Latest news with #GrahamBryce
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
'Oh, for the days of Tiger Tim' - Can STV beat the big boys of radio?
STV's plans to broadcast to the 35-54-year-old demographic are a clear attempt to grow the brand, and perhaps enjoy a decent revenue boost. (Ah, the glory days of 1957 when the TV station was cited as 'a licence to print money.') Management signal hope with the promise to 'deliver a new level of cross-platform commercial flexibility, offering advertisers a multi-platform and data-supported targeting opportunity.' Read more And intent is reflected in the hiring of Graham Bryce, the former boss at Bauer Media UK, who has been in radio almost as long as the Archers, Managing Director of Audio. Bryce says he is especially keen to capture the morning market where radio listening is highest – and TV viewing at its lowest. But while plans to 'maximise consumer engagement' may look good on the press release, competition is fierce. Clyde 1 has a weekly reach of more than 700,000 listeners, and there is also the challenge of Heart, nationally now the UK's biggest radio brand, with 13.4m listeners, overtaking BBC Radio 2, with has 13.1m. There is Smooth, which doubled its listening hours from 816,000 to 1,675,000 — a 105 percent increase and STV will also be up against music stations such as Greatest Hits Radio. While Radio Scotland, with a reach of a little over 800,000 listeners is not a standard music station, much of its output does feature music geared at the demographic which overlaps with the listeners STV are hoping to capture. They will also have to contend with digital stations such as Boom, and Glasgow-based Go Radio, with personality presenters Grado and Zoe and countless niche radio stations to be factored into the mix, such as Absolute Country. Meanwhile, Virgin Radio looks to be on the decline, but Capital in Scotland is on the increase. (It can't be exaggerated how promiscuous radio fans have become in the past two decades.) However, the STV outfit will most certainly have to come up with is a definite identity, outside of the cosy comfy corporate logo. Broadcasters at Pacific Quay talk of creating a Scottish station, but what will that mean? Lots of Franz Ferdinand, Lewis Capaldi and Paolo Nutini tunes? Graham Bryce says he is confident the new national station will 'offer something different and exciting.' But what? The days when personality presenters were encouraged into commercial radio are long gone. Radio all too often recruits from the known safe hands - but bland faces - of television, and as a result we are served up a homogenous lump of ordinariness. Radio Scotland stalwart Billy Sloan (Image: Jamie Simpson) STV Radio may be offering an 'AI-supported hyper-targeted commercial package' but what of the human voices who will ultimately sell the product. Or not. What will it look for? The light comedic touch of Go Radio's Grado, the knowledge of Radio Scotland's Bryan Burnett or Billy Sloan. Or the cheeriness of Clyde1's Callum Gallacher? Will STV tackle football in the evening? Will it pay the salaries required to land the best people? Has it factored in the fact that young people who love to play music don't look for a career in commercial radio these days. They look to the clubs. But there are positives, from an STV perspective. BBC Radio 2 is still the UK's most listened-to station, but it lost 539,000 listeners this year, no doubt a result of the station's decision to lose the likes of radio legends Steve Wright and Simon Mayo. The main single competitor Radio Clyde has lost much of its character and identity over the years, sounding much more generic and network dependent. Oh, for the days Tiger Tim Stevens. STV is dead right in arguing that some major radio players have moved away from producing 'bespoke' Scottish content. And that's the gap they intend to fill. But will the likes of Emeli Sande songs be enough?
The National
21-05-2025
- Business
- The National
STV to create new commercial radio station
The new mainstream music station, aimed mainly at 35-to-54-year-olds, will be available on DAB and online. STV said that creating a radio station is a 'natural extension' for the company and will help it create a strong, 'future-proofed' advertising business across digital and audio. The studio will be based at STV's headquarters in Pacific Quay, Glasgow. READ MORE: Scottish Water issues fresh warning as Scots 'not saving enough water' Bobby Hain, managing director audience: news, audio and regulatory at STV, said: 'We already have a strong connection with our audiences who know and trust our brand and radio is a natural extension for us, so we're delighted to be breaking into this market with an exciting new offering for listeners across Scotland. 'We have a clear ambition to be a top-three commercial radio station in Scotland by 2030. 'This is a move that will help us grow our audience even further and create exciting new commercial opportunities. 'Together, our broadcast channel, streaming platform and radio station will enable us to offer a powerful cross-platform and affordable advertising proposition with real regional flexibility and local targeting capabilities.' The radio station will be headed by Graham Bryce, who was previously the chief operating officer of Bauer Media UK. It has been announced as part of a wider strategic update from STV on Wednesday. The radio station is part of its newly created Audience division, which incorporates the company's broadcast channel STV, streaming service STV Player and the new audio business. The name of the station and its key presenters will be announced later this year. Bryce said: 'I'm delighted to be leading this new venture with STV, expanding its offering into the dynamic world of audio. 'Radio listening remains robust and with Scots having a strong appetite for commercial radio I'm confident our new national station will offer something different and exciting to the market. 'This will be a truly national commercial station for Scotland with presenters, news and content focused on the needs and interests of listeners living in Scotland. 'We believe there is a real gap in the market, and I can't wait to get started and shake things up.'
