TWG Renames Dunedin FM To allTALK FM

The Wireless Group (TWG) has announced it is renaming its Edinburgh radio station from Dunedin FM to allTALK FM, as part of a plan to create a local speech radio brand across the country.

TWG won the last remaining FM licence at the end of last year, giving TWG a potential adult audience of around 940,000 covering the city of Edinburgh and the area surrounding the Firth of Forth (see Wireless Group Scoops Edinburgh Radio Licence). TWG is also applying in Manchester with the allTALK format.

Commenting on the rename, Calum Macaulay, director of development for TWG said: “The Wireless Group is committed to creating a network of local and regional speech stations across the UK. Edinburgh represents the first on-air station to carry the allTALK FM brand name.”

Macaulay added: “Speech radio has been dominated by the BBC with over 10 million adults tuning into a local or regional BBC service every week. allTALK FM will challenge this dominance.”

Recently, Ulster Television confirmed that it has entered into discussions for a possible takeover bid for TWG, with the directors of Ulster Television confirming recent media speculation over the acquisition of TWG, saying that discussions were at a preliminary stage and that they may or may not lead to an offer being made (see Ulster Confirms Possible Takeover Bid For TWG).

Earlier on in the month, a report in the Independent on Sunday revealed that UK radio companies were shunning the auction of TWG as they do not want to compete with the BBC (see Wireless Group Preparing Buyout Auction).

Most of the key players in the radio industry, including Chrysalis Group and Emap, have decided not to bid for TWG as the BBC dominates talk radio and owns the direct rival to talkSPORT, Radio Five Live.

talkSPORT: 020 7959 7800 www.talksport.co.uk