Tindle Radio

What Tindle Radio does

Tindle Radio is a privately held UK and Ireland regional commercial radio operator and a division of Tindle Press Holdings. It runs five stations — Channel 103 (Jersey), Island FM (Guernsey and Alderney), Midlands 103 (Ireland), South East Radio (County Wexford, Ireland, agreed acquisition March 2025) and Soleil Radio (Channel Islands digital) — and through its Bailiwick Broadcasting subsidiary operates the Channel Islands DAB+ multiplex carrying 22 stations to Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm, covering 82% of the population and 93% of roads. Distribution extends to FM, DAB+, online streaming, and Amazon, Google and Sonos smart speakers.

The business model is local audio advertising and sponsorship sold to small and mid-sized businesses, augmented by the recurring Business Club membership programme (400+ local businesses) operated in partnership with Evolve Media Sales. Channel 103 holds a 53% weekly reach in Jersey and Island FM a 50% reach with 40.2% market share in Guernsey — the highest of any station in the British Isles — translating to 78,800 combined weekly listeners and a 54% share of the Channel Islands adult population. Recent strategic activity has centered on infrastructure consolidation (Bailiwick DAB acquisition in 2023), geographic expansion (South East Radio in Ireland), a 10% strategic stake in Podcast Radio, and material capex on the new St Peter Port studio complex opened in June 2024.

Name

Tindle Radio

Legal name

Tindle CI Broadcasting

Website

https://tindleradio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tindle Radio is a privately held UK and Ireland regional radio broadcaster operating five stations (Channel 103, Island FM, Midlands 103, South East Radio, Soleil Radio) and the Channel Islands DAB+ multiplex, generating revenue primarily from local-business advertising and Business Club memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM) (MPAIAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio) (MPAIAEAD), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Network Distribution & Programming Services (Syndicators, Format Providers) (MPAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Commercial radio broadcasting
• Local radio advertising
• DAB+ digital radio
• FM radio stations
• Audio sponsorship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Farnham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Radio Advertising and Sponsorship: Primary revenue stream from local businesses purchasing advertising spots and sponsorship on radio stations. Advertising terms require 7 clear working days for copy submission, with standard payment terms for recognized agencies.
2. Business Club Memberships: Annual membership program offering discounted advertising packages and marketing benefits for local businesses across Jersey and Guernsey.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tindle Radio operates a portfolio of five local commercial radio stations — Channel 103 (Jersey), Island FM (Guernsey/Alderney), Midlands 103 (Ireland), South East Radio (County Wexford, Ireland), and Soleil Radio (Channel Islands digital) — plus the Channel Islands DAB+ digital radio multiplex. The company sells on-air advertising, sponsorship, and Business Club marketing memberships to local businesses to monetise its broadcast audiences.

