talkSPORT WINS WORLDWIDE BROADCAST RIGHTS TO FA CUP 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.

For the first time talkSPORT 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.”

Moz Dee, Programme Director, talkSPORT, said: “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: “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.

“The FA Cup enjoyed a highly successful campaign in Budweiser’s first year as sponsor and there’s a real appetite for the competition ahead of the 2012-13 season and the Extra-Preliminary Round on August 10.

“It will be an exciting year for England as Roy Hodgson leads us into the World Cup qualifying campaign and some mouth-watering fixtures as part of The FA’s 150th anniversary celebrations.”

“We thank BBC 5 Live and talkSPORT for their support and look forward to working with both over the next six seasons.”

talkSPORT will broadcast live audio commentary of FA Cup matches, the Community Shield and 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.