Global earmarks extra £10m for marketing, programming

Global Radio is to invest approximately a further £10m in marketing and programming over the next two years.

Sources close to the company have revealed that the money has been generated from savings made from the process of integrating GCap into Global's business, and will be extra money on top of existing marketing and programming budgets.

Media Week has learned that the portion spent on marketing will be targeted on building the presence of the company's brands, such as Galaxy and Heart, concentrating particularly on stations where the brand has recently been extended, such as Xfm Scotland's rebrand to Galaxy.

The additional programming budget will be allocated across GCap and Global stations, controlled by Richard Park, group executive director and director of broadcasting at Global Radio.

He will focus on developing and increasing the value of the group's networked programmes and doing the same with the breakfast and drive-time shows in the regions.

It is also understood that Global Radio will have completed its move into GCap's offices in Leicester Square before the end of this year.
All Global's studios, which used to broadcast LBC 97.3, Heart and Galaxy, will be moved over from Bramley Road before the end of December, according to insiders.

It is understood that more space will have been freed up in the Leicester Square offices, owing to the relocating of central departments, such as traffic and finance, to GCap's offices in Reading. Around 36 employees could face redundancy as a result of the relocation of the traffic and finance departments.

Source: Media Week