Doughty Hanson eyes Emap interests

Doughty Hanson, the private equity group which owns TV3, is reportedly interested in increasing its Irish media portfolio and could be eyeing up the Irish radio interests of British group, Emap, to do so.

Weekend reports suggested that the company is considering a bid for Emap’s three Irish-based radio stations — Today FM, FM104 and Highland Radio — if, as expected, they come up for sale as a single package in the coming weeks.

UTV and Denis O’Brien’s Communicorp group have also been mentioned as possible bidders. The stations are expected to fetch a combined price of between €180 million and €200m.