TalkTV partners with Local TV Limited

News Broadcasting, the TV and audio division of News UK, today announces a content sharing and commercial partnership with Local TV Limited, home to a raft of local news video services on Freeview, Virgin Media and beyond. 

The partnership will see TalkTV become the exclusive provider of national programming across Local TV’s network of channels from 1 January 2023, which includes local news video services on Freeview Channels 7 & 8, Virgin Media Channel 159, online and social media in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, North Wales, Teesside and Tyne & Wear. That equates to five million homes or approximately 18% of all UK television households. 

News Broadcasting Director of TV, Richard Wallace, said: “I’m delighted to partner with Local TV as we continue to drive brand awareness for TalkTV. Only eight months old, TalkTV is reaching more and more people when and where they want to view our content; whether that be online, via the app, social media, streaming services or on linear TV. This partnership allows us to bring a national perspective to Local TV’s brilliant hyper-focused content on Freeview and Virgin Media.”

Local TV CEO, Lesley Mackenzie, said: “Our viewers, who have been served with an outstanding local news service for five years, will now have superb national TV programming to match. Talk TV is the most innovative UK broadcaster and Local TV Ltd is proud to deliver its national shows, featuring Piers Morgan and a host of other stars, to our network of local stations.”

TalkTV launched in April as a bold new voice in news, current affairs, debate and opinion. Presenters include Piers Morgan, Jeremy Kyle, Vanessa Feltz, Tom Newton Dunn and Julia Hartley Brewer. TalkTV is available on Sky Channel 522, Sky Glass Channel 508, Virgin Media Channel 606, Freeview Channel 237 and Freesat Channel 217 as well as on DAB+, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung TV Plus, YouTube, the Talk.TV website and TalkTV iOS and Android apps.

Headquartered in Leeds, Local TV Ltd is one of the leading local media companies in the UK and one of the UK’s leading diversified local media companies. Local TV owns and operates eight television channels providing sales and video services to five million homes or approximately 18% of all UK television households. The company leverages local content to bring services and value to consumers and advertisers on television, digital and social media platforms.