News UK-owned sports radio station talkSPORT is launching a FAST channel. Building on its successful expansion on to YouTube, the brand’s new channel will be available on LG Channels, FireTV, Apple TV, Google TV and Samsung TV Plus.
Unveiling the channel, News UK said: “smart TV viewers are now able to access talkSPORT’s unparalleled sports coverage, unrivalled opinion and debate, and brand new shows directly through their smart TV devices – and completely for free”.
In addition to the 24/7 FAST channel, fans will also have access to a new talkSPORT app on FireTV. The brand said that it “already attracts 150 million monthly views on YouTube from state-of-the-art studios”.
The launch is accompanied by a slate of new original video programming, including club-specific shows, as well as a weekly Women’s Football Show, The Kick Back, ahead of the UEFA Women’s Euros. TalkSPORT said its expansion onto smart TV provides a new opportunity for brands and commercial partners to reach talkSPORT’s highly engaged sports audience. Launch partners already signed up include Monzo, announced as sponsor of talkSPORT’s Live Transfer Deadline Day show with Jim White. Programmes will be distributed across smart TV, radio, and YouTube.
Scott Taunton, EVP, president broadcasting, News UK, said: “talkSPORT is one of the biggest sports media brands in the world, with audiences hungry for its brilliant presenters and pundits, breaking news and always-contentious opinion. Making talkSPORT available through this raft of smart TV partnerships, broadcasting from our state-of-the-art audio-visual studios, underlines our commitment to innovate and drive a new chapter of growth as talkSPORT celebrates its 25th birthday.”
Liam Fisher, head of talkSPORT, said, “talkSPORT is already a huge hit on YouTube – attracting over 150m views of its brilliantly visualised content every month. These partnerships with smart TV operators in the UK open the door to new audiences and ensure fans can experience the best in sports content like never before.”
