UK

LBC is to host two exclusive election phone-ins with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Britain’s Next PM, hosted by Nick Ferrari, will give LBC’s audiences access to the two main contenders for Prime Minister.
Sir Keir Starmer will appear tomorrow, Tuesday, 18th June, followed by Rishi Sunak on Wednesday, 19th June.
Global will also dynamically broadcast exit poll and election results on thousands of digital billboards across the UK, on air and on Global Player.
From 10pm on July 4th, LBC’s flagship Election Night programme, Britain Decides, will be led by Andrew Marr and Shelagh Fogarty along with Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall from The News Agents, who will analyse the results as they come in. The seven-hour show will be live on LBC, and Global Player, as well as live on TikTok, and YouTube, and simulcast on LBC News.
It will be followed at 5am on Friday, 5th July, by an extended five-hour special election edition of Nick Ferrari at Breakfast with reactions and interviews with the biggest names at the heart of politics.

LBC’s presenting line-up, including James O’Brien, Iain Dale, Tom Swarbrick, Carol Vorderman, and Rachel Johnson, will provide analysis and insight alongside leading politicians, commentators and LBC’s callers, as the night unfolds.
They will also be joined by LBC’s political team, including Political Editor Natasha Clark, Scotland Political Editor Gina Davidson, Reporter Henry Riley, and Aggie Chambre in her new role as Political Correspondent.
The News Agents podcast, hosted by Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, and Lewis Goodall, will extend its coverage across the polling and results period, including a special episode on polling day and a series of rolling podcasts as the new House of Commons takes shape.
In addition to phone-ins with Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, LBC will host a series of policy debates as voters make up their minds in the final fortnight of the election campaign. James Cleverly and Yvette Cooper will debate immigration in a show hosted by Iain Dale, and Victoria Atkins and Wes Streeting will square off in a health debate hosted by Shelagh Fogarty.
Global will deploy its full reporting team across the UK, broadcasting live from over 30 key counts. Reporters and correspondents will provide news for Global’s network of radio stations, including LBC, Heart, Capital, Smooth, and Classic FM.
James Rea, Chief Broadcasting & Content Officer at Global, said: “This is Global’s most comprehensive election coverage ever, and we have an exceptional team to deliver it. With LBC and The News Agents, on air, on Global Player and across our national outdoor billboard platform, we will keep our audiences informed with the latest news, results, and opinions from this pivotal election.”
Tom Cheal, LBC’s Senior Managing Editor, added: “Our powerhouse team of broadcasters, reporters and digital teams will deliver the biggest stories and analysis from this crucial General Election. From Britain Decides to Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, we will provide twelve hours of non-stop results coverage on air and through Global’s national outdoor billboard platform. The most important voices on LBC will be our listeners, and we look forward to hearing their reactions.”
Vicky Etchells, Head of News & Factual for Podcasts at Global, said: “With two weeks to go to the General Election, The News Agents are ramping up election coverage with seven episodes a week including a special episode every Sunday plus a Q&A every Friday. It’s exciting to bring two of the biggest news brands in the UK together in LBC and The News Agents, combined with Global’s unmatched platforms, to cover one of the most fascinating elections in years.”
All programmes will be broadcast from Global’s studios in London’s Leicester Square, Westminster, and across the country, fully visualised and streamed live on Global Player, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as simulcast on LBC News. […]

A number of radio people have been recognised in the latest King’s Birthday Honours list, including Dame Jenny Abramsky and Gordon Mac.

Dame Jenny Abramsky is a former BBC director of audio and music, and is now a Chancellor of the University of East Anglia. She becomes Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for services to Arts, to Media and to Culture.
Gordon Mac founded KISS FM in the 1980s, the same KISS that is now owned by Bauer and broadcasting across the UK. He is awarded an MBE for services to music.
Roy Noble from BBC Radio Wales has been awarded the CBE for services to Welsh Culture and Language and to the community in Wales.
CBEs also go to…
Barbara Jane Slater OBE, Director, BBC Sport, for services to Sports Broadcasting.
Broadcaster and Television Executive Alan Yentob for services to the Arts and Media.
Armando Iannuci, whose TV and radio career stretches back 30 years, is co-creator of the character Alan Partridge with comedian Steve Coogan.
Alistair Murdoch McCoist for services to Association Football and to Broadcasting.
There’s an OBE for talkSPORT’s Ally McCoist (former footballer), and Gayle Rosalyn Connors has been given a BEM For services to Radio Broadcasting in Essex.
MBEs go to:
Alexandra Jane Castle (Ally Castle), for services to Inclusivity and Diversity in Broadcasting. (Cirencester, Gloucestershire)
Tanya Jeneme Motie for services to Inclusivity and Diversity in Broadcasting. (London, London)
Nicholas Corbishley Owen for services to Broadcasting and to Charity. (Stourbridge, Staffordshire)
Diana Mary Speirs, Audio Executive Editor for Books, BBC for services to Broadcasting and to Literature. (London, London)

