JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 9, 2012 (ANTARA/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) --
- World's Biggest Sports Radio Station and Global Audio Partner of the Premier League made the Announcement Earlier Today at Radio Asia 2012 Conference in Jakarta
UK based talkSPORT, the world's biggest sport radio station, has today announced plans for its expansion into Asia. Speaking to an audience of public and commercial broadcasters from across Asia at Radio Asia 2012 in Jakarta, talkSPORT Director of Strategy Jimmy Buckland announced that the talkSPORT team aims to work collaboratively with Asia's leading radio broadcasters to deliver the brand to sports fanatics across the continent.
The announcement follows talkSPORT's recent agreement to become the official Global Audio Partner of the Barclays Premier League for the next four football seasons (2012/13 - 2015/16). The deal grants talkSPORT an exclusive package of audio rights outside Europe for the next four seasons, with internet users across Asia gaining access to an innovative new service from August 2012, offering commentary on all 380 Barclays Premier League games in English, Spanish and Mandarin.
Speaking to delegates from the leading Asian broadcasters, talkSPORT announced its desire to work with local partners to launch its new 24 hour sports FM radio services in key markets which include Jakarta, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand initially followed by India and the Philippines, with further services becoming available in markets in China and India. According to research, 56% of the population of Indonesia express an interest in the Barclays Premier League, with 70% expressing an interest in badminton, yet the country currently lacks a dedicated sports station. A similar picture is replicated elsewhere in Asia. Launched in 2000, talkSPORT is the world's largest dedicated sports radio station with an audience of more than 3.2 million adults in the UK and was named UK Radio Station of the Year at the 2011 Sony Radio Academy Awards. talkSPORT is part of UTV Media plc, which is one of the UK and Ireland's leading media groups which also publishes Sport, the most widely read print and digital sports publication in the UK.
Jimmy Buckland, Director of Strategy, talkSPORT said: "Asia's passion for sport and dynamic radio industry makes it the perfect market to replicate talkSPORT's success in the UK. We are excited about the opportunity to work with partners in Indonesia and across Asia to realise this ambition and look forward to announcing our first new FM radio service showcasing the best of local and international sport."
Scott Taunton, Chief Executive, talkSPORT said: "Our expansion into Asia builds on the significant progress the station has made in the UK in establishing itself as the world's largest sports radio station. Our recent agreement with the Barclays Premier League to become its global audio partner provides the perfect platform for this next stage in our development as we seek to forge a range of exciting partnerships with some of Asia's leading radio broadcasters."
For Further Information:
Jimmy Buckland
Director of Strategy
jimmy.buckland@utvmedia.co.uk
+44(0)7824-686-365
Orla McKibbin
Head of Communications
orla@u.tv
+44(0)2890-262188
SOURCE: talkSPORT
Editor: PR Wire
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