Global launches 24-hour rolling news radio station LBC News
Media group Global has launched a new 24-hour radio station to provide rolling news coverage as it looks to tap into growing listener appetite for round-the-clock updates.
LBC News will provide UK and world news, as well as business, travel, sport and weather. The new station will replace LBC London News, which currently broadcasts in the capital for 13 hours a day.
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In addition to 20-minute news segments, the relaunched station will broadcast Prime Minister’s Questions live every Wednesday.
Global, which is the UK’s second largest radio news broadcaster behind the BBC, has snapped up former Sky broadcasters Martin Stanford, Lisa Aziz and Ian Payne to front its coverage.
LBC News will be a sister station to opinion-focused LBC, originally called the London Broadcasting Company but since rebranded as Leading Britain’s Conversation.
Global founder and executive president Ashley Tabor-King said: “As the first commercial radio station in the UK, LBC has a 46-year history of providing the latest news, so it is exciting to launch LBC News, a new, dedicated station for the brand that can stay with major stories and events live longer and dedicate itself to pure news.”
Commercial radio groups such as Global, Bauer and Wireless have enjoyed steady growth in listener numbers over recent months, boosted by a drive to snap up big-name presenting talent.
Global, which owns radio stations such as Capital, Heart and Classic FM, has recently pushed into podcasting, signing a two-year deal to host ITV podcasts including Love Island: The Morning After.
The media giant has also ramped up its presence in the out-of-home advertising market following its mammoth acquisition of Exterion last year.
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Last week Global acquired assets from MMD Media’s Dutch petrol station network, giving it control over more than 1,300 screens and establishing the company as the largest digital out-of-home operator in the Netherlands.
LBC News will launch on Monday 28 October at 6am.
Main image credit: Global