The UK Radio Development group is set to launch a radio sales house
that will coincide with its investment in radio channels.
UKRD, which owns a network of local and ethnic radio stations across the
UK, will launch UKRD Radio Sales so that it can bring the group’s
commercial activities under one roof.
Currently, each radio station has its own local sales force, with Katz
Sales at the helm of the London stations. But it is hoped that UKRD
Radio Sales will sell sponsorship and online opportunities - as well as
airtime - for its regional stations.
It is believed that the launch of Bristol radio station Eagle 107.3 FM,
on 20 November, will be the first of many stations in the coming
months.
Howard Bowles, who will run Eagle, said it is the first local channel to
concentrate its services entirely on the city centre, with a potential
audience reach of 400,000. The new station’s competitors will include
GWR’s Bristol Galaxy station and BBC Radio.
UKRD recently applied for the North-west London licence - and lost to
Choice FM - but it will continue its search for licences to expand its
business.
Rob Van Pooss, who recently joined the UKRD group as the chief executive
of its two East London stations, said: ’UKRD is on a commercial mission
to invest in new radio stations and we want to develop online
opportunities.’
Pooss says he intends to build on the existing marketing and sales plans
for the stations - and he plans to recruit additional staff to join the
marketing and sales teams .
He is already looking for two sales executives to join the teams at
Active and FLR.
