Smooth FM Signs Up For Chelsea FC Coverage

GMG Radio’s Smooth FM is to begin airing football coverage from August, with the station’s first sports-coverage provided by a deal with Chelsea FC to carry full commentary rights for the next three seasons.

The deal marks the first time that all of Chelsea’s games will be broadcast in London on FM, and signals the first live sports coverage ever aired by Smooth, formerly branded as Jazz FM (see Smooth FM Hits London Airwaves As Jazz Bows Out).

Smooth FM’s coverage will follow every Chelsea game, both home and away, including those in the FA Cup, Carling Cup and Champions League ties, and Barclay’s Premier League games.

Explaining the significance of the deal, John Myers, GMG Radio’s chief executive, said: “This is an important strand of our future programming at 102.2 Smooth FM. We are delighted to provide Chelsea football fans with coverage of all their games – and on the FM frequency.

“Clearly, this will enhance our offering to listeners and advertisers and we look forward to providing exciting coverage for the new season and beyond”

Peter Kenyon, chief executive of Chelsea FC added: “Our club is going through an exciting phase and it’s important to us that our fans can listen to each and every game on FM across the Capital. For the first time we are able to point people to one outlet that is guaranteed to carry coverage of the Blues.”

Smooth FM launched across London last month, following GMG Radio’s decision to cease FM broadcasts of Jazz FM, instead using its capacity to operate Smooth within the capital (see Smooth FM Hits London Airwaves As Jazz Bows Out).

The move was designed to attract a larger audience share through a wider range of music and content, following Jazz FM’s poor performance and declining audience share.

The repositioning of Smooth FM was made possible by a relaxation of Jazz FM’s remit by Ofcom, allowing a wider range of content to be broadcast and, ultimately, for Jazz FM to be taken off FM broadcasts, continuing via DAB digital and internet radio, while it’s FM signals were taken over by Smooth FM (see Jazz FM To Increase Advertiser Appeal With Mixed Playlists).

Guardian Media Group: 020 7713 4452 www.gmgplc.co.uk