U105
U105 is a commercial radio station broadcasting on 105.8FM, DAB, and digital platforms across Northern Ireland, serving advertisers targeting the NI consumer market through airtime, digital, sponsorship, and promotional advertising products.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBelfast, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What U105 does
U105 Ltd is a commercial radio station headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, broadcasting on 105.8FM and DAB under a 60% music / 40% talk format branded as 'Northern Ireland's Best Mix.' The station operates 24 hours per day, reaches over 200,000 weekly listeners, and claims the longest average listening hours among NI commercial radio stations. Its core technology stack comprises FM/DAB broadcast infrastructure, the Onic Player mobile and web streaming platform (launched 2025 for iOS and Android), and podcast distribution through Spotify and Acast. Product extensions include genre-specific Onic Exclusive Streams (80s, 90s, Country, Rock, Classical, Pride Vibes, etc.), original podcast IP such as 'Are We There Yet?' and 'Say It With Pride,' talkSPORT Ireland sports content, and local news and sport bulletins.
U105 generates revenue exclusively through advertising across four streams: radio airtime (with in-house creative production), digital advertising on u105.com and social channels, brand sponsorships and on-air promotions, and roadshows/outside broadcasts via the U Crew promotional team. Pricing is quote-based, not publicly disclosed, and all rates exclude VAT with a 30-day cancellation/renewal notice on sponsorships. The primary customer segment is advertisers and brands seeking reach into the Northern Ireland consumer market; the station also operates a listener loyalty program (U Club/VIP Club) delivered via Mailchimp email.
U105 Ltd is a private limited company (company number NI055506) registered in Northern Ireland and operates as a subsidiary of News UK & Ireland Limited, part of the News Corp group, under the Onic Group umbrella (formerly Wireless Group). The station is led by Station Manager Peter McVerry and Sales Manager Geraldine Adair, with the company employing 11-50 staff and operating from City Quays 2, Clarendon Road, Belfast. The website is powered by Aiir, a radio-specific CMS platform, and content integrations include Mailchimp for email, plus app store distribution for the Onic Player mobile applications.
U105 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- U105
- Legal name
- U105 Ltd
- Website
- https://u105.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- U105 is a commercial radio station broadcasting on 105.8FM, DAB, and digital platforms across Northern Ireland, serving advertisers targeting the NI consumer market through airtime, digital, sponsorship, and promotional advertising products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
U105 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL)
Keywords
Where U105 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Belfast
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
U105 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Radio Advertising Airtime: Traditional radio advertising spots broadcast during programming. U105 offers airtime sales with creative production capabilities.
- Digital Advertising: Social media advertising, display advertising on U105.com, and native article content on the website.
- Sponsorships and Promotions: Brand sponsorships positioned within programming, including cost-effective long-term branding opportunities. Promotions include prize giveaways such as week-long Mainlines, Winning Days and Winning Weekends.
- Roadshows and Outside Broadcasts: Live radio broadcasts from client locations and promotional team (U Crew) services for events and promotional activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
U105 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
U105 is a commercial radio station broadcasting on 105.8FM and DAB across Northern Ireland, reaching 200,000+ weekly listeners with a 'Best Mix' format of 60% mainstream music and 40% talk. Its core revenue engine is selling multi-platform advertising solutions (radio airtime, digital, sponsorships, promotions, roadshows, and outside broadcasts) to brands and agencies targeting Northern Ireland consumers, supported by the Onic Player streaming app, podcast portfolio, and news/sport content.
Product overview
U105 is a local commercial radio station serving Northern Ireland, part of the Onic Group (formerly Wireless Group, News UK). The core product is U105 Radio broadcasting on FM (105.8FM) and DAB with a format of 60% mainstream music and 40% talk content. The digital ecosystem centers on the Onic Player mobile app for iOS and Android, which serves as the unified platform for live radio streaming and on-demand podcast access. The product portfolio includes genre-specific Onic Exclusive Streams (80s, 90s, Country, Rock, Classical, Pride Vibes, etc.), original podcast series distributed via Spotify and Acast, news and sport content, talkSPORT Ireland sports coverage, and advertising services for businesses. U Club provides a VIP loyalty program for listeners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- U105 Radio Local commercial radio station broadcasting 24 hours per day in Northern Ireland on 105.8FM and DAB, featuring a 'Best Mix' format of 60% mainstream music and 40% talk, plus news, sport, and entertainment content for the Northern Ireland audience.
