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Hamburg/Lisbon, May 31, 2022 – ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio, Europe’s leading commercial radio operator, has today announced the completion of its acquisition of Media Capital Rádios in Portugal. This acquisition marks ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio’s entrance into the Portuguese market, expanding its existing audio business into nine countries.

Media Capital Rádios, the leading radio group in its region with a weekly reach of over 4.5 million listeners, will become known as ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio Portugal. The Group holds four out of the ten most listened to radio stations in Portugal, and with the addition of this market leading portfolio, including Radio Comercial, M80, Cidade FM, Smooth FM and Vodafone FM, ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio’s weekly reach will extend to more than 61 million listeners.

This acquisition plays an integral part of ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio’s strategy as it continues on its path to become a global audio pioneer innovating in listener and advertiser services. The Portuguese market is attractive and presents strong opportunities for growth, which ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio will foster through its wider scale and innovation, for which the business is recognised across Europe.

ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ has a strong track record in the radio and audio sector and invests for the long-term health of the industry. This announcement follows the 2021 acquisitions by ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio in Slovakia, Ireland and Finland.

Richard Dawkins, President of Audio, ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥, says: “We have tremendous admiration and respect for the quality of the brands we have acquired and truly believe in the potential of Media Capital Rádios – now trading as ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio Portugal - and the Portuguese Radio market in general, today and in the future. Radio played such a vital role throughout the pandemic and we expect it to remain highly valued by listeners and advertisers going forward, who value it for its trust, flexibility and effectiveness.â€�

“We are now looking forward to getting to know and learning from our new colleagues, gaining a deeper understanding of the market and the needs of our listeners and advertisers. We place the highest priority on growing a healthy core business, with strong brands delivering high quality entertainment, information and companionship to listeners and trusted, quality solutions to commercial partners. We are passionate about the world of radio and are excited about the opportunities ahead as we further explore the wider universe of digital audio.�

For Mário Ferreira, Chairman of Grupo Media Capital, “This was a very timely deal that will make us all stronger. Media Capital Radios (MCR) is a solid business area, with well-established results and undisputed leadership. The sale of MCR is in line with the Group's strategy of accelerating the development of the audiovisual and digital production areas, and also consolidating the trajectory of recovery in the television segment.�

Mário Ferreira adds that “ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ has extensive experience in this sector and we are certain that it will contribute to the growth trajectory of the radio group, thus continuing the work started by Media Capital. We also believe that they will continue to produce excellent content for Portuguese listeners.â€�

“Finally, it is also important to mention that Grupo Media Capital and ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ will continue to collaborate closely.â€�

- ENDS -

Press contacts
ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥

For Portugal
Diana Ralha
diana.ralha@wisdom.com.pt
+351 932 135 457

Antonio Marques Mendes
antonio.marquesmendes@wisdom.com.pt
+351 960 314 216

For international
Cameron Frazer
Senior Communications Executive, ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio (Europe)
cameron.frazer@bauermedia.co.uk
M: +44 7759 127434

Cat Martin
Communications Director, ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio (Europe)
cat.martin@bauermedia.co.uk
T: +44 207 432 3317
M: +44 7932 746363

About ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio
is Europe’s leading commercial radio broadcaster and audio operator. Experts in the power of sound, the company reaches over 61 million listeners weekly through its market-leading broadcast radio, online services, and podcasts. Spanning 9 countries - the UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia, ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio owns leading brands including KISS, Mix Megapol, Absolute Radio, Radio Norge, Radio Expres, Radio Nova, Radio 100, RMF, Radio Comercial, M80 and Smooth FM.

About ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥
ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ has become an enduringly successful media corporation by focusing on creating content that matters most to millions of people around the world: from print and online publishing to radio and money-saving services for consumers, as well as sales and marketing services for SMB. Family-owned in the 5th generation, Bauer focuses on the long term, with a consumer-first mindset that guides us across our increasingly diverse portfolio. Our workforce of 16,000 shares a passion – to deliver content and services that are popular with, and helpful to, our customers and partners.   

About MCR
MCR is the Media Capital Group's radio company. Its universe includes Rádio Comercial, the most listened to station in Portugal, M80, Cidade FM, Vodafone FM and Smooth FM. This set of radio brands covers a wide range of musical preferences, reaching a daily audience of more than 2 million people, among the most diverse target audiences (especially between 15 and 55 years old). All MCR group radios also benefit from the dissemination and interaction with their listeners through their different websites, applications for smartphones. From this acquisition, MCR will trade as ÆÞÓÑÖ±²¥ Audio Portugal.