Kelvin MacKenzie is planning to launch a TV version of his TalkSport news, chat, punditry and sports coverage based radio station on Sky's digital platform next month, Media Guardian reports today.

TalkSport TV will initially timeshare for six hours a day with Get Lucky TV on EPG number 235 from October 4th.

Mr MacKenzie said he was hoping TalkSport listeners would tune in to the TV offering - which will broadcast from 4pm to 10pm - after they had got home in the evening.

"What people do is listen to TalkSport in their cars and when they get home they turn the TV on... If they have got the TV on, maybe they'll watch TalkSport."

Initially the service will be a televisation of TalkSport's anchors and pundits at work.

TalkSport has already applied to BSkyB - which is 35.4% owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, which also has a 38% stake in the Wireless Group through its News International subsidiary - for a 24-hour licence on its own channel.

Mr MacKenzie unveiled his plans as parent company the Wireless Group announced its half-year operating profit had more than doubled to £1.63m in the six months to June 30th, thanks to the increased interest in radio among advertisers and a Euro 2004 windfall.

TalkSport added nearly £1m of revenue in June as a result of the football tournament, which saw England lose out on penalties to host nation Portugal.