GCap Media To Launch Ad-Free Quiz

GCap Media is to launch a late night quiz show with no advertisements which will be funded entirely by premium rate phone calls, according to reports in the press.

In a first for a commercial radio venture, the show will be almost entirely uninterrupted, with no advertisements and just three songs played during its two hour duration.

The quiz, called Cash Call, will be broadcast live across the GCap One Network of 38 local stations and has been created by radio production company Somethin’ Else and Optimistic Media – the participation and entertainment TV production arm of Optimistic Entertainment. Optimistic Entertainment pioneered the participation TV genre with the launch of the live prize quiz television channel QuizNation (formerly known as Nation217) as its first investment.

Dirk Anthony, group programming manager at GCap Media, was reported as saying: “By creating a dedicated quiz show, we’re giving listeners a great new way of interacting with the station while implementing our strategy to develop new revenue opportunities.”

The show will be hosted by Chris Brooks, a Capital Radio DJ, and be broadcast between midnight and 2am from June 18.

GCap recently reported a fall in profits following its revamp of Capital Radio, with annual pre-tax revenue to the end of March down 40% to £22.2 million (see Revamp Renders GCap Profits Down).

GCap Media: 0207 663 7000 www.gcapmedia.com