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Revision as of 18:18, 6 July 2020

Times Radio
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
FrequencyDAB: 11A Sound Digital
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatNews, talk
Ownership
OwnerNews UK
Talkradio
Talksport
Virgin Radio UK
History
First air date
29 June 2020
Links
WebcastRadio player
Websitetimes.radio Edit this at Wikidata
For the Malawian radio station, see List of radio stations in Africa § Malawi.

Times Radio is a British digital radio station owned by News UK. It is a joint venture between the Times, the Sunday Times and Wireless Group.[1][2]

History

The launch of Times Radio was first announced on 28 January 2020.[3] Unusually for a commercial radio station, it was conceived with the specific purpose of increasing take-up of the digital subscription package for the Times and Sunday Times newspapers. The focus of the station was outlined in a webcast on 18 May 2020 presented by Tim Levell, the station's programme director, where the tone was described as "measured, well-informed and non-adversarial".[4] The station announced its full schedule on 2 June and launched at 6 am on 29 June.[5]

Format

The format is in some ways similar to that of the news element of BBC Radio 5 Live, consisting mostly of live three-hour blocks fronted by a single presenter, except for the four-hour breakfast show with two presenters, and (on weekdays) a one-hour "early breakfast" at 5 am. With the exception of the 5 am programme, the presenting line-up on Fridays is entirely separate from the Monday-Thursday schedule. Overnight hours are filled with a combination of highlights from the day's output and The Times's own podcasts. At weekends at 7 pm there are also original pre-recorded features.[6]

There are news bulletins on the hour and summaries on the half-hour. The half-hourly summary is followed by a sports bulletin provided by Times Radio's sister station Talksport. The format is flexible enough to accommodate live coverage of major political statements or statements from the House of Commons when required.

The content of the station builds to a large extent on the content of the Times and Sunday Times newspapers. Discussion is mainly studio-based, although there are occasional outside reports when resources allow. The station does not generally use pre-recorded 'packages' as heard on the BBC and elsewhere. Nor does it carry phone-ins, though listeners are invited to submit comments via text message, email and social media.[7]

Unlike many other commercial radio stations, there is no spot advertising, though opportunities for programme sponsorship are available. Instead, the station intends to raise revenue by generating subscriptions to the Times and Sunday Times online.[8] There are frequent announcements encouraging listeners to take out a subscription, especially after items directly related to a newspaper article.

Broadcasting platforms

Times Radio is available on DAB digital radio, via a free app on iOS or Android, via the newspaper's own website, or on smart speakers. Programmes are available for seven days after broadcast either via the app or via the website.[9]

Studios

Times Radio primarily broadcasts from a dedicated studio complex within The News Building in Central London, which is the headquarters of its parent company News UK. It broadcasts from the 14th floor.[10]

Critical reception

The station gained some unexpected publicity on its launch day when some listeners on smart speakers were directed to a similarly named station in Malawi.[11] A phone call to the Malawian station was featured on the following morning's breakfast programme. On the station's launch day, Mark Lawson wrote in The Guardian that "on the early evidence, Times Radio most resembled a good-quality karaoke BBC Radio 5 Live."[12]

Writing in The Observer newspaper after the first week's broadcasting, Miranda Sawyer said: "Pre-launch, there was much speculation that Times Radio would be a rival to Radio 4. But aside from news shows, Radio 4 is structured around many non-live 'built' programmes: documentaries, drama, panel shows with audiences. For the moment, Times Radio doesn't have the resources to create these, and aside from a couple of pre-recorded phone interviews, everything on air is going out live. It's less Radio 4, more a light version of Radio 5 Live. 5 Lite."[13]

Correspondents

Tom Newton Dunn, former political editor of The Sun, is the station's chief political commentator.[14] Ross Kempsell is special correspondent.[15] Charlotte Ivers also works as a political correspondent for Times Radio and Talkradio.[16]

Presenters

References

  1. ^ "News UK announces Times Radio launch date: new national DAB station begins broadcasting on Monday 29th June". News UK. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  2. ^ Waterson, Jim (17 February 2020). "Times Radio hires deputy BBC political editor John Pienaar". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  3. ^ Waterson, Jim (28 January 2020). "Times to launch talk radio station to challenge BBC Radio 4". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Times Radio introductory video". News LIVE. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b Lerone, Toby (2 June 2020). "Launch date and schedule revealed for Times Radio". RadioToday. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Times Radio launch: full schedule". inews.co.uk. 29 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Times Radio to shun public phone-ins and "adversarial" style interview". Press Gazette. 18 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Times Radio tries to lure listeners to the paper". The Economist. 27 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Times Radio FAQs". The Times and Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  10. ^ "talkRADIO moves to new studio at News UK". RadioToday. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  11. ^ Waterson, Jim (29 June 2020). "Times Radio launches with Boris Johnson and Malawi mix-up". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b Lawson, Mark (29 June 2020). "Rupert's radio: can Murdoch's Times Radio compete with the BBC?". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  13. ^ Sawyer, Miranda (4 July 2020). "The week in audio: Times Radio; Newsbeat: 100 Days of Lockdown – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  14. ^ ""The Sun's Tom Newton Dunn joins Times Radio".
  15. ^ "Ross Kempsell makes Wireless return with Times Radio".
  16. ^ "Times Radio station info".
  17. ^ Template:Cite news=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/09/bbc-radio-scotland-to-simulcast-debate-night-from-tv
  18. ^ Moore, Matthew (27 April 2020). "Times Radio reveals line-up of presenters to take on BBC". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 17 May 2020.

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