TALK TV RESHUFFLES SCHEDULE FOLLOWING PIERS MORGAN DEPARTURE

Piers Morgan has announced that his Piers Morgan Uncensored programme will be produced as a digital offering rather than being broadcast on Talk TV in a linear television schedule.

As a result, Talk TV have reshuffled their schedule to fill the gap let by Morgan at 8pm. The Independent Republic Of Mike Graham will remain 2 hours, but start an hour earlier at 8pm. Repeats of The Talk and Primetime with Rosanna Lockwood will air at 10pm and 11pm respectively.

The new version of Piers Morgan's programme will be a YouTube-first broadcast with news-making interviews, heated debates and fiery monologues. Morgan will continue his relationship with News UK (the owners of Talk TV) with his new show, with selected interviews still airing on Talk TV.

Piers Morgan told Semafor: "I’ve just decided that I no longer want to create my show for linear television - I just want to go full digital globally...

"There’s something quite anachronistic about a show like mine still trying to create old fashioned TV for a pre-scheduled time slot each night for a relatively small audience - when we’re getting such gigantic audiences digitally."

Scott Taunton, executive vice-president of broadcasting for News UK, said: "More and more, audiences are consuming video news and opinion online through their phones and this evolution is set to continue. It’s also where the advertising revenues are...

"Creating professional quality, TV-like video that does well digitally - via streaming services and social media - will be the focus of future investment for all our brands, including Talk."

Piers Morgan Uncensored relaunches on YouTube from Monday 19th February. Talk TV is available on Sky channel 522.