The company is headed by Andy Ruane, the former 2FM DJ turned TV mogul – and is the owner of the Lyrics Board format, which has been sold successfully to 19 countries, including Russia.

The success of that programme was the highpoint of Anner’s portfolio to date. However, while his Like It Love It production company had a good track record, other aspects of Ruane’s ambitious plans have been less successful. Ireland Live Television News began as a 24 hour internet news service, but it has found the going tough in a climate where many internet businesses have struggled to become established.

More recently, Ruane had been hatching plans to launch Irish Channel America – a station aimed primarily at the Irish diaspora in the United States – on St. Patrick’s Day this year. There had been talk of an involvement by dancer Michael Flatley, but this link-up does not seem to have materialised. The station would have focussed primarily on those areas in which Irish coimmunities are strong, notably Boston and New York.

However, those plans now appear to be on hold – and the future of Anner is seriously in doubt. "Entering the US market is a risky business in any circumstance," an industry insider told Hot Press. "You have to be absolutely sure of your business strategy and the resources you have at your disposal - it's a tough game where the stakes are incredibly high."

Another insider said: “Andy is a guy with lots of energy and vision, but timing I everything in this business and he may just have been premature with the internet service. It’s easy to lose money, that’s for sure. But no doubt, he will bounce back.”
No one from Anner Media Group was available for comment at the time of writing.