Following star presenter Piers Morgan’s recent announcement that he was ceasing his linear programme to pivot to streaming, TalkTV is following suit.
The channel, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s NewsUK, will cease its linear operations in the summer.
In a letter to staff, Scott Taunton, president of broadcasting at NewsUK, said: “Linear channel slots cost us millions a year and the advertising revenues are never going to materially exceed the cost of being in these distribution slots: meanwhile data-led digital advertising and CTV is in growth.”
TalkTV will instead be distributed via streaming platforms such as YouTube, Amazon Fire, Samsung, LG and others.
Taunton added that the company intends to create a new division, News Studios, which will service each of its newsbrands, “turbocharging video creation” across talkSPORT, The Sun, The Times, The Sunday Times and Virgin Radio. “All our video content will be created with online audiences in mind and will be distributed through owned websites and apps, as well as streaming and social platforms to include YouTube and TikTok, building on what we have done for Talk,” he added.
All of the content will be produced in the News Building, with plans in place to upgrade existing studios and build new ones, added Taunton.
