Talkradio

TalkRadio (previously styled as talkRADIO) is a talk radio station broadcasting nationally in the United Kingdom, which was relaunched on 21 March 2016. Based in London and owned by Wireless Group, a subsidiary of News Corp., it is the sister station of national stations Talksport (itself originally known as Talk Radio UK), Talksport 2, Virgin Radio UK and Times Radio.[1]

Not to be confused with the radio format talk radio.
For the sister station formerly known as Talk Radio, see Talksport.

TalkRadio
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
FrequencyDAB+: 11A Sound Digital
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatTalk radio
Ownership
OwnerWireless Group
(News UK)
Talksport
Talksport 2
Times Radio
Virgin Radio UK
Virgin Radio Anthems
Virgin Radio Chilled
Virgin Radio 80s Plus
History
First air date
21 March 2016 (2016-03-21)
Technical information
Licensing authority
Ofcom
Links
WebcastRadioplayer
Websitetalk.tv

Since the launch of its similarly named television station, TalkTV, in 2022 a large number of broadcasts are simulcast across both radio and television with the TalkTV branding being primarily used.[2]

As of June 2023, the station has a weekly audience of 727,000 listeners according to RAJAR.[3] TalkRadio employs a number of presenters described as shock jocks.[4][5][6]

History

Original launch and sporting pivot
See also: TalkSPORT

The original Talk Radio UK started in February 1995 using the AM wavelengths previously occupied by BBC Radio 1 (1053/1089 kHz). It saw a number of presenters host shows in its first two years but settled down to a regular schedule with presenters such as Carol McGiffin, Anna Raeburn, Tommy Boyd and Mike Dickin. It failed to make sufficient revenue and in the late 1990s introduced sports output which increased audiences. In 2000 the station changed its name to Talksport and almost all programming was of a sporting nature other than overnights and the mid-morning show. In March 2012, this 39 hours of non-sporting content was axed from the station.[7]

The talkRADIO logo (2016-2022)
TalkRadio's original logo (2016–2022)

TalkRadio relaunch and Murdoch takeover
See also: TalkTV (British TV channel)

The introduction of a new DAB multiplex enabled Talkradio to be relaunched as a separate channel from Talksport on DAB on 21 March 2016.[8] At launch, the station featured presenters Paul Ross, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Sam Delaney, Jon Holmes, Jonny Gould, and Iain Lee across its weekday schedule.[8][9] In September 2016, the station's parent company, Wireless, came under the ownership of Rupert Murdoch's News UK, and in the following years tie-ups between the station and his newspapers increased.[10][11] At times overnight programming is simulcast with talkSPORT.[12]

In January 2018, Talkradio underwent a revamp to the weekday and weekend schedule in a bid to boost ratings and make the station more news-focused.[13] On 9 June 2020, Talkradio moved from DAB to DAB+ and the DAB signal ceased transmission on 26 June.[14]

In 2022 a sister television station, named TalkTV, was launched.[2] TalkTV marked Rupert Murdoch's return to British television news after being forced to sell Sky News to preserve its editorial independence from his other newspapers, radio and television stations.[15] The television station simulcasts TalkRadio on off-peak hours. In April of that year talkRADIO's Twitter account was rebranded as TalkTV, and the branding of the radio station was changed to TalkRadio with an upper case T to match the TV station.[2]

In a 2023 poll by YouGov 9% of respondents ranked TalkRadio/TalkTV as a trusted news-brand.[16]

Controversies

Presenter James Whale was suspended over a 30 July 2018 interview with an alleged sex assault victim that was said by the station to have "completely lacked sensitivity".[17] He was suspended for a week and his show returned on 13 August.[17] He apologised to the alleged victim.[17]

Broadcasting regulator Ofcom ruled in 2019 that three episodes of former MP George Galloway's show breached impartiality rules due to the lack of dissenting views to Galloway's own on the subjects of Antisemitism in the UK Labour Party and the Salisbury poisoning.[18][19] In June 2019, Galloway was sacked by the station for a tweet in which he praised Liverpool F.C. for winning the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final instead of Tottenham Hotspur, a team with strong links to the Jewish community; he wrote "No #Israël [sic] flags on the Cup!" Tottenham Hotspur and Jewish organisations condemned Galloway's comment.[20] Ofcom fined TalkRadio £75,000 relating to Galloway's breaches of code.[21]

