GWR group’s new media arm, ecast ventures (see GWR Group Launches New Internet Company), has invested £1 million in a media partner agreement with interactive business directory Countyweb.
Simon Ward, commercial director of GWR Group and chief executive of ecast ventures said, “There are definite synergies between GWR’s radio brands, our new internet portal and Countyweb’s comprehensive business lists and other consumer orientated car, property and leisure locators.”
Countyweb is a web-based interactive business directory consisting of 56 interlinked sites with a county focus and six covering Scotland, Wales and other regions. The sites offer a free basic listing to businesses, then sell the option of an enhanced listing, consisting of an individual URL.
The airtime for equity investment arm of ecast ventures runs alongside musicradio.com, which is set to provide radio streams including Classic FM across the internet, and koko.co.uk, a local portal which is to be developed into a national network of local orientated websites. The latter is due to launch in the South West this summer, with the national network following next year.
The cash investment will give ecast ventures a share of 3.47% in Countyweb. The agreement will also see GWR help promote Countyweb services on air and online. GWR Group has around 10.8 million weekly listeners.
This week ecast ventures announced several new appointments. These included the addition of Brian Vallis to the team operating the sales contract with 24/7 Media, a local sales operation to be rolled out in parallel with koko.co.uk. Vallis was formerly CEO and director of sales and marketing at the Newfoundland Broadcasting Company in Canada.
The group’s new local sales director is Campbell Grant, who is experienced in both local radio and the GWR group. Finally, Dawn Alexander has been appointed as roll out manager for koko.co.uk. She has experience in start-up internet and a background in music retailing with HMV in Australia.
GWR Group: 020 7284 3000
