EMAP Takes Local Radio Stations To The Web
EMAP has launched five new websites for its radio stations broadcasting to the North of England linking the stations’ brands with online local information and e-commerce. Aire FM (Leeds), Hallam FM (Sheffield and South Yorkshire), Key 103 (Manchester), Metro FM (Newcastle and the North East) and Radio City 96.7 (Liverpool and Merseyside) all now have online information sites.
The sites have been created in a joint project between EMAP Radio and EMAP Online. The network offers listeners information about the respective radio stations along with information and guides to the local area which they serve.
Steve King, managing director of Aire FM and EMAP Radio head of digital development, says: “Users will be able to purchase concert and theatre tickets online, find out the cheap holidays leaving from their nearest airport and source local travel information as well as keep up to date with the latest local news.”
Two retailers have so far signed up anchor tenancies on the sites to offer e-commerce facilities. Entertainment Express is to provide an online music and video shop. “The EMAP Radio stations provide access to a fantastic market for Entertainment Express, both in terms of sales and brand awareness,” says Lee Willis, general manager. As well as this Ego Commerce’s Kitbag.com is to sell Premiership football merchandise. Live traffic reports are being supplied by the RAC.
EMAP expects the proportion of listeners to its stations that have access to the Net to be roughly in line with national figures. A recent NOP, for example, showed that about 30% of UK adults now have internet access. “One of the reasons we’ve started with an initial wave of five of our 18 stations is so we can assess how much demand there is for online services that complement our radio stations, and which of those services work best. We believe that radio and online will make a very powerful combination,” EMAP Online’s managing director, Roger Green, told Newsline.
Banner ad sales for the sites are being handled by EMAP Online and sponsorships will be handled jointly by EMAP Online and EMAP On Air. There are currently no plans to offer live broadcasts of the stations’ output on the web.
The websites can be accessed at the following URLs:
Aire FM … http://www.airefm.com/ Hallam FM … http://www.hallamfm.com/ Key 103 … http://www.key103fm.com/ Metro FM … http://www.metrofm.com/ Radio City 96.7 … http://www.radiocity967.com/
EMAP Online: 0171 309 2710 EMAP Radio: 0171 504 6000