Times Radio

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

• Official website