In September 2020, presenter Mark Dolan cut up a disposable mask during a Talkradio broadcast, while claiming that wearing masks did not have a significant impact on COVID-19.[22]

On 5 January 2021, Talkradio's YouTube channel was briefly terminated without explanation.[23] Within a few hours the station returned to the YouTube platform. In a statement YouTube said "TalkRadio's YouTube channel was briefly suspended, but upon further review, has now been reinstated. We quickly remove flagged content that violate our community guidelines, including Covid-19 content that explicitly contradict expert consensus from local health authorities or the World Health Organization. We make exceptions for material posted with an educational, documentary, scientific or artistic purpose, as was deemed in this case."[24]

In 2022 TalkRadio paid a “substantial” libel settlement to Labour MP Barry Gardiner regarding a claim made by Jeremy Kyle on the station.[25]

News

TalkTV provides news bulletins for TalkRadio. Until the launch of TalkTV in 2022, Sky News Radio provided hourly news bulletins for the network via Independent Radio News.[26][27]

Presenters
Richard Tice, Leader of Reform UK (formerly the Brexit Party), hosts shows on the channel

Former presenters

References
  1. "18 radio stations confirmed for new DAB multiplex". RadioToday. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  2. "TalkRadio branding morphes into TalkTV on television launch day". RadioToday. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. Majid, Aisha (2 February 2023). "RAJARs: Talkradio and Times Radio end 2022 with double-digit listener growth". Press Gazette. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  4. "Rise of the British shock jock". Prospect Magazine. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  5. Wilson, Katie (11 February 2023). "Radio DJ James Whale considered euthanasia after terminal cancer diagnosis". mirror. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  6. "Prince Harry blasted in radio rant". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  7. Plunkett, John (7 March 2012). "TalkSport to axe all non-sports content". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  8. "talkRADIO uses DOOH ads to show realtime opinions". Outsmart. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  9. Sturges, Fiona (24 March 2016). "TalkRADIO, review: Breakfast show boor Paul Ross proves hard to stomach". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  10. "The Sun's Dan Wootton takes over Eamonn Holmes' TalkRadio drivetime slot". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  11. "TalkRadio to broadcast The Sun Conservative leadership debate". RadioToday. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  12. "talkRADIO and talkSPORT to share overnight shows". RadioToday. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  13. "Welcome Holmes: Eamonn Holmes joins all-new talkRADIO". Talkradio. 12 January 2018.
  14. "How to listen live to talkRADIO and catch up on all your favourite shows". talkradio.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  15. Sweney, Mark (23 January 2018). "Rupert Murdoch's Sky bid is not in public interest, says regulator". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  16. Majid, Aisha (31 May 2023). "UK newsbrand trust rankings: The Sun is least-trusted and BBC and FT lead the way". Press Gazette. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  17. Tobitt, Charlotte (13 August 2018). "talkRADIO's James Whale back on air after suspension over interview with alleged sex assault victim that 'lacked sensitivity'". Press Gazette. London. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  18. "George Galloway radio show breaches Ofcom rules". BBC News. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  19. "George Galloway radio show breached Ofcom rules". BBC News. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  20. "George Galloway sacked by talkRADIO over allegedly anti-Semitic tweet". BBC News. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  21. Tobitt, Charlotte (17 February 2020). "Talkradio fined £75,000 over Broadcasting Code breaches by ex-host George Galloway". Press Gazette. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  22. Tobitt, Charlotte (28 September 2020). "Talkradio host quits after fellow presenter cut up face mask on air". Press Gazette. London.
  23. "TalkRadio: YouTube kicks channel off its platform". BBC News. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  24. "TalkRadio: YouTube reverses decision to ban channel". BBC News. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  25. Tobitt, Charlotte (3 January 2023). "Talkradio pays 'substantial settlement' to MP over Jeremy Kyle's Chinese spy claim". Press Gazette. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  26. "Sky News Radio". Sky News. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  27. "Clients". Independent Radio News. Retrieved 18 September 2021.

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