BBC Radio 5 has renewed its contract to broadcast FA Carling Premiership games live. The three-year deal runs from the beginning of the 2001-2002 season and will see Five Live increase its Premiership coverage from 120 to 180 matches per season.
Its rival TalkSport has also clinched a deal with the Premier League, however. Kelvin MacKenzie’s national sports station has secured the right to have a reporter at each game, providing news flashes on goals and major incidents.
Mike Parry, head of sport at TalkSport, said: “I’m delighted at the beginning of a relationship with the Premier League which will grow with the years. This will improve our service to our audience, which during the autumn has simply exploded.”
BBC Radio will remain the only national broadcaster with full rights to cover the competition. Bob Shennan, controller of BBC Radio, said: “Five Live has covered the Premier League since its inception and we have contributed a great deal besides cash to the growth of the competition on radio.”
