Leeds-based Wire Free Productions has been commissioned by BBC Radio 5 live for a new Sunday evening show that aims to be the UK’s first top 40 news chart.
The 5 live Hit List, presented by Emma Barnett, will see Wire Free work with sociologists and computer scientists from some of the UK’s top universities to produce a chart based on the UK’s “most clickable content”.
A “unique algorithm” will be used to analyse key word and hashats to rank the impact of stories from the worlds of news, politics, sport and showbiz.
Emma Barnett will present
The show will also feature guests and audience input and reaction via text and social media, while the chart will simultaneously be revealed online and on Twitter.
Barnett, the former digital media editor of The Daily Telegraph, is the youngest presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and has presented shows on other radio networks for several years.
She said: “Presenting The 5 live Hit List is going to be very revealing indeed. It combines three of my biggest interests: the fast paced world of social media, brilliant stories going crazy and of course, radio. Let the chart commence.”
Jonathan Wall, 5 live controller, added: “At 5 live we love nothing more than trying new formats and turning innovative ideas into live radio. In Emma Barnett we have one of the brightest young presenting talents in the country – she’s a great writer and I have no doubt she will be a top class broadcaster for Radio 5 live too.”
Wire Free was founded by the broadcaster and former director of BBC Radio, Matthew Bannister, and former 5 live editor and head of programmes of the BBC Asian Network, Husain Husaini.
The show will begin on November 9 and its regular slot will be 7.30pm-10pm.
