Hamburg/Lisbon, February 3^rd, 2022 - Bauer Media Audio, Europe’s leading digital commercial radio broadcaster and audio operator, and the Media Capital Group have entered into a definitive agreement under which Bauer Media Audio will acquire MCR - Media Capital Rádios, subject to regulatory approval.

This acquisition marks the entry of Bauer Media Audio into the Portuguese market, expanding its audio business to nine countries. The transaction consolidates Bauer's position as the European leader in commercial radio broadcasting, growing its audience to more than 61 million weekly listeners across radio stations, on-demand audio, podcasts and subscription digital audio services.

Media Capital Radios is the leading radio group in Portugal , with a weekly reach of over 4.5 million listeners. Offering national and local programming, MCR's portfolio includes four of the 10 most listened to radio stations in Portugal. Rádio Comercial is the audience leader over the last 10 years, M80, the third most listened to radio station nationwide and second in the Greater Lisbon region, where Rádio Comercial leads. The group also includes Cidade FM, a leader in the youth segment and two niche radio stations, Smooth FM and Vodafone FM, as well as an extensive digital portfolio comprising 30 digital radio stations and +60 podcasts.

Paul Keenan, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Bauer Media Group, says: “Radio is hugely popular in Portugal and is a key part of the country’s rich cultural landscape. This makes it an attractive market as it transitions into the exciting, wider world of audio. We are very much looking forward to working closely with the talented team at Media Capital Rádios. We are committed to continuing to offer trusted news and great music and entertainment to Portuguese audiences, while bringing investment and innovation which will benefit listeners and advertisers alike.”

Mário Ferreira, Chairman of Media Capital Group, points out that “Today we mark an exciting new chapter for both media groups. I'm confident that under Bauer Media's ownership, radio stations will continue to thrive, be very successful and grow. We are very proud to be the guardians of these iconic brands in the Portuguese market and I would like to thank our talented teams for their commitment and contribution to Media Capital Radios”

This announcement follows the 2021 acquisitions by Bauer Media Audio in Slovakia, Ireland and Finland, and is an integral part of an investment strategy that will lead to scale and investment benefits in digital for the entire European radio industry and audio.

Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.

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Press contacts
Bauer Media Group

For Portugal

Domingas Carvalhosa
domingas.carvalhosa@wisdom.com.pt
+351 918 713 815

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

For international

Cat Martin
Communications Director, Bauer Media Audio
cat.martin@bauermedia.co.uk
T: +44 207 432 3317
M: +44 7932 746363

About Bauer Media Audio 
Bauer Media Audio is Europe’s leading digital commercial broadcaster and audio operator. Experts in the power of sound, the company reaches over 57 million listeners weekly through its market-leading broadcast radio, online services, and podcasts. Spanning 8 countries - the UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Poland and Slovakia, Bauer Media Audio owns leading brands including KISS, Mix Megapol, Absolute Radio, Radio Norge, Radio Expres, Radio Nova, Radio 100 and RMF.  

About Bauer Media Group 
Bauer Media Group 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-helper 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 15,000 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.

About Media Capital Group
Media Capital Group, listed on the stock exchange, is the largest group in the media sector in Portugal. It owns the TVI company with its channels TVI, CNN Portugal, TVI Ficção, TVI Reality and TVI Internacional reaching more than 10 million Portuguese speakers worldwide through its information, entertainment and fiction.
GMC also includes MCR, the leading radio group in Portugal, which includes Rádio Comercial, M80, Cidade FM, SmoothFM and VodafoneFM, plus 14 digital radio stations; Media Capital Digital, with 60 million visits/month and 206 million pageviews/month on the group's websites and 9 million followers on social networks, including the IOL portal, TVI Player, the mobility and sustainability brand AWAY , MaisFutebol no Esporte and the entertainment brand SELFIE.
Other business areas of the group include Plural Entertainment, one of the largest Iberian producers of audiovisual content (winner of two International Emmys in 2010 and 2018), as well as EMAV, a company that provides technical and image capture services, and EPC, a company of construction and rental of scenarios, operating with several players, both in the national and European market.
Its strategy is based on profitability and independence and on a commitment to the development of information, culture and entertainment in Portugal and around the world, based on the interests and preferences of spectators, listeners, readers and advertisers.