News UK has confirmed plans to launch a new newstalk TV station on both linear TV and streaming platforms.
News intends for everyone in the UK to be able to access the channel, live or on-demand, either on their television or on any personal device.
talkTV will offer a mix of programming from NewsUK’s stable of brands including talkRADIO, talkSPORT, Virgin Radio, Times Radio, The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times. In a thinly veiled dig at its troubled rival GB News the station says there will be “proper hourly news bulletins, sports and entertainment shows as well as current affairs, debate, opinion and documentaries.”
Last April, ahead of the GB News launch, chief executive Rebecca Brooks said the cost of putting a television channel to air was not economically viable. But despite the loss of lead presenter Andrew Neil and a series of technical failings, News believes GB News has at least demonstrated there is a market for right of centre discussion.
“We are committed to providing choice for television and streaming viewers and bringing the best of our journalism to the screen. Taking advantage of modern technology, we can produce high quality shows at low cost,’ Brooks said in a statement Thursday.
The first hire is the journalist Piers Morgan, who joins as part of a global deal with News Corp and FOX News Media. In addition to a nightly show that will air in the UK, USA and Australia, Morgan will also join The Sun and the New York Post as a columnist.
Already talkRADIO TV has soft launched on connected TV platforms and is streamed live through the talkRADIO TV app. It is also available on Samsung TV Plus, Apple TV, Rakuten, Samsung TV Plus, Roku, YouTube and on Amazon Fire TV.
