talkSPORT network the premier destination for sports fans with 3.6million weekly listeners

News Broadcasting has reinforced its position as the UK’s leading digital broadcaster with another set of impressive RAJAR results for the survey period ending 05 April 2026.

The group, including national brands talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK, Times Radio and Talk, as well as U105 in Northern Ireland, delivered a share of 6.3 million weekly listeners and 45 million listening hours.

talkSPORT

Scott Taunton, News UK EVP, President of Broadcasting, said: “These latest RAJAR results reinforce News Broadcasting’s position as the leader in the market for digital-first listening, with our brands continuing to set the pace for multi-platform innovation.

“As we look toward a historic summer of sport, talkSPORT’s status as official FIFA audio rights partner for the World Cup – broadcasting all 104 matches – perfectly positions us to deliver unparalleled scale across both audio and video.

“At the same time, we are seeing a clear appetite for expert analysis and brave opinion; listeners are increasingly turning to Times Radio and Talk to make sense of a turbulent global political climate.

“Whether it is breaking world news or elite sporting moments, our 87% digital listening share proves that our audience is following our world-class content wherever and however they choose to consume it.”

The talkSPORT network remains the premier destination for sports fans, achieving 3.6 million listeners, an increase by 3.3% quarter-on-quarter, with talkSPORT recording 3.3 million weekly listeners, an increase by 1.6% quarter-on-quarter. talkSPORT2 listeners tuned in for a record breaking 1.6 million listening hours, an increase of 15% year-on-year, with 549k weekly listeners, an increase of 19.3% quarter-on-quarter.  

talkSPORT capitalised on a frantic period of Premier League managerial changes, including Manchester United’s dismissal of Ruben Amorim and Chelsea’s sacking of Enzo Maresca.

A major highlight for the quarter was an exclusive interview with David Beckham, who joined Drive hosts Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein to discuss England’s chances at this year’s World Cup. On air, the station delivered world-class live coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, the FA Cup, and the Carabao Cup Final, alongside exclusive interviews with Graeme Souness and Martin O’Neill that dominated the national news.

Digitally, the station continues to prove its dominance as an audio-visual powerhouse; the former footballer Eni Aluko’s mid-morning debate with Simon Jordan garnered 32 million views, while the boxer Deontay Wilder’s studio walk-out reached 22 million views. 

As an official FIFA audio rights partner for the upcoming World Cup in North America, talkSPORT will broadcast all 104 matches, complemented by dedicated visualised shows from the US. 

From the heart of Westminster to the front lines of global news, Times Radio has cemented its position as the destination for listeners seeking expert analysis with 604k weekly listeners, up 11.4% quarter-on-quarter, and tuning in for 5 million hours, an increase of 12% quarter-on-quarter.

This makes it the fastest-growing national news station over the past quarter. This quarter, the station provided unrivalled coverage of President Trump’s Venezuela raid, the unfolding Greenland crisis, and the US and Israel attacks on Iran. Domestically, there was political fallout following the arrest of Prince Andrew and fresh revelations around Peter Mandelson.

And in a landmark moment for the station’s sports output, Times Radio secured the exclusive radio rights to the historic Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race, delivering comprehensive live coverage and a dedicated outside broadcast on race day.

News and opinion brand Talk achieved 6.1 million listening hours, an increase of 41% compared to the previous year, and 560k weekly listeners, up 15.5% year-on-year.

The station’s coverage was dominated by major scoops and political shifts, including the release of the Epstein files and the subsequent arrest of Prince Andrew, as well as the Greens’ historic by-election win in Gorton.

From the sacking of Morgan McSweeney to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East involving US and Israel attacks on Iran, Talk provided a platform for unrivalled perspective and conversation, cementing its role as a vital voice in the national media landscape.

The Virgin Radio UK network reached 1.8 million listeners. The network’s Virgin 80s continues to entertain listeners recording 445k listening hours, an increase of 51.4% year-on-year, and 277k weekly listeners, up 5.3% year-on-year.

The station entered 2026 with a refreshed lineup and record-breaking social engagement. The new weekday schedule, featuring Emma B, Ben Jones, and Geoff Lloyd, launched on January 5th alongside Huey Morgan on weekends. 

The Chris Evans Breakfast Show continues to attract the world’s biggest stars, welcoming legends such as Jack O’Connell, Bradley Cooper, Chris Hemsworth, and Nicole and Natalie Appleton, while the new TFI Unplugged YouTube series has driven a surge in digital growth, contributing 4 million views on the platform this quarter. This digital expansion is further bolstered by a new TFI Unplugged partnership with Channel 4.

With the official launch of Virgin Radio 90s and the move to the new TFI Studio, the station is perfectly positioned for continued multi-platform expansion. Northern Ireland’s U105 recorded a total reach of 228k listeners, an increase of 8.6% year-on-year and 1.85 million hours listened.