Times Radio

Times Radio is a British digital radio station owned by News UK. It is a joint operation between Wireless Group (which News UK acquired in 2016), The Times and The Sunday Times.[1][2]

This article is about a British radio station launched in 2020. It is not to be confused with an eponymous Malawian radio network operated by The Daily Times.
Times Radio
CityLondon
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
FrequencyDAB: 11A Sound Digital
SloganKnow your times
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

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 The Sunday Times newspapers. The focus of the station was outlined in a webcast on 18 May 2020, 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]

The first day of programming included interviews with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former Chancellors George Osborne and Alistair Darling, actress Rose McGowan and the author Margaret Atwood.

On 15 October 2020, the first TV advertisement for the station was launched in the UK; it featured presenters John Pienaar, Giles Coren, Aasmah Mir, Matt Chorley, Michael Portillo, Mariella Frostrup and Stig Abell.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

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 The 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.[9]

Unlike many other commercial radio stations, there is no spot advertising, though certain programmes are sponsored. The first programme to gain a sponsorship deal was Giles Coren’s Friday lunchtime show, which was sponsored by Fortnum and Mason. Alongside sponsorship, the station raises revenue by generating subscriptions to The Times and The Sunday Times online.[10] 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, and via a free app on iOS or Android, via the newspaper's own website, or on some smart speakers. Programmes are available for seven days after broadcast either via the app or via the website.[11]

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.[12]

Critical reception

The station gained some unexpected publicity on its launch day when some listeners on smart speakers were directed to a similarly named radio network in Malawi operated by The Daily Times.[13] A phone call to the Malawian network 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."[14]

Writing in The Observer 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."[15]

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. London. 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. Lerone, Toby (2 June 2020). "Launch date and schedule revealed for Times Radio". Radio Today. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. "Television marketing starts for Times Radio". Radio Today. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  7. "Calum Macdonald with Early Breakfast". Radio Times.
  8. "Times Radio launch: full schedule". inews.co.uk. 29 June 2020.
  9. "Times Radio to shun public phone-ins and "adversarial" style interview". Press Gazette. 18 May 2020.
  10. "Times Radio tries to lure listeners to the paper". The Economist. 27 June 2020.
  11. "Times Radio FAQs". The Times and Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  12. "talkRADIO moves to new studio at News UK". Radio Today. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  13. Waterson, Jim (29 June 2020). "Times Radio launches with Boris Johnson and Malawi mix-up". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  14. Lawson, Mark (29 June 2020). "Rupert's radio: can Murdoch's Times Radio compete with the BBC?". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  15. Sawyer, Miranda (4 July 2020). "The week in audio: Times Radio; Newsbeat: 100 Days of Lockdown – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  16. Moore, Matthew (27 April 2020). "Times Radio reveals line-up of presenters to take on BBC". The Times. London. Retrieved 17 May 2020.

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