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Woolworths is tipped to be on the verge of signing as the next sponsor for the Network Chart Show, taking over from Pepsi, which ended its nine-year association last year.

Other brands, including Wrigley, this week remained in the frame, but the retail brand was understood to be locked in the advanced stages of talks with Capital Radio, which oversees the commercial side of the chart, regarding a tie-up.

Sources say Woolworths previously expressed an interest in The Network Chart Show, but was unable to break Pepsi's stronghold on the property.

The brand also recently signed as headline sponsor of the Smash! Hits Poll Winners' Party in a deal worth more than £1m.

Although Capital refused to comment on the speculation,
it claimed that a new sponsor will be revealed on-air in
February. Capital Radio operations director Paul Davies said: "This is an exciting time to relaunch the show.

"Unique has been working with all the major network programme controllers over the past three months to trial and perfect a new formula for the show and we are convinced that 'Hit 40 UK' will be a huge success within commercial radio and beyond."

Production of the show is under the Unique Broadcasting Company (UBC).

Delays in sponsorship talks meant The Network Chart Show has been forced to launch unsponsored under the banner "Hit 40 UK" this week. DJ Neil Fox  will continue to present it.

Rival Emap property The Smash! Hits Chart Show has sealed three new syndicated deals across non-Emap owned Real Radio, Forever and Tindle groups, boosting coverage in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Network Chart received a blow last year when Emap decided to withdraw the Network Chart from broadcast across its Big City stations.

The Smash! Hits Chart is also available on Smash! Hits and Kiss Dab Digital radio and Emap's Smash! Hits music TV channel.

Emap's new syndication deals, effective immediately, add an extra 1.3 million potential listeners and create a total potential analogue radio audience of over six million listeners. The Smash! Hits chart allows listeners, TV viewers and web users to influence the chart position of the acts by phone voting or testing for tracks.

Emap Performance programming director Andy Roberts said: "We have been overwhelmed by the reaction to the Smash! Hits Chart.

"Not only does the Smash! Hits Chart put music fans
in control, but each week it will also boast the biggest names in pop."