Sky News expands deal with IRN to include video content

The renewal features an expanded agreement allowing IRN radio stations – including LBC, Absolute Radio, talkSPORT, Smooth Radio, Heart, Magic and Times Radio – to use Sky News video content on their digital platforms. 

The move comes at a time when radio brands are increasingly including video content on their digital platforms, and fits with Sky News’ background in video-first journalism.

Video content covered by the deal includes access to Sky News’ breaking and live television news channel for social clips, as well as the use of judges’ sentencing remarks from the ‘cameras in courts’ feed.

The radio service provided by Sky News for IRN is 24 hours a day, producing scripts, audio clips, and live and recorded bulletins, along with match reporting rights for the Premier League and Wimbledon tennis coverage.

Commercial radio has a weekly listenership of 39.9 million per week according to the latest RAJAR figures.

David Rhodes, Executive Chairman of Sky News Group, said: “We’re delighted to continue our collaboration with IRN, and expand our service to commercial radio stations across the UK with video access.”  

Tim Molloy, Managing Director of IRN, said: “IRN is very happy to continue our successful partnership with Sky News. In an uncertain world commercial radio news teams rely on IRN for coverage of the biggest stories at home and abroad, which will now include video for the first time.”