Product overview

Tindle Radio operates a portfolio of five local commercial radio stations across the British Isles and Ireland: Channel 103 (Jersey), Island FM (Guernsey), Midlands 103 (Ireland), South East Radio (County Wexford, Ireland), and Soleil Radio (Channel Islands digital). The company also operates the Channel Islands DAB+ multiplex, broadcasting over 22 stations in DAB+ format. Core revenue comes from local radio broadcasting and associated advertising services. Tindle Radio stations consistently achieve the highest percentage reach in the British Isles, with Channel 103 and Island FM dominating their respective island markets. The company also offers Business Club marketing membership programs and invests in podcast content through Podcast Radio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Channel 103 Local commercial radio station broadcasting to Jersey on 103.7FM, online, and DAB+. Delivers local news, music, and community content, and consistently achieves the highest percentage reach of any radio station in the British Isles.
• Island FM Local commercial radio station broadcasting to Guernsey on 104.7FM, Alderney on 93.7FM, online, and DAB+. One of the most successful radio stations in the British Isles by market share percentage.
• Midlands 103 Local commercial radio station serving Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in Ireland. Operates in one of Ireland's most competitive radio markets while delivering the biggest weekly audience of any local station outside Dublin and Cork.
• South East Radio Local commercial radio station serving County Wexford in Ireland. One of Ireland's most decorated and successful broadcasting services, joining the Tindle Group in 2025.
• Soleil Radio Digital radio station serving the Channel Islands, playing easy favourites from iconic and timeless artists from the last six decades. Launched in August 2021 as the first new terrestrial service for the islands since 1992.
• Channel Islands DAB+ Multiplex (Bailiwick Broadcasting) Local DAB digital radio multiplex operated by Tindle Radio through its Bailiwick Broadcasting subsidiary, broadcasting 22+ stations in DAB+ format across Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm. Covers 82% of the population and 93% of roads.
• Radio Advertising & Sponsorship Audio advertising and sponsorship opportunities across Tindle's portfolio of radio stations, enabling businesses to reach engaged local audiences in the Channel Islands, Ireland, and surrounding regions.
• Business Club Membership Annual marketing membership program offering businesses discounted advertising packages and access to networking events, available through Channel 103 and Island FM stations in partnership with Evolve Media Sales.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54% of Channel Islands adult population tunes in weekly - highest reach in British Isles
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Podcast RadiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2023Tindle made a significant investment taking a 10% interest in Podcast Radio, which uses the trust and familiarity people have in radio to help them sample and choose podcasts. The investment is described as a natural extension for Tindle given its strong history in providing engaging content.
• Evolve Media SalescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal marketing leaders partnered with Tindle stations for Business Club events offering free marketing tips to local businesses. Partnership allows Tindle to offer multimedia marketing solutions combining radio and digital advertising.
• Global (Media & Entertainment Group)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal's Classic FM and LBC stations now broadcast on Tindle's Channel Islands DAB+ multiplex. Global already broadcasts Heart, Smooth and Capital on DAB+ to the Channel Islands. Tindle operates the multiplex infrastructure.
• L'Office du JèrriaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannel 103 partnered with the organization promoting the Jèrriais language to produce recordings for a digital learning platform. Recordings produced at Channel 103 studios were included in Linguascope language learning suite.
• Nation BroadcastingminorOthersNation Broadcasting sold its entire shareholding in Bailiwick Broadcasting Ltd (company providing local DAB transmission on Channel Islands) to Tindle Radio. Nation had operated the multiplex successfully as the first to launch exclusively in DAB+.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bauer Media Audio UK: Bauer operates the largest portfolio of local commercial radio stations in the UK (Absolute, Magic, Kiss, Hits Radio, Greatest Hits). Comparable to Tindle on the local commercial radio + advertising model, though at much larger UK-wide scale.
• Global (Media & Entertainment): Global is the UK's largest commercial radio operator (Heart, Capital, Smooth, Classic FM, LBC, Radio X, Gold). It directly uses Tindle's Channel Islands DAB multiplex, making it both a wholesale customer and a direct comparable on the commercial radio and ad-sales model.
• Wireless Group (News Corp): Wireless Group owns talkSPORT, talkRADIO, Virgin Radio UK and local stations across England and Wales. Direct comparable on commercial radio portfolio + ad-funded model; sister local-station focus makes it a strong peer to Tindle's regional station approach.
• BBC Radio (local): BBC Radio runs the dominant local radio service across the British Isles, including BBC Radio Jersey and BBC Radio Guernsey. Comparable as a competing local broadcaster fighting for the same island listeners and advertiser share.
• RTÉ: RTÉ is Ireland's public service broadcaster, operating RTÉ Radio 1, 2fm, lyric fm and Radio na Gaeltachta. Comparable as a multi-station operator competing for the same Ireland audience Tindle serves via Midlands 103 and South East Radio.

Direct peers

• Communicorp (Bauer acquired) / Today FM: Communicorp operated Irish commercial stations (Today FM, Newstalk, 98FM, SPIN, Phantom) acquired by Bauer. Direct competitor to Midlands 103 and South East Radio in the Irish commercial radio market.
• Nation Broadcasting: Nation Broadcasting is the previous owner of Bailiwick Broadcasting (the Channel Islands DAB multiplex) and operates regional stations in Wales and the West Country. Highly comparable as a regional commercial radio operator that previously ran the same DAB platform Tindle now owns.
• Bay Broadcasting: Bay Broadcasting operates local commercial stations in Ireland (e.g., Beat, Northern Sound, Shannonside). Direct comparable to Midlands 103 and South East Radio in Irish regional commercial radio, sharing the local advertising and community-focused model.

Emerging players

• Podcast Radio: Podcast Radio is an online-only station dedicated to promoting podcasts, in which Tindle holds a 10% stake. Adjacent emerging player that sits at the intersection of radio and podcasting and could become a digital distribution channel for Tindle's podcasting ambitions.

Regional players

• Quay West Broadcasting / Channel Television: Channel Television / ITV Channel Television is the long-standing local broadcaster in the Channel Islands, part of ITV. Adjacent regional player covering the same Channel Islands audience as Channel 103 and Island FM, in the same geography but a different medium.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tindleradio
• Xx.com/tindleradio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tindle Radio