A new commercial partnership will see TalkTV become the exclusive provider of national TV programming on the Local TV network.
It means TalkTV will be available on Freeview in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, North Wales, Teesside and Tyne & Wear reaching about five million UK homes or around 18% of all UK television households. TalkTV, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News UK, will provide national content alongside Local TV’s regional output.
“I’m delighted to partner with Local TV as we continue to drive brand awareness for TalkTV,” said News Broadcasting Director of TV, Richard Wallace. “Only eight months old, TalkTV is reaching more and more people when and where they want to view our content; whether that be online, via the app, social media, streaming services or on linear TV. This partnership allows us to bring a national perspective to Local TV’s brilliant hyper-focused content on Freeview and Virgin Media.”
Local TV CEO, Lesley Mackenzie, added: “Our viewers, who have been served with an outstanding local news service for five years, will now have superb national TV programming to match. Talk TV is the most innovative UK broadcaster and Local TV Ltd is proud to deliver its national shows, featuring Piers Morgan and a host of other stars, to our network of local stations.”
TalkTV launched in April with presenters including Piers Morgan, Jeremy Kyle, Vanessa Feltz, Tom Newton Dunn and Julia Hartley Brewer.
TalkTV can already be found on Freeview, alongside rival GB News. However, Local TV benefits from a position on the first page of the programme guide.
