GWR Becomes First Radio Group To Offer Free Net Access
Radio group GWR has today announced the launch of a free internet access service which will be offered to Classic FM and GWR listeners across the UK. The company claims that the launch of Classic Freenet will make GWR the first UK radio operator to become a free internet service provider (ISP).
The move by GWR follows similar ventures set up by other media groups. News International pulled out of LineOne to start its own free ISP, branded through the Sun as currantbun.com (see The Sun Serves Up CurrantBun); the BBC has recently set up a free Net service called freebeeb.net (see Beeb Joins Up With Scottish Telecom To Launch Free ISP) and United News & Media’s ITV franchises have also jumped on to the internet bandwagon (see UNM’s ITV Stations Launch Free Net Access).
The GWR service will launch initially through two flagship portals at www.classicfm.net and www.2crfm.net; a Classic Gold-branded service will follow shortly. The Classic Freenet service is a joint initiative with breathe.net and launches on 1 July. GWR is also planning to target schools and arts organisations with its free ISP. A CD containing the software needed to connect to the Classic Freenet service will be covermounted on the Classic FM Magazine.
Group commercial director, Simon Ward, says that the internet service will allow listeners to become even more involved with the Group’s radio stations.
Last week, EMAP announced a £2 million investment in a new internet project which will target the North of the country through its network of regional radio stations (see Emap Radio To Launch Online Gateway To The North). Managing director of the EMAP project, Iain Clasper, believes that radio has an advantage as a driving force for internet traffic over press or magazine associations, as listeners tend to spend more time listening to the radio than using the other media, and can do so whilst engaged in other activities.
A survey by Continental Research also found that listening to radio is often a complementary activity to internet usage (see Online Usage Hits Traditional Media).
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