A new digital radio station from The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers will launch on DAB digital radio this year.
Times Radio will broadcast a daily schedule of news, commentary and analysis with a line up of “high profile presenters”. The station’s owners, News UK, say commentators from the newspapers will also contribute to the station’s output. The digital station won’t have ad breaks, but programmes may be sponsored.
A new audio series, Stories of Our Times, will be presented by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Manveen Rana. Each weekday at 6am the podcast will look at a piece of Times journalism.
The Times already publishes podcasts on news and sport, including the political Red Box podcast, hosted by Matt Chorley.
Tim Levell will be the Programme Director of Times Radio. Tim Levell was recently Editor of the Emma Barnett Show on BBC Radio 5 live and previously programmed BBC Radio 5 live’s evening and overnight schedule.
Editor of The Times, John Witherow, said: “Times Radio will provide provocative, well-informed, entertaining and useful discussion covering the key stories of the day, and informing the national conversation. Times Radio, infused with our world-class journalism, will be the perfect complement to our print and online offer.”
The new station is a partnership between The Times, The Sunday Times and Wireless, which already operates talkSPORT, talkRADIO and Virgin Radio UK.
Wireless CEO Scott Taunton says they have already been using their radio and podcasting expertise to work with the papers.
“Last week we announced the launch of a new podcast series – Stories of Our Times – and I’m delighted that with Times Radio we will be investing in a major, high quality new voice for news and current affairs on digital radio, online, on app and smart speakers,” said Scott Taunton.
Existing news and talk radio station talkRADIO will continue on DAB digital radio alongside the new station.
More details about Times Radio will be released in the coming weeks. The digital station will be available on DAB digital radio, online/in apps and on smart speakers.