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
STV: The new commercial radio station being launched in Scotland aimed at 35 to 54-year-olds
Presenters will be unveiled later this year for STV's new commercial radio station. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Broadcaster STV is to launch a new commercial radio station for Scotland, in a bid to move into the "dynamic" radio market. The mainstream music station, predominantly aimed at 35 to 54-year-olds and to be based at STV's Pacific Quay headquarters in Glasgow, will be available on DAB and online. The station is expected to launch at the turn of the year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Glasgow-based broadcasting group, which is headquartered at Pacific Quay next to the River Clyde. Picture: Graeme Hunter Pictures/STV | STV The venture will be headed by Graham Bryce, former chief operating officer of Bauer Media UK, who was recently responsible for the successful launch of Greatest Hits Radio across the UK. Key presenters along with the name of the station, which STV hopes will become one of Scotland's top three stations by 2030, will be revealed later this year. The radio station is announced as part of a wider strategic update by STV and is part of its newly created 'audience division', incorporating the company's broadcast channel STV, streaming service STV Player and new audio business. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Graham Bryce and Bobby Hain are to head up the new radio station. | STV The company said radio listening was at its highest in the morning, when TV viewing was typically at its lowest, with the reverse being true in the evening. STV pointed out the new radio station would complement the existing TV model. Mr Bryce said: 'I'm delighted to be leading this new venture with STV, expanding its offering into the dynamic world of audio. Radio listening remains robust and with Scots having a strong appetite for commercial radio, I'm confident our new national station will offer something different and exciting to the market. 'This will be a truly national commercial station for Scotland with presenters, news and content focused on the needs and interests of listeners living in Scotland. We believe there is a real gap in the market and I can't wait to get started and shake things up." Bobby Hain, managing director audience of news, audio and regulatory at STV, said: 'We already have a strong connection with our audiences who know and trust our brand and radio is a natural extension for us, so we're delighted to be breaking into this market with an exciting new offering for listeners across Scotland. We have a clear ambition to be a top three commercial radio station in Scotland by 2030. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This is a move that will help us grow our audience even further and create exciting new commercial opportunities. Together, our broadcast channel, streaming platform and radio station will enable us to offer a powerful cross-platform and affordable advertising proposition with real regional flexibility and local targeting capabilities.' In the update to investors, the broadcaster also said it hoped to double revenue at its STV Studios production business to £200 million, while it expects its audience division to grow revenue annually in line with GDP and operating margin of 17 to 20 per cent.
South Wales Argus
21-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
STV to create new commercial radio station
The new mainstream music station, aimed mainly at 35-to-54-year-olds, will be available on DAB and online. STV said that creating a radio station is a 'natural extension' for the company and will help it create a strong, 'future-proofed' advertising business across digital and audio. The studio will be based at STV's headquarters in Pacific Quay, Glasgow. Bobby Hain, managing director audience: news, audio and regulatory at STV, said: 'We already have a strong connection with our audiences who know and trust our brand and radio is a natural extension for us, so we're delighted to be breaking into this market with an exciting new offering for listeners across Scotland. 'We have a clear ambition to be a top three commercial radio station in Scotland by 2030. 'This is a move that will help us grow our audience even further and create exciting new commercial opportunities. 'Together, our broadcast channel, streaming platform and radio station will enable us to offer a powerful cross-platform and affordable advertising proposition with real regional flexibility and local targeting capabilities.' The radio station will be headed by Graham Bryce, who was previously chief operating officer of Bauer Media UK. It has been announced as part of a wider strategic update from STV on Wednesday. The radio station is part of its newly created Audience division, which incorporates the company's broadcast channel STV, streaming service STV Player and the new audio business. The name of the station and its key presenters will be announced later this year. Mr Bryce said: 'I'm delighted to be leading this new venture with STV, expanding its offering into the dynamic world of audio. 'Radio listening remains robust and with Scots having a strong appetite for commercial radio I'm confident our new national station will offer something different and exciting to the market. 'This will be a truly national commercial station for Scotland with presenters, news and content focused on the needs and interests of listeners living in Scotland. 'We believe there is a real gap in the market, and I can't wait to get started and shake things up.'
South Wales Guardian
21-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
STV to create new commercial radio station
The new mainstream music station, aimed mainly at 35-to-54-year-olds, will be available on DAB and online. STV said that creating a radio station is a 'natural extension' for the company and will help it create a strong, 'future-proofed' advertising business across digital and audio. The studio will be based at STV's headquarters in Pacific Quay, Glasgow. Bobby Hain, managing director audience: news, audio and regulatory at STV, said: 'We already have a strong connection with our audiences who know and trust our brand and radio is a natural extension for us, so we're delighted to be breaking into this market with an exciting new offering for listeners across Scotland. 'We have a clear ambition to be a top three commercial radio station in Scotland by 2030. 'This is a move that will help us grow our audience even further and create exciting new commercial opportunities. 'Together, our broadcast channel, streaming platform and radio station will enable us to offer a powerful cross-platform and affordable advertising proposition with real regional flexibility and local targeting capabilities.' The radio station will be headed by Graham Bryce, who was previously chief operating officer of Bauer Media UK. It has been announced as part of a wider strategic update from STV on Wednesday. The radio station is part of its newly created Audience division, which incorporates the company's broadcast channel STV, streaming service STV Player and the new audio business. The name of the station and its key presenters will be announced later this year. Mr Bryce said: 'I'm delighted to be leading this new venture with STV, expanding its offering into the dynamic world of audio. 'Radio listening remains robust and with Scots having a strong appetite for commercial radio I'm confident our new national station will offer something different and exciting to the market. 'This will be a truly national commercial station for Scotland with presenters, news and content focused on the needs and interests of listeners living in Scotland. 'We believe there is a real gap in the market, and I can't wait to get started and shake things up.'
