News and opinion channel TalkTV is to go online-only after less than two years on air. However, the audio feed of the channel will continue to be broadcast on DAB.
- Move follows Pier Morgan’s announcement that he would be leaving his TalkTV show
- TalkTV launched on top of TalkRadio in 2022, replacing TalkRadio’s visual online feed. Now TalkTV will effectively revert back to its online and audio roots
- Uncertainty over Talk-branded local channels in parts of England and Wales.
TalkTV will be leaving Freeview, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media this summer as the broadcaster scales down its distribution on favour of an online-only presence.
The channel has suffered from zero ratings and its key primetime show featuring Piers Morgan is to end.
The move was confirmed in a now leaked email to all staff. News UK, TalkTV’s parent company hasn’t yet issued a formal announcement. The exact date for the online-only switch hasn’t been confirmed, but an audio feed of the channel will continue on DAB digital radio.
TalkTV was the home of not only Piers Morgan, but also featured presenters including Jeremy Kyle and Vanessa Feltz.
Back to how it was…
In April 2022, TalkTV replaced the TalkRADIO visual radio stream, which was carried on a variety of online platforms. This allowed users on YouTube and other services to watch a live feed from the TalkRadio studio.
Today’s confirmation of TalkTV’s closure on TV platforms will see the channel effectively revert back to that arrangement. As before, clips from the channel’s output will continue to be shared on social media.
TalkTV came about after News UK’s owner Rupert Murdoch wanted to return to TV broadcasting in the UK. Murdoch had been without a TV outlet to call his own since selling Sky to Comcast. But the channel struggled to become more than a radio station with TV cameras, and fell behind controversial loss-making rival GB News.
Importantly, while GB News’ backers are prepared to run GB News at a loss in return for influencing viewers and politicians, News UK’s pockets have proven to be less deep.
Specialist shows launched on TalkTV in 2022 have long since been removed from the channel. Notably, Tom Newton Dunn’s former news hour, originally at 7pm, later moved to 10pm, was axed in favour of extended opinion-led shows.
Uncertainty over local TV channels
Last year, a number of local TV channels serving locations including Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool and Newcastle took TalkTV’s branding. It was part of a deal with Montgomery Media’s Local TV Limited that saw TalkTV take over Freeview channel 7 (8 in Wales) for most of the day.
News UK has not commented on the future of the partnership, such as whether Talk content will continue to appear on those channels.
Marc Thornham
[Image: Screengrab, TalkTV, archive]