- Onic Player App Mobile and web streaming application available on iOS and Android that provides live radio listening, exclusive station streams, and on-demand podcast content; serves as the primary digital platform for accessing U105 and the wider Onic radio network.
- Onic Exclusive Streams
Quantifiable outcome
- 200K+ listeners per week
Companies that use U105
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
U105 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
U105 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Bridge CommercialsminorAdvertising sponsor listed on the U105 website as a sponsor of the station.
- Budget EnergyminorEnergy company advertising sponsor listed on the U105 website.
- White's OatsminorFood brand advertising sponsor listed on the U105 website.
- Eeco EnergyminorEnergy company advertising sponsor listed on the U105 website.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
U105 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SPIN 1038: Sister station within the Onic/Wireless Group, broadcasting contemporary music to the Dublin market. Operates the same business model (commercial radio + digital + Onic Player streaming) in a neighbouring Irish market, sharing content infrastructure.
- Downtown Radio: Long-established commercial radio station broadcasting across Northern Ireland, owned by Bauer Media. Operates a similar pop/music and talk format targeting the same regional advertising market.
- 8Radio: Alternative/indie music radio station in Dublin also operated within the Onic/Wireless Group. Shares the Onic Player streaming platform, digital infrastructure, and podcast distribution with U105.
- Q Radio: Northern Ireland-based commercial radio network broadcasting contemporary Christian and mainstream music across multiple regional frequencies. Competes for NI audiences and advertising share.
- Cool FM: Commercial pop music radio station based in Belfast, operating on FM in the same Northern Ireland market with a similar mainstream music and entertainment format. Directly competes for the same advertisers and listeners.
Broad incumbents
- talkSPORT (UK): UK-wide commercial sports radio station owned by News UK (U105's parent group). Operates a similar talk/sports radio model at national scale and shares corporate resources, presenter talent, and sports rights with U105's talkSPORT Ireland extension.
- Heart UK: National UK commercial radio station owned by Global Media, broadcasting pop music and talk content across England, Wales, and beyond. Operates at vastly larger scale but with a comparable mainstream music/talk format and multi-platform advertising model.
- Capital UK: National UK commercial pop music station under Global Media, targeting a similar youthful mainstream audience. Comparable in format and multi-platform distribution but operates nationally versus U105's regional NI footprint.
- LBC (Leading Britain's Conversation): UK-wide commercial talk and news radio station operated by Global Media. Comparable to U105's talk-format programming (40% talk content) but at national scale with a stronger news-driven proposition.
- BBC Radio Ulster / Radio Foyle: Publicly funded BBC local radio service for Northern Ireland with deep roots in news, sport, and music programming. A well-resourced incumbent that competes directly for NI audiences but operates under a public-service model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
U105 social profiles
Digital presenceU105 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
U105 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
U105 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
U105 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about U105
What does U105 do?
U105 is a commercial radio station broadcasting on 105.8FM and DAB across Northern Ireland, reaching 200,000+ weekly listeners with a 'Best Mix' format of 60% mainstream music and 40% talk. Its core revenue engine is selling multi-platform advertising solutions (radio airtime, digital, sponsorships, promotions, roadshows, and outside broadcasts) to brands and agencies targeting Northern Ireland consumers, supported by the Onic Player streaming app, podcast portfolio, and news/sport content.
Is U105 a public or private company?
U105 is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was U105 founded?
U105 was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is U105 based?
U105 is headquartered in Belfast, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does U105 make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Radio Advertising Airtime is the primary driver. The others are digital Advertising, sponsorships and Promotions and roadshows and Outside Broadcasts.
Who are U105's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SPIN 1038, Downtown Radio, 8Radio, Q Radio and Cool FM. Broad incumbents are talkSPORT (UK), Heart UK, Capital UK, LBC (Leading Britain's Conversation) and BBC Radio Ulster / Radio Foyle.
Does U105 have an API?
No public API is recorded for U105.
What industry is U105 in?
U105's product category is Commercial Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAG, Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication, with a secondary code of MPAIADAJ, Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.