Llongyfarchiadau Roy Noble!
Roy has been awarded the CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to Welsh Culture and Language and to the community in Wales. pic.twitter.com/ik8Pia0Kk2
— BBC Radio Wales (@BBCRadioWales) June 14, 2024 […]

A coalition of commercial media and content businesses have written to the Labour Party to warn against allowing the BBC to introduce advertising.

They say adverts around audio would cause damage to the UK’s creative industries and the content provided for audiences.
Yesterday (Thursday 13th June) the Labour Party published its election manifesto which highlights the huge potential for growth in the creative industries that benefit every corner of the UK.
In a letter to Thangam Debbonaire, Shadow Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, the 15 signatories, including small businesses as well as some of the UK’s foremost media brands, highlight the devastating impact of such a change for consumers, licence fee payers and the creative economy.
The BBC’s services are currently funded by £3.8bn in licence fee income. Commercial media businesses rely primarily on advertising revenues, which would be eroded significantly if the BBC also sought to generate advertising.
This would inevitably reduce the ability of commercial operators – across radio, news, television and podcasting – to invest in content and services for audiences.
Signatories include:

Audioboom
Bauer
COBA
DMG Media
Global
Goalhanger
Guardian Media Group
News UK
News Media Association
PPA
Podmasters
Radiocentre
Reach
Telegraph Media Group
Tortoise

Last month, Radiocentre joined a wide coalition of media and content business who wrote to Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, to highlight concerns with the BBC’s plans and to request that Ofcom conduct an urgent review of the audio and podcast market.
Radiocentre CEO Matt Payton told RadioToday: “Our creative sector is a success story that provides British audiences with world-leading content and services. All of this could be put at risk if the BBC goes ahead with plans to introduce advertising, starting with audio and podcasts.
“Audiences understandably do not expect advertising around BBC content, which they have already paid for through the licence fee. We hope that this issue will be addressed swiftly when parliament returns after the election and that Ofcom will exercise its powers to prevent the BBC from introducing such a damaging change.” […]

Aggie Chambre is joining Global in the newly-created role of Political Correspondent at LBC.
The former Sky Political News Editor and ITV Producer will work alongside Political Editor Natasha Clark, Scotland Political Editor Gina Davidson and Reporter Henry Riley.
Aggie said: “After six brilliant seasons of hosting POLITICO’s Westminster Insider podcast, I am absolutely delighted to be joining LBC as the station goes from strength to strength.
“I am so looking forward to working with LBC’s agenda-setting presenters and reporters, and speaking to its millions of listeners during the general election campaign and beyond.”
Tom Cheal, LBC’s Senior Managing Editor, said: “At this crucial moment for the UK, we are expanding LBC’s stellar political team and I am thrilled to welcome Aggie Chambre to the brand-new role of Political Correspondent.
“Aggie is a brilliant, insightful and hugely popular journalist and a natural broadcaster, with an established record of breaking big news stories in Westminster. She is the perfect fit for LBC and I know that our listeners will enjoy getting to know her, as she reports on the stories that matter to them.” […]

Burger King UK will be the headline sponsor of talkSPORT’s Euros 2024 coverage, kicking off this evening in Munich.

