Irish Press 1995 2007

Summary

The script explores the evolution of Irish press and broadcasting from 1995 to the present, driven largely by the economic boom of the Celtic Tiger era. It examines the dramatic rise in newspaper circulation and advertising revenues, especially from the property market, and how this reliance on property ads created potential conflicts of interest. The script also highlights the growing dominance of UK-based media through localization and acquisitions of Irish newspapers. By 2010, most regional newspapers were owned by larger media groups, many based outside Ireland, marking a significant shift in the industry’s landscape.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Irish media landscape in the 1990s and 2000s was significantly shaped by the economic boom, known as the Celtic Tiger, which resulted in increased consumer spending and higher advertising revenue.
• 😀 Despite a decline in newspaper circulation during the 1980s and early 1990s, Irish daily newspapers saw a 16% increase in circulation by 2001, reaching 460,000 copies sold daily.
• 😀 Sunday newspapers experienced a significant resurgence, with total Sunday sales increasing by 40-45% from 1995 to 2004, reaching 900,000 copies per Sunday.
• 😀 The surge in newspaper circulation was aided by the launch of new papers, such as *Ireland on Sunday* (1996) and the *Irish Daily Star on Sunday* (2004).
• 😀 Advertising revenue in Irish newspapers saw explosive growth, with the total amount spent on newspaper advertising tripling from €150 million in 1995 to €431 million by 2000, and reaching €1.1 billion by 2007.
• 😀 Much of the growth in advertising revenue came from the property sector, as property advertising became so dominant that supplements dedicated to property were sometimes larger than the main newspapers themselves.
• 😀 The heavy reliance on property advertising raised ethical concerns, as media outlets, like *The Irish Times*, had vested interests in the property market, leading to potential conflicts of interest in reporting on the property bubble.
• 😀 UK-based newspapers saw significant growth in the Irish market through localization strategies, such as the *Sunday Times* opening permanent offices in Ireland in 1996, and creating Irish versions of publications like *The Irish Sun* and *The Irish Mirror*.
• 😀 UK acquisitions of Irish media outlets increased during this period, with *Trinity Mirror* acquiring *The Sunday Business Post* in 1996, and *Associated Newspapers* acquiring *Ireland on Sunday* in 2000, marking a shift towards foreign ownership in the Irish press.
• 😀 By 2010, nearly all regional newspapers in Ireland with a circulation of 20,000 or more had been absorbed by larger media groups, many of which were UK-based, leading to a further concentration of media ownership.

Q & A

What significant economic event began in Ireland in the mid-1990s, and how did it affect the media landscape?

The Celtic Tiger, a period of rapid economic growth, began in the mid-1990s. This economic boom led to an increase in disposable income and advertising expenditure, which significantly boosted both newspaper circulation and the volume of advertising revenue in Ireland.

What were the daily sales of Irish newspapers in 1995, and how did they change by 2001?

In 1995, daily sales of Irish newspapers had dropped to around 400,000 copies. By 2001, this figure increased by about 16%, reaching approximately 460,000 copies daily.

How did Sunday newspaper circulation change between 1995 and 2004?

In 1995, Sunday newspaper circulation in Ireland averaged around 660,000 copies. By 2004, this had increased by 40 to 45%, reaching 900,000 copies per Sunday.

What role did property advertising play in the rise of Irish newspaper revenues during the Celtic Tiger period?

Property advertising was a major driver of revenue growth for Irish newspapers, especially during the property bubble. Advertising expenditure in newspapers increased drastically, and the property supplements often became larger than the newspapers themselves.

What potential conflict of interest arose for Irish newspapers due to their reliance on property advertising?

The reliance on property advertising, particularly for newspapers like the Irish Times, created a conflict of interest. Newspapers were hesitant to publish stories that might question the sustainability of the property boom, as it could undermine their own business investments in property-related platforms like MyHome.ie.

How did UK-based newspapers increase their presence in the Irish market during the late 1990s?

UK-based newspapers, such as The Sunday Times, The Sun, and The Mirror, increased their presence in Ireland through localization strategies and acquisitions of Irish titles. For instance, The Sunday Times opened permanent offices in Ireland in 1996, leading to an increase in local content and Irish sales.

What was the impact of UK acquisitions on the Irish newspaper market?

UK acquisitions had a significant impact on the Irish newspaper market, as British companies began purchasing Irish titles, including the Sunday Business Post and Ireland on Sunday. These acquisitions often led to a stronger UK influence on the content and direction of these papers.

What changes occurred with Ireland on Sunday after its launch in 1997?

Ireland on Sunday, launched in 1997, was initially a general interest newspaper. However, in 2000, it was acquired by Scottish Radio Holdings and later sold to Associated Newspapers, which transformed it into the Irish Daily Mail in 2006.

How did regional newspapers in Ireland change after the mid-1990s?

After the mid-1990s, regional newspapers in Ireland experienced a wave of mergers and acquisitions. By 2010, most regional newspapers with weekly circulations of 20,000 copies or more had become part of larger media groups, many of which were UK-based.

Which major UK-based media groups were involved in acquisitions of Irish regional newspapers?

Major UK-based media groups involved in the acquisition of Irish regional newspapers included Thomas Crosbie Holdings, Independent News and Media, and groups like Alpha Newspaper Group, Andersonstown News Group, and Johnson Press.