Wireless Group Bids To Bring NewsTALK To West Midlands

The Wireless Group has announced its intention to join the raft of other radio groups bidding for the new West Midlands FM licence and is proposing to launch newsTALK 105.2 FM, a new speech-based news station, on the frequency.

The new 24-hour broad-based station will broadcast a range of regional news, sport and information, together with a variety of programming designed to reflect the tastes of the local community.

NewsTALK 105.2 FM also plans to encourage listener interactivity by setting up a series of “voice booths” across the West Midlands where people can phone in and leave a message for broadcast.

Plans for the right to reply-style booths, situated in local shopping malls and high streets, evolved after research revealed that 90% of people in the West Midlands would be keen to contribute to radio station.

Commenting on the initiative, Calum Macaulay, business development director at The Wireless Group, said: “We will be committed to full interaction between listeners and the radio station. Ordinary people must be able to express their opinions on their local station – and we want to give everyone a chance to get involved.”

Other proposed stations for the West Midlands licence include; Capital Disney, a specialised speech and music offering for children aged between 8 and 14; Emap’s rock-focused Kerrang; Guardian Media Group’s Jazz FM and a classic and contemporary rock station from Virgin Radio.

Bidding for the licence has now closed and the successful applicant will announced by the Radio Authority at the beginning of September.

Wireless Group: 020 7959 7800

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