BBC and Talksport Share Twenty20 Coverage

BBC Radio Five Live and TalkSport will carry live Twenty20 Cup games next Summer after a new deal was announced by the ECB in London today

(PRWEB) December 26, 2004 -- BBC Radio Five Live and TalkSport will carry live Twenty20 Cup games next Summer after a new deal was announced by the ECB in London today.

BBC Radio has also been awarded the non-exclusive rights to cover domestic cricket including the Twenty20 Cup. In addition, The Wireless Group, which owns TalkSPORT Radio, has also been awarded the non-exclusive rights to the domestic Twenty20 Cup competition, thus becoming the first commercial radio station to be given the broadcast rights to live domestic cricket.

David Morgan, ECB Chairman, said, "I am delighted to have renewed our deal with BBC Radio, which has been such an excellent partner for cricket over the years. BBC Radio has a huge audience reach and, in addition to TMS on Radio Four, is able to promote the game on Radio Five Live, on Radio One and on BBC local radio."

"We also welcome TalkSport as a partner for the Twenty20 Cup. They have provided high quality live cricket commentary in the past and we look forward to working with them to promote the Twenty20 Cup to an even wider audience in the future."

Mike Franklin, Managing Director of TalkSPORT said, "the Twenty20 Cup competition has caught the public's imagination and brought in a new audience to cricket. talkSPORT's distinctive cricket coverage fits well with the excitement of the Twenty20 format and will appeal to talkSPORT listeners."

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