TalkSPORT puts radio on TV

The owner of talkSPORT radio plans to broadcast the station’s commentaries and phone-ins live on television, it said today.

The Wireless Group (TWG) will put a series of video cameras inside talkSPORT’s studios and broadcast the output on Sky television.

TalkSPORT, which has 5.9 million listeners a week, invites people to call in and give their views on a range of subjects in the news.

The Sky format will allow fans to watch coverage from the studios by the end of next month.

TWG, which also owns 16 local radio stations, said it would cost the company no more than £500,000 (€730,400) per year to provide the service.

London-based TWG’s move to cash in on its flagship station came as it posted narrower half yearly losses after attracting bumper audiences during the Euro 2004 football tournament.

TalkSPORT helped the group cut losses to £5.8m (€8.5m) in the six months to June 30 from a deficit of £6.5m (€9.5m) last time.

Group operating profits before goodwill, exceptionals, tax and interest rose by 108% to £1.2m (€1.75m).

This included an upsurge in the number of listeners tuning in to talkSPORT during Euro 2004, which added nearly £1m (€1.5m) of revenue in June.

TalkSPORT also saw a good start to the second half of the financial year, with revenues up 18% in July and 43% in August.

Chairman and chief executive Kelvin MacKenzie said: “TalkSPORT is really storming along and our locals continue to produce tremendous profits. I look forward to the future with confidence.”

The group also said it had seen a significant upturn in advertising aimed at personal grooming products for men, a market now worth £1.3bn (€1.9bn) a year in the UK.

“One of the most surprising developments in the last couple of years has been an increased interest by the man on the terrace or in the pub on personal appearance,” TWG said.

During Euro 2004, talkSPORT ran a major campaign for Nivea for Men, and the station has also secured advertising from Gillette, Wilkinson, Sure and Right Guard.

TWG’s local radio stations include Signal One in Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea Sound in south Wales and Wave 102 in Dundee.

Last January, the group added Peak 107 in Chesterfield, 107.7 The Wolf in Wolverhampton and Tower 107.4 in Bolton and Bury to its portfolio when it paid £8.1m (€11.8m) for local radio group Forever Broadcasting.

These stations had been successfully integrated ahead of schedule and helped the local radio division increase like-for-like operating profits by 28% to £3.1m (€4.5m).

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