GMG puts cash behind content

With its announcement that it is investing a million quid in new programme content, GMG Radio – owners of the Smooth, Real, and Century stations - has demonstrated once again that it is the radio company with the creativity and commitment to lead commercial radio’s fight-back against the Beeb. Whilst Global, the United Kingdom’s biggest commercial radio operator, cuts swatches of local programming and slashes creative investment, GMG is attempting to strengthen its stations’ bonds with listeners by investing in fresh content.

“What a breath of fresh air it is to hear of a radio group trying to build station content, and to reduce it”, commented Rory McLeod, Director of the National Broadcast School. GMG is set to commission its next wave of independent productions, as part of a one million pounds programming initiative across Smooth, Real, Century and Rock Radio.

Mr McLeod went on to say that Global’s moves to centralise and homogenise the output of its local stations was high-risk. “Global has a taken a calculated risk that revenues from its new faux-network will impact strongly on the short term bottom-line. But look out for signs of a slow decline in listening to Global stations.”

Before deciding to make its investment, GMG did its homework. Bosses say research into listeners’ views and opinions on the special programmes were extremely positive. The company is now inviting independent production companies to pitch new ideas for broadcast on its network of 13 stations. The new commissions will be broadcast from January 2009.
GMG Radio’s one million pounds sterling programming initiative has been led by GMG Radio chief executive John Myers and funded by Guardian Media Group’s owner, the Scott Trust.

GMG Radio group programme director, John Simons, said: “The response from listeners to the wide array of programmes we have brought to the commercial airwaves has been overwhelmingly positive, and demonstrates that our audiences enjoy new and unexpected content. So I am delighted to announce that we will be investing further in new documentaries, commissioning more programmes for broadcast early next year.”

Radio School Director, Rory McLeod said: “GMG is to be congratulated for investing big-time in new content. It is heartening to see a major radio company led by creative programme-makers. After all, it is supposed to be a creative medium, isn’t it? ”
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