4Radio Still Looking For Ad Director

4Radio has not yet appointed an advertising director or sales team prior to the July launch date of the platform, according to reports.

It had been expected that a final decision on applicants for the commercial director position would be made before Christmas by the operator of the UK’s second national digital multiplex, 4Digital Group.

According to a report in Media Week, one of the two final names in the frame, former Capital Radio sales director Chris Bennett, is no longer being considered.

It is now thought that GCap’s current national sales director Simon Daglish is the only contender remaining – and his candidature is also thought to be uncertain, said Media Week, as he could choose to stay with GCap if it is successful in rebuffing Global Radio’s takeover bid.

Bob Sheman, BBC 5 Live controller, was announced as Channel 4’s director of radio in December, taking over from Nathalie Schwarz who was promoted to Channel 4’s business and corporate development director.

However, Channel 4 is still in negotiations with the BBC over a release from his Radio 5 Live contract.

Meanwhile, the 4Radio schedule has been altered, with Chrysalis Radio backing out of plans to produce Sky News Radio and Virgin Radio pulling plans for a Virgin Viva station.

The launch of Channel 4 Radio has been delayed by three months until April 2009.

4Digital won the licence for the second national digital multiplex last July, committing to spend £4.5 million on general marketing of DAB in the first three years of the licence, together with “over £25 million marketing spend to support the launch of the individual new radio services” (see Channel 4 Consortium Wins Radio Multiplex Licence).

Channel 4: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com