ON the day the new First Utility Super League season kicks off, talkSPORT – the world’s biggest sports radio station – and talkSPORT 2 – the new national 24-hour sports radio station which launches on the March 15 – have announced a ground-breaking deal to broadcast more than 100 Super League games over the next two years.
As official broadcast partner of the First Utility Super League, talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 will dedicate more programming to the sport than any other national radio station. In addition to live Super League and Dacia World Club Series fixtures, dedicated magazine programming like the Robbie Hunter Paul Show will give fans of the 13-man code everything they want.
The partnership with the First Utility Super League is the first of the rights deals that have been secured for talkSPORT 2 to be announced. The station, which is part of the UTV Media portfolio of brands, will concentrate on coverage of live sport, including rugby league, cricket, tennis, rugby union, golf, football and horseracing, plus some US sport, and will offer a range of specialised magazine programming that hasn’t had a home on national commercial radio before.
Mike Bovill, Managing Editor of talkSPORT 2, said: “To secure live rights for the First Utility Super League is a huge coup for talkSPORT 2, providing fans of rugby league with a real reason to listen. It’s incredibly exciting to be able to offer more coverage of Super League than any other national UK station – making us the destination for live commentaries and magazine shows.”
Blake Solly, General Manager of First Utility Super League, said: “talkSPORT is one of the best in the business at broadcasting live sport and we are delighted to have agreed a deal which will guarantee rugby fans across the country more than 100 live Super League games over the next two years.
“Rugby League is a fantastic sport that I am sure the listeners of talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 will enjoy week in, week out during the season.”