talkSPORT Gains Exclusive Radio Rights to 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia

talkSPORT, symptoms the world’s biggest sports radio station, pills has signed an agreement to broadcast exclusive UK radio commentary of the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia.

The station will broadcast all 10 British & Irish Lions matches, including the three Tests against Australia and the warm up match in Hong Kong against the Barbarians, on a multiplatform basis across 1089 / 1053AM, digital radio and online at talkSPORT.co.uk. This will be the first time ever that a Lions tour has been exclusively broadcast on commercial radio in the UK.

talkSPORT’s sister station Swansea Sound in South Wales will also be broadcasting  coverage of the Tour and live Test commentary.

The first 2013 British & Irish Lions match is against the Barbarians on Saturday 1 June and the Tour to Australia begins with the cream of British and Irish rugby taking on Western Force on Wednesday 5 June. The 2013 Tour continues until Saturday 6 July with the third and final Test against Australia in Sydney.

talkSPORT was the exclusive UK radio broadcaster of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and is an official broadcaster of Aviva Premiership Rugby. The station has a dedicated weekly rugby programme ‘Full Contact’ and previously broadcast commentary of the three Test matches during the 2005 Lions Tour to New Zealand on a non-exclusive basis in the UK. talkSPORT is also an official broadcaster of the FA Cup, England football internationals, the Capital One Cup and is global audio partner of the Barclays Premier League.

Moz Dee, talkSPORT Programme Director, said: “The Lions Tour is one of the biggest events in sport, and we’re proud to be bringing this exclusively to our audience. We had a great Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and we can’t wait to follow the Lions in Australia. talkSPORT will be announcing a great team to cover the Tour and we’re delighted that our sister station Swansea Sound will also be broadcasting the Tests and giving our coverage a regional flavour.”

Scott Taunton, talkSPORT Chief Executive, commented: “UTV Media (GB) continues to invest in talkSPORT, and we’re delighted that the station will broadcast this event exclusively as it offers advertisers and sponsors a unique opportunity both nationally and regionally. Our commitment to rugby has been consistent after the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and our partnership with the Aviva Premiership.”

John Feehan, Lions Chief Executive, added: “talkSPORT has become a major force in UK sports radio with proven experience in live rugby broadcasting. It’s proper that the Lions Tour in its 125th year looks for dynamic new partners that benefit both our sponsors and fans and we’re extremely pleased to be working with talkSPORT.”