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26 Jul 2012 16:41
26 July 2012
Trading Update - UTV Media plc talkSPORT SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION TO BROADCAST FA CUP WORLDWIDE UNTIL 2018 * Deal grants talkSPORT exclusive commercial radio rights for FA Cup for the first time in UK and global rights including Europe for talkSPORT International which launches next month. * Deal also includes Community Shield worldwide rights and selected England Games UK rights.
UTV Media plc (UTV) is pleased to announce that talkSPORT for the first time will be broadcasting live audio commentary of FA Cup matches in the UK following today's agreement with the Football Association (FA).
Additionally, talkSPORT's new international service talkSPORT Live launches on 18 August, 2012, and will now offer unparalleled access to FA Cup matches as well as all Premier League games with distribution via the internet, mobile apps and international broadcast partners.
The latest 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, talkSPORT said: "Today's announcement clearly positions talkSPORT as the leading commercial sports radio station worldwide.
"The FA Cup is the original and most historic cup competition in the world. 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 in the UK for the first time ever.
"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."
John McCann, Group Chief Executive, UTV Media plc said: "Today's agreement with the FA is part of UTV's strategy to market talkSPORT globally and build on the station's fantastic success in the UK since it was acquired by UTV in 2005.
"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."
talkSPORT will broadcast live audio commentary of FA Cup matches, the Community Shield and selected England matches on AM, digital radio and online in the UK from the start of the 2012/2013 season, beginning with the Community Shield on 12 August until the end of the 2017/2018 season.
The station will also 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, talkSPORT's new live sports audio service for overseas listeners talkSPORT will be the FA's exclusive global commercial radio partner throughout the deal.
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.
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For further information contact:
UTV Media plcOrla McKibbin Head of Communications +44 (0) 28 9026 2188
Maitland
Rowan Brown +44 (0) 20 7379 5151
XLON
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