Five Live Takes Football Debate Show Interactive

BBC Radio Five Live’s football phone-in show, 606, is to be given an interactive element and is to launch on digital TV and the internet in time for the FA Cup Third Round.

For the first time, digital BBC1 viewers will be able to join Five Live’s post-match discussion by pressing the red button on their handset after Match Of The Day at 7.30pm on Saturdays.

The show will continue to be hosted by Jonathan Pearce and will not stray from its established format. However, fans’ text messages and emails will scroll across the screen in an attempt to stimulate debate.

Commenting on the launch, Pearce said: “Five Live’s listeners already know that 606 is the place to be for that essential post match debate. Now we’re bringing together football fans on BBCi and digital television viewers too. If you want to watch my reaction to fans’ calls before you hear it, you can do it on interactive TV.”

BBCi’s online football chat will also relaunch under the 606 interactive umbrella. Visitors to www.bbc.co.uk/606 will find a message board for every club in the Premiership and Nationwide League, as well as the opportunity to listen to 606 live, sample the ‘rant’ line and link through to content from both BBC Sport Online and Five Live.

The latest RAJAR data for the third quarter of 2002 reveals a positive period for BBC Radio Five Live, which has seen its weekly reach increase by 2.1% year on year to 5,837,000, up from 5,717,000 in the same period the previous year.

BBC: 020 8743 800 www.bbc.co.uk

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