Talksport Secures Global Epl Rights
talkSPORT has announced a deal with the Premier League for an exclusive package of international audio broadcasting rights for the next four football seasons, that will see the UK’s only sports dedicated radio station become the global audio partner of the Premier League outside the European Economic Area.
The station will now be able to broadcast commentary on all 380 Barclays Premier League games in multiple languages, including English, Spanish and Mandarin.
From August 2012, sports fans outside Europe will have access to a new global audio service from talkSPORT offering access to Premier League football, alongside other relevant sports audio, with distribution via the internet and mobile apps.
talkSPORT, already an official broadcaster of the Barclays Premier League in the UK, also intends to establish a network of global radio partners in markets such as Asia, North America and Africa.
Production of the international output will come from expanded studios at talkSPORT’s existing premises in London and the station will also increase its editorial and commercial teams.
UTV Media plc group companies such as Tibus and Simply Zesty will assist in the delivery of the project by providing technical and digital marketing expertise, and the project will also be supported by appropriate investment from UTV.
Scott Taunton, chief executive, talkSPORT said: ‘This is a huge development for talkSPORT which builds on the significant progress the station has made in the UK in recent years. I’m really excited about the potential for talkSPORT as a global brand, invoking the same passion in listeners and advertisers overseas as it does in the UK. We’ll be expanding our London office studio and production space and I can’t wait to see the buzz on matchdays.’
John McCann, group chief executive, UTV Media plc commented: ‘Since UTV acquired talkSPORT in 2005, we have invested significantly in sports rights and presenters to successfully reposition talkSPORT as the brand leader for sports audio content in the UK.’
‘Today’s agreement with the Premier League is part of UTV’s strategy to market talkSPORT globally. We look forward to building on talkSPORT’s reputation for quality sports content with international audiences and advertisers alike, backed up by UTV’s expertise in global digital delivery.’
Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, added: ‘We are extremely pleased to enter into a new international agreement with talkSPORT and welcome them as our new global audio rights partner.’
‘talkSPORT currently offers excellent Barclays Premier League radio commentary coverage in the UK and we look forward to that being available to millions of fans across the globe with English, Spanish and Mandarin broadcasts in territories outside of Europe for four seasons from 2012/13.’
‘As we’re seeing in the closing stages of this season the Barclays Premier League is a compelling competition and radio rights are important to ensuring that as many fans as possible can follow the League and their club.’
talkSPORT has also been shortlisted for Sport Brand of the Year sponsored by Pinsent Masons, and Sport Website of the Year at the Sport Industry Awards 2012.
Ahead of the event on 2nd May, Adam Bullock, Managing Director, talkSPORT & Sport Magazine Sales, is one of the key figures in the industry whose organisation has been shortlisted for a Sport Industry Award to star in Sport Industry TV’s #SIA2012 Headlines series. Watch it here.
