Former Radio 5 Live editor Tim Levell has been appointed Programme Director of Times Radio, a new digital radio station partnership between The Times, The Sunday Times and Wireless.
Latterly editor of the Emma Barnett Show for 5 Live, Levell has also worked on Newsround and Blue Peter, and as a producer at Sky News. He began his career as a broadcast journalist for BBC North and BBC Breakfast News.
As Programme Director, he will work with Times Radio Launch Director, Stig Abell, and a team from across The Times, The Sunday Times and Wireless to create the schedule, manage the presenters and production staff and format the station.
News UK, the owner of The Times and Sunday Times, acquired Wireless – the company behind talkSPORT, talkRADIO and Virgin Radio UK – in 2016 in a £220m deal.
Times Radio will provide a daily, ad-free schedule of news, analysis and commentary with a line-up of “high profile presenters”, as well as contributions from Times and Sunday Times commentators.
News UK Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks said: “We acquired Wireless in 2016 with a clear ambition to bring their audio expertise to our newsbrands.
“The Times and The Sunday Times deliver world-class journalism to a substantial and highly engaged audience and Times Radio will create a new speech radio outlet to reach an even broader audience who want quality reporting and trusted, expert commentary in real time.”
Times Radio will launch later this year and broadcast on DAB, online and via app and smart speakers. The station will be ad break free, with commercial opportunities for sponsors across the schedule.
News UK said that talkRADIO would continue to broadcast on DAB, online and via app and smart speaker.
