talkSPORT Launches new international sports broadcasting service and snares FA Cup rights

As talkSPORT expands from its UK base into Australia and the Asia Pacific region, the station has announced another high profile rights deal and the launch date for its international broadcasts. talkSPORT has secured exclusive commercial radio rights to broadcast FA Cup matches for the first time in the UK and has also snared global rights for talkSPORT International. FA Cup broadcast rights were previously only held by the BBC.

The new international service, called talkSPORT Live, launches on the 18th of August, and will now be able to offer access to the FA Cup matches as well as all Premier League games, with distribution via the internet, mobile apps and international broadcast partners.
 

The station will have the full syndication rights to broadcast FA Cup matches and the Community Shield worldwide in any language. Digital distribution will be via talkSPORT Live, www.talksport.com, a new live sports audio service for overseas listeners. talkSPORT will be the FA’s exclusive global commercial radio partner throughout the deal.

The latest FA Cup agreement follows the announcement in April that talkSPORT had signed an exclusive deal with the Premier League to broadcast live commentary of all Premier League matches outside the European Economic Area in multiple languages including English, Spanish and Mandarin for the next four seasons.

 

Scott Taunton, Chief Executive of talkSPORT said: “Today’s announcement clearly positions talkSPORT as the leading commercial sports radio station worldwide… The opportunity to broadcast FA Cup games internationally has been a key part of our global plans for talkSPORT Live and today’s rights announcement opens up the European market to us. We are in the process of creating a network of global radio and distribution partners for talkSPORT Live.”

talkSPORT PD Moz Dee believes The FA Cup “creates some of the best drama and stories in football… I’m extremely excited that this deal gives us the ability to bring talkSPORT’s passion and analysis to the FA Cup, Community Shield and England friendlies to our listeners.”

General Secretary for The FA, Alex Horne, commented on the expansion of broadcast rights beyond just the BBC: “We’re delighted that two high profile broadcasters in BBC 5 Live and talkSPORT will be bringing The FA Cup with Budweiser, England internationals and the Community Shield to large audiences nationwide… We thank BBC 5 Live and talkSPORT for their support and look forward to working with both over the next six seasons.”

Launched in 2000, talkSPORT is the world’s largest dedicated sports radio station with a UK audience of more than 3.2 million adults and was named Sony Radio Academy Station of the Year in 2011.