talkSport, BBC & Absolute Radio Renew Premier League Radio Rights

The Premier League has secured three new radio broadcast deals with talkSport, BBC and Absolute Radio.

talkSport has bagged two Barclays Premier League packages for the next three football seasons.

The deal means that talkSPORT will be the exclusive audio rights holders for the Saturday late and Sunday lunchtime matches.

talkSPORT will broadcast between 60 and 64 matches in total each season, with the opportunity to build on the unprecedented increase in audience that Premier League commentary has given the station over the past three years, when it first grabbed these rights from the BBC.

talkSPORT Chief Executive, Scott Taunton, said: “We’re really pleased to have secured these two Barclays Premier League packages, as it puts us in a firm position to build on our past success and drive the business forward.

“Over the past six years, we have established ourselves as a major player in providing exciting, energetic and distinctive Premier League commentary. We have proved that we are providing what people want – and now, with the extra rights we have secured already and with a firm policy to continue investing in sports rights, we can move forward to gain recognition as a bigger player not just with the Premier League but across the board.”

The BBC has secured four existing packages of rights which kick-offs at Saturday lunchtime, first choice of Saturday’s 15:00 kick-offs, Sunday at 16:00 and Monday/Tuesday evenings – have been retained until 2015-16.

BBC director of sport Barbara Slater said: “Radio 5 live remains the home of live football on the radio, with more FA Premier League matches than any other broadcaster.”

She added: “The contract extension reinforces the BBC’s commitment to securing premium radio rights for the long-term, despite a competitive market.

“Comprehensive coverage of football on Radio 5 live is a key part of our audience offering and a driving force behind the continued integration of our football service.

Absolute Radio has got a further three year deal to broadcast live and exclusive Barclays Premier League football commentary across our Sony Award winning Rock N Roll Football Show. We only bid for one package and we’re pleased we have kept them.