The partnership will run across the entire tournament on radio, digital audio, and talkSPORT’s social and YouTube channels.
The partnership will be fronted by the likes of Shaun Wright Phillips, Emile Heskey, and Ledley King, who will feature in a series of on-air activations such as bespoke interview features, as well as social content, including Burger King branded England game watchalongs and King Saver Penalty shoot outs.
Walk-In Media brokered the partnership marking Burger King UK’s first sponsorship of a sports competition.
David Wilcox, Commercial Director, News Broadcasting, said: “This year’s tournament will be talkSPORT’s biggest Euros to date, with more content and commentary of the games than ever before.
“We’re thrilled to have scored a partner in Burger King UK to sponsor our coverage, showcasing content that aligns perfectly with our tone of voice that is sure to entertain our audience.”
Katie Evans, CMO, Burger King UK: “2024 has been a really exciting time for Burger King UK with the recent launch of Foodfillment. Our talkSPORT Euros partnership is the next step in that journey. We are excited to deliver everyone’s Burger King favourites and provide the ultimate food satisfaction whilst they cheer on their team.”
Charlotte Mullan, Managing Director, Walk-In Media “Matching the home of the mighty Whopper with the biggest names in football on talkSPORT, for the biggest sporting event of the year is a Foodfillment partnership made in media heaven. We can’t wait for kick off!” […]

Michael Ireland, Radiocentre Director of External Affairs, writes about the importance of news on commercial radio during the elections.
“They don’t spin their own agenda, they just tell you the facts”
These wise words are from Michelle who lives in Bristol and is a typical commercial radio listener. Michelle is referring to news bulletins she hears on commercial radio every week, along with 39 million other people around the country.
The political party manifestos have now all been published and there are just a few weeks left until the general election. Election fever/fatigue (delete as appropriate!) is palpable.  
Political campaigning is going into overdrive, and while the candidates are busy knocking on doors, delivering leaflets and conducting media interviews, everyone else is generally busy getting on with their own lives. 
Party manifestos don’t typically make for the most scintillating reading. Add to that a general sense of political and voter apathy and the fact that we are more time poor than ever, it’s a pretty safe bet that most people will rely on information and headlines from the media. 
Election or not, commercial radio is a crucial source of news for listeners every single day of the year and last week Radiocentre published the results of new research highlighting the role played by radio broadcasters in the run up to 4th July. 
Michelle from Bristol was part of this study, conducted earlier this year by leading research consultancy Differentology. It ran a survey with over 3000 listeners and carried out further in-depth interviews with commercial radio audiences from around the country. Here’s what it found.
Radio – the most trusted medium 
Concern about false and misleading news is high, with 63% of listeners saying they are concerned or very concerned about this type of information being presented as news.
However, radio continues to be the most trusted medium for news and is considered to be the most impartial and accurate news source during an election. 
It’s perhaps not hugely surprising that there is a direct correlation between regulation of different types of media and trust in them. For example, trust in radio news is also over double the level for social media. 
Cutting through with listeners 
With news and election fatigue understandably embedding in, cutting through is vital. Radio, along with TV, is the top source of news that is least likely to be avoided due to distrust, with social media (followed by newspapers) most likely to be avoided.  
In the run up to an election, commercial radio is seen as the best form of audio for quick updates and a summary of key events. The UK audio market has seen exciting transformation in recent years, so it’s not just succinct summaries of election headlines that are delivered to listeners, with broadcasters across the industry investing in news and current affairs podcasts. 
The study also found that commercial radio news really cuts through to listeners, encouraging discussion and debate, as well as prompting people to find out more on other media – 7 out of 10 listeners have taken an action such as these after hearing a bulletin. 
This cut through is also strong with young people (16-24s), who are most likely to discuss what they’ve heard on commercial radio news with family and friends – and there are over 4.7 million listening. This is particularly worth highlighting as election coverage on social media is not always what it seems. 
We are all concerned with the levels of misinformation that voters, particularly younger first-time voters are being served on platforms like TikTok. Just last week a new report from the BBC highlighted that social media was already littered with fake AI-generated videos featuring party leaders, misinformation and clips with abusive comments.   
Reaching beyond the bubble
Finally, commercial radio news also has a unique ability to reach an important group of potential swing voters. Outsiders (over a third of commercial radio listeners and who identify as least engaged with news) are more likely to say they don’t know who they will vote for in the upcoming election. 
This group is also most likely to turn to commercial radio as their primary news source, and their reliance on it has grown since 2020. 
For those looking to reach a wider electorate, it is worth remembering that many people like Michelle from Bristol are listening to their favourite stations, taking in the facts from the regular news updates throughout the day as they go about their busy lives. And on 4th July they’ll be going out to vote. 
Michael Ireland
Radiocentre Director of External Affairs 
A new summary of Breaking News: How commercial radio cuts through with listeners in a general election is here. The full report is available here.  […]