Capital lands Big Brother radio show

Channel 4's Commercial Development department and Endemol Entertainment UK has signed a significant agreement with Capital Radio Group, and production company G-One, which will give Capital Radio and its national network of stations exclusive radio partner status for Channel 4's second Big Brother series.

Capital Radio Group is the first and only radio broadcast partner to sign an agreement for exclusive Big Brother audio highlights with Channel 4 and Endemol UK. Capital Radio will air programming on its London station, plus other stations within its UK network - including BRMB in Birmingham and Beat 106 in Scotland. Claire Marshall, Managing Director of G-One Productions, has negotiated the deal on behalf of Channel 4, Endemol UK and Capital Radio.

Says Mark Lesbirel, Commercial Development Controller, Channel 4, 'We are delighted to have signed this deal with Capital which will enable us to bring key elements of Big Brother to even more people throughout the UK. Capital Radio attracts a young, upmarket audience and is the perfect radio partner for Channel 4's second Big Brother series.'

Adds Lucas Church, Managing Director of Endemol UK commercial arm, Gem, 'Once again we are making Big Brother available through a multitude of different media. This partnership with Capital is yet another step towards it becoming an even bigger and more exciting project than last year.'

Jeff Smith, Programme Controller, 95.8 Capital FM said "Big Brother has proved to be unmissable TV and Capital is sure to make it 'must listen to' radio too".

As well as Breakfast Bulletins - to be sponsored by Carphone Warehouse - there will be opportunities to win tickets to the Big Brother eviction night. The Big Brother radio programming will also include a one-hour dance music programme to be aired on Capital Radio stations immediately following the Friday night eviction show. DJ Paul Oakenfold, producer of the Big Brother UK Theme, will create a dance music soundtrack to the audio clips from the week's events in the Big Brother house.

Additionally, a second Big Brother soundtrack album will be released, and will feature contemporary dance music taken from the TV programme and Friday night radio show. The soundtrack will be released as a CD by Channel 4 Music.