% to €23.3 million, with agency investment in branded content growing by
7.5%.
Direct advertiser revenue increased by 3.6% to €34.8 million, while media agency revenue
grew by 0.7% to €83.4 million.
Spot advertising revenue totalled €87.6 million, down 1.0% year-on-year, an improvement
on the 2.1% decline recorded in the first six months of 2026.
Ciarán Cunningham, CEO of Radiocentre Ireland, said:
“The strong growth in the third quarter is a very encouraging result for Irish radio and
demonstrates the positive momentum building across the sector.
Revenue increased by 4.3% in Q3, with both agency and direct advertiser revenues
contributing to the overall growth.
Digital audio continues to be a particularly exciting growth area, with revenue increasing by
over 28% this year. We're also seeing continued growth in branded content, demonstrating
that advertisers are increasingly taking advantage of the range of creative and commercial
opportunities available across radio and digital audio”.
Radio offers advertisers a powerful combination of mass reach, trusted content and proven
advertising effectiveness. The continued investment in the medium, particularly across
digital audio and branded content, is a positive indication of its importance to advertisers.
While the wider advertising market remains competitive, these results provide encouraging
momentum for Irish radio as we move into the final quarter of 2026″
Key figures – January to September 2026
€118.1 million total advertising revenue, up 1.5%.
4.3% revenue growth in Q3 2026.
€7.3 million digital audio revenue, up 28.1%.
€23.3 million branded content revenue, up 4.7%.
€87.6 million spot advertising revenue, down 1.0%.
€34.8 million direct advertiser revenue, up 3.6%.
€83.4 million media agency revenue, up 0.7%.
Source: Radiocentre Ireland Revenue Pulse, January–September 2026. Figures relate to revenue generated by participating Irish radio broadcasters.
