IRN signs new deal with Sky News

Following a formal tender process IRN has chosen Sky News Radio to be its main news supplier for at least a further two years. The current agreement - which was agreed in March 2009 - expires next March.

Commenting on the decision IRN Managing Director Tim Molloy said: “The IRN Board chose Sky News mainly on the strength of their performance over the last four and a half years but also with confidence that they will continue to invest in providing world class national and international news coverage around the clock.”

“In particular the ability of stations to augment their IRN service by taking their own ‘Off-Air’ clips directly from Sky News and Sky Sports News is an invaluable and unique tool for their newsrooms, not least in the event of a major breaking story”

Sky News Radio’s performance as IRN’s supplier was independently recognised at this year’s Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards, where the judges awarded IRN the coveted News Coverage of the Year and commented: “IRN demonstrated a very firm footing across a number of diverse and major stories during the year, with coverage that was authoritative, thoughtful, imaginatively packaged and presented with excellent use of audio from locations around the world. Overall the depth, range and consistent quality of the coverage that rivalled the BBC made IRN the clear winner.”

Tim Molloy added: “With Sky News’ help I am confident that the IRN service will continue to be judged positively and continue to be relevant for the leading radio brands and their diverse audiences around the UK.”

Nick Herm, Chief Operating Officer, commented “Sky News is delighted to have retained the contract with IRN, which will see our successful partnership continue.  As an innovative 24 hour news operation, we pride ourselves on our multi-product approach to delivering world class journalism to millions of households.”

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About Sky News

Sky News is an unrivalled, world class breaking news service with a spirit of innovation and a fresh approach to news broadcasting. As the UK's first dedicated 24-hour news channel, Sky News has built a deserved reputation for being the first to break major news as well as offering insight and analysis on the latest stories. It is renowned for the speed of its coverage and flexibility of reporting news live across all its platforms - TV, mobile, online, radio and iPad. There have been over 8 million downloads of the Sky News app to mobile devices.

About IRN

Established since 1973 IRN supplies virtually all of the UK commercial radio market with national and international news feeds - over 300 stations. The service includes hourly news bulletins 24/7 in addition to regular feeds of news cuts, cues and scripts, programme packages covering main news, sport, showbiz, money and environment.

IRN is funded by advertising sold into news spots which are provided by stations in exchange for the news feeds. IRN aggregates the spots from each client station into one national package called Newslink - the leading radio network package - which has a weekly reach of over 27 million listeners. The biggest spot is at 8 am on Monday when over 6 million listeners hear the same advert across the UK, broadcast simultaneously on over 300 stations.

In March 2009 Sky News Radio won the contract to become the lead supplier of the IRN service, other suppliers include the Press Association and Murf Media.

IRN is also responsible for a range of network services including: distribution of network programmes - such as the Big Top 40 chart show, local radio football rights and the Royal Rota for commercial radio. In addition IRN provides a subsidised news service to hospital, community, RSL’s and university radio operations.