talkSPORT set to see 25% revenue growth ahead of World Cup

After what has been described as a “difficult” year for the industry, UTV Media plc – parent company of talkSPORT – has reported that the station’s revenue is expected to rise by at least 25% ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer.

John McCann, group chief executive of UTV Media plc, said that weak demand in the British radio advertising market was “compounded by the absence of a major sporting event in talkSPORT’s calendar”; however the group’s radio revenues are expected to rise as the year progresses.

talkSPORT, which currently reaches more than three million listeners every week, according to Rajar, is forecast to grow by at least 12% in the first quarter of 2014, and 25% in April.

The group’s results also confirm the renewal of exclusive national audio broadcasting rights for Premier League packages to 2016, alongside talkSPORT’s continuing international expansion.