Talksport owner quits RadioCentre

UTV Media, owner of radio station Talksport, has quit industry body RadioCentre in protest over Global Radio’s growing influence.

talksport

The media owner says RadioCentre’s policy agenda is being “heavily influenced” by Global to the detriment of the rest of the commercial radio sector.

The group cited the proposed digital switchover timetable as an example of where the industry body has “moved away from representing the interests of the wider commercial radio industry”.

Global is the biggest commercial radio group in the UK following its acquisition of GCap Media last year and owns the 95.8 Capital FM and Classic FM stations as well as the Heart Network.

Andrew Harrison, chief executive of the RadioCentre, says: “I would like to thank UTV for their contribution over the last few years and wish them well for the future.”

The media company says it will make its own “significant financial investment” into promoting the interests of the radio industry and listeners instead of committing funds to the RadioCentre.