Revenues at Rupert Murdoch-owned Onic radio group increase by almost €1m
New accounts filed by the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wireless Radio (ROI) Ltd show that the increase in revenues coincided with pre-tax losses narrowing slightly from €2.78m to €2.74m in the 12 months to the end of June 30 last year.
The directors state that 'digital revenues in particular delivered significant growth in the period and we continue to invest in this area to promote future growth'.
Wireless has recently rebranded as Onic and also owns LMFM, Limerick's Live 95FM and FM104 in Dublin.
Accounts show that group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased slightly from €2.7m to €2.73m.
Directors state that the impact of the increased revenue in the year on Ebitda has been offset by an increase in the operating costs during the year.
The News Corporation-owned group last year recorded post-tax losses of €1.16m after recording a corporation tax credit of €1.58m.
The directors' report states that 'throughout the financial year the directors have continued to monitor the impact of the increased cost-of-living crisis along with other ongoing economic conditions'.
Onic 'has continued to operate successfully through these issues and will continue to meet further challenges head on'.
The directors state that the group's local stations deliver significant listenership in their respective franchise areas and combine to offer a 'quasi-national urban-targeted commercial proposition'.
'Economic conditions were difficult during the period, compounded by the war in Ukraine and the ongoing challenges of spiralling cost-of-living increases,' said the directors.
'In spite of these challenges, however, the company continues to benefit from improving revenue performance and we commend the hard work and dedication of our loyal staff base throughout the period under review.'
Numbers employed by the group last year increased from 225 to 235 as staff costs decreased from €11.81m to €11.62m.
Directors' pay totalled €271,000.
The group's combined non-cash depreciation and amortisation costs last year totalled €5.47m. Its operating lease costs totalled €998,000.
At the end of last June, the group had a shareholders' deficit of €11.79m.
This was made up of accumulated losses of €55.36m offset by share capital of €43.56m The group's cash increased from €1.45m to €1.83m.
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