Sky News Radio
Encyclopedia
Sky News Radio is the radio arm of the Sky News
division of British Sky Broadcasting
. It has been operating since June 1999, providing a news bulletin
service for UK commercial radio stations operators across the UK and for a number of English-speaking radio stations across the world.
The Sky News Radio feed is available FTA on the Astra 2A satellite: 12207.00 V, 27500, 2/3 (Label: SNR).
, GMG Radio
(Real Radio, Century Radio, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio), Chrysalis Radio (Heart, LBC, Galaxy), and DNN.
The radio newsroom operated from Sky News
' purpose-built studios at Osterley, London. Adverts following peak-time news bulletins were sold via UBC Media and reached more than 80 radio stations.
On 15 October 2008, IRN announced it was switching its main supplier of news from ITN to Sky News Radio, expanding its customer client list by more than 280 stations and giving it a near-monopoly in UK commercial radio news provision.
The new IRN service began at 1400 on Tuesday 3 March 2009, with the first bulletin read by Ursula Hansford and simulcast on Sky News
television. Bulletin duration was reduced from three minutes to two minutes, and the previous IRN 90 overnight and weekend bulletin service was dropped.
Audio cuts are distributed to stations via the IRN Net Newsroom and Sky News Radio FTP websites. Stations can also source their own audio cuts from Sky News
and Sky Sports News
television. Post-bulletin Newslink adverts are managed by Global Radio
.
IRN operates two audio channels on the Sirius satellite: IRN1 transmits the hourly news bulletins and some live sports reports. IRN2 transmits press conferences, live events and the full Saturday afternoon sports reports service.
IRN1 is also broadcast on an audio channel on the Astra 2B
satellite.
In the event of a major news story (e.g. royal death or major terrorist incident), audio from Sky News
television will be relayed on IRN1 and IRN2 with extended radio bulletins broadcast on the hour and additional two minute bulletins on the half-hour.
IRN supplies match reports from every FA Premier League
football match, with reporters supplied by sports radio agency World Sports Communications. A classified football results check is broadcast every Saturday at 1705.
Many community, student and hospital radio stations around the UK take the hourly bulletin service. Copy and audio cuts are also used by BFBS Radio, in addition to radio stations in the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Cyprus, UAE, South Africa and Australia.
. This deal fell through, although Sky News Radio did become the main national news supplier to DNN. The station closed in July 2006, and was replaced on the MXR multiplexes by London speech station LBC 97.3
.
In March 2007, BSkyB and Chrysalis Radio announced a new joint partnership to launch a dedicated Sky News Radio station on the proposed bid by Channel 4
's 4 Digital Group
for the second UK DAB multiplex.
Chrysalis's existing London rolling news station, LBC News 1152
, was to be re-branded "Sky News Radio for London". A large amount of programming was planned to be shared with the national DAB service.
However, following the sale of Chrysalis Radio's stations to Global Radio
, chief executive Ashley Tabor announced in October 2007 that the contract was not commercially attractive and they would not be continuing with the proposals.
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
division of British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
. It has been operating since June 1999, providing a news bulletin
News program
A news program, news programme, news show, or newscast is a regularly scheduled radio or television program that reports current events. News is typically reported in a series of individual stories that are presented by one or more anchors...
service for UK commercial radio stations operators across the UK and for a number of English-speaking radio stations across the world.
The Sky News Radio feed is available FTA on the Astra 2A satellite: 12207.00 V, 27500, 2/3 (Label: SNR).
Bulletin service
Sky News Radio launched in June 1999 originally providing bespoke bulletins for Talk Radio UK. The service subsequently expanded in October 2001 to provide hourly news bulletins, audio and scripts for clients including UTV RadioUTV Radio
UTV Radio is a UK media company, and owner of several radio stations in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It is a growing branch of UTV Media....
, GMG Radio
GMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
(Real Radio, Century Radio, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio), Chrysalis Radio (Heart, LBC, Galaxy), and DNN.
The radio newsroom operated from Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
' purpose-built studios at Osterley, London. Adverts following peak-time news bulletins were sold via UBC Media and reached more than 80 radio stations.
On 15 October 2008, IRN announced it was switching its main supplier of news from ITN to Sky News Radio, expanding its customer client list by more than 280 stations and giving it a near-monopoly in UK commercial radio news provision.
The new IRN service began at 1400 on Tuesday 3 March 2009, with the first bulletin read by Ursula Hansford and simulcast on Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
television. Bulletin duration was reduced from three minutes to two minutes, and the previous IRN 90 overnight and weekend bulletin service was dropped.
Audio cuts are distributed to stations via the IRN Net Newsroom and Sky News Radio FTP websites. Stations can also source their own audio cuts from Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
and Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News is a 24-hour sports news channel in the United Kingdom. It is run by BSkyB whose sports channels include Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Sky Sports HD1, HD2, HD3 and HD4....
television. Post-bulletin Newslink adverts are managed by Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
.
IRN operates two audio channels on the Sirius satellite: IRN1 transmits the hourly news bulletins and some live sports reports. IRN2 transmits press conferences, live events and the full Saturday afternoon sports reports service.
IRN1 is also broadcast on an audio channel on the Astra 2B
Astra 2B
Astra 2B is a communications satellite owned and operated by SES Astra, launched in 2000 to join Astra 2A at the Astra 28.2°E orbital slot providing digital television and radio broadcast services to the UK and Republic of Ireland....
satellite.
In the event of a major news story (e.g. royal death or major terrorist incident), audio from Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
television will be relayed on IRN1 and IRN2 with extended radio bulletins broadcast on the hour and additional two minute bulletins on the half-hour.
IRN supplies match reports from every FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
football match, with reporters supplied by sports radio agency World Sports Communications. A classified football results check is broadcast every Saturday at 1705.
Many community, student and hospital radio stations around the UK take the hourly bulletin service. Copy and audio cuts are also used by BFBS Radio, in addition to radio stations in the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Cyprus, UAE, South Africa and Australia.
Proposed radio station
In 2001, BSkyB proposed to become a partner in DAB news station DNNDNN (radio)
DNN or the Digital News Network was a rolling news service on Digital Radio in the United Kingdom.-Background:It was revolutionary for the British radio market as it was the first regional network of news stations...
. This deal fell through, although Sky News Radio did become the main national news supplier to DNN. The station closed in July 2006, and was replaced on the MXR multiplexes by London speech station LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
.
In March 2007, BSkyB and Chrysalis Radio announced a new joint partnership to launch a dedicated Sky News Radio station on the proposed bid by Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's 4 Digital Group
4 Digital Group
4 Digital Group was a media consortium in the United Kingdom. The group won the licence to operate the second national DAB radio multiplex, as advertised by Ofcom in December 2006. The consortium, led by Channel 4 Radio, is a combination of the existing commercial radio operators and brands new to...
for the second UK DAB multiplex.
Chrysalis's existing London rolling news station, LBC News 1152
LBC News 1152
LBC News 1152 is London's only rolling news radio station broadcasting in Greater London on AM, DAB, Sky, Virgin Media and online. The station's aim is to provide more in depth coverage of the day's news stories...
, was to be re-branded "Sky News Radio for London". A large amount of programming was planned to be shared with the national DAB service.
However, following the sale of Chrysalis Radio's stations to Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
, chief executive Ashley Tabor announced in October 2007 that the contract was not commercially attractive and they would not be continuing with the proposals.