FM104 and Q102 owner UTV is expanding internationally with the launch of a 24 hours sports radio station in South Africa.
talkSPORT 540 – licensed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa – is a joint venture with four partners and will broadcast to a potential audience of eight million people. It will cover Gauteng province and the commercial and administrative hubs of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
It will compliment talkSPORT from London which broadcasts across the UK on 1053 and 1089 AM, along with digital radio.
The consortium comprises five joint venture partners each holding 20% equity in the new station. The four other partners are all South African, including former manager of the South African national football team Jomo Sono, and Nomfanelo Magwentshu, Chief Operating Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee.
Scott Taunton, UTV Media (GB) Chief Executive, said: “As Global Audio Partner of the Premier League we know what a huge appetite there is for sports radio around the world, and had first-hand experience in South Africa as official broadcasters of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Our joint venture partners know South African sport and media better than anyone, including Jomo Sono who brings tremendous local insight. I’m looking forward to expanding talkSPORT even further as we launch this exciting new development in the brand’s history.”
talkSPORT International broadcasts live Barclays Premier League commentary in 8 languages to 24 countries around the world and the station says this new licence will further strengthen talkSPORT’s growing international appeal.
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