The Times’ Radio Station after “BBC News Stars”

There wasn't a voluntary redundancy scheme when you wrote this but there is now. Though of course applying for it doesn't mean you'd get it


I always think it's a big risk especially qfor on-air talent when leaving somewhere like the BBC for a new outlet, even one with the backing of something like NewsUK. When it starts to go wrong or something doesn't work they're first out the door. Look at its sister station Talk Radio, 4 years down the line and there's only 2 people left from the original line up.

These things, both in the BBC and outside always launch with lots of money swilling around and then 3 months in that disappears.

A Iot less risk for those those not on air but of course it still happens. Someone I know left the beeb for a job at a new shopping channel, he sat around twiddling his thumbs for a few months it soon being obvious that they'd over estimated how many people they needed. He didn't even see it come to air

The website is now live - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/radio

‘Studio 14C’ - where are these broadcasts originating? I didn’t realise the Times Radio Group had so many radio studios?

Could it be the numbering scheme is based on something like floor numbers rather than total number of studios ? (So 14C could be the third studio on the 14th floor?).

Perhaps they’ve taken a leaf from Granada’s book, and only given their studios even numbers to make it sound like they’ve got more.

Many so called 'stars' seem to forget that its is the Radio/TV station that is what people listen/Watch. With the rare exception of the likes of Wogan the presenter is here today gone tomorrow.
I am sure the Murdochs will chuck money at this project but unless it gets them influence and a profit its days are numbered.

Leaving the BBC for a Murdoch backed start up seems the like the kind of thing long-standing, name-known presenters, (which let's be honest are who the times want for this) would only ever do if they were thinking they'd get their cards from the BBC soon anyway. Have they been threatening lay-offs? I assume the BBC's budget squeeze regarding O75 licenses is going to mean job cuts in some places?

Yes, Times Radio is on the 14th Floor of the News UK buliding, opposite London Bridge station. They're in the former talkRADIO studio. talkRADIO and talkSPORT are a few floors above on the same floor.

Yes, talkSPORT, talkSPORT2, and talkRADIO are on the 17th floor of the News Building. Wasn’t Virgin on the 14th floor as well at some point?

The studio actually looks nice and not horribly garish, unlike most of those radio studios that look like TV studios.

Yes, they 'borrowed' talkRADIO's studio for a few months while Virgin's new studio was being constructed. This was to allow Chris Evans to have a full team in the studio with him.