Until 3 years ago, BBC Radio 5 Live had the sole official rights to provide live commentary for Premier League football matches, when TalkSport, owned by UTV (formerly Ulster Television), became the first national commercial station to broadcast live matchday commentaries.

The BBC has reportedly now surrendered one third of its live Premier League commentaries, having managed to secure only four (compared to its current six) of the rights packages offered by the Premier League for the 2010-11 season. The four packages secured comprise some 128 games, a significant decrease on the 192 matches being transmitted on Radio 5 Live for the 2009-10 season. The new arrangements will mean that 5 Live will continue to have “first pick” of Saturday’s 3p.m. matches and 12.30p.m. kick-offs, along with Sunday 4p.m. and Monday 8p.m. games.

However, TalkSport secured two of the seven, three-year packages, thus doubling its quota of live commentary games to 64, including the 5.30p.m. Saturday and 1.30p.m Sunday games, currently the premise of the BBC. According to the “digitalspy” website, TalkSport Chief Executive Scott Taunton said that the new agreement represents a “great day” for both the station and the commercial radio industry. He expressed his delight in saying, “To have won the rights to broadcast live and exclusive Barclays Premier League football on both a Saturday and a Sunday, when no other national radio broadcaster – including the BBC – has commentary, puts the station at the very heart of Premier League football in the UK. Our distinctive, passionate and energetic approach to Premier League commentaries has proved to have widespread appeal. We’re now able to provide listeners and advertisers with the best Premier League action through our live commentaries as well as all the up-to-the-minute action from around the grounds.” Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore also expressed his approval, “We are extremely pleased that we’ve been able to continue and develop our relationship with TalkSport and that the station will now be home to not one, but two live and exclusive Barclays Premier League matches every weekend.”

As reported by the same site, 5 Live controller Adrian Van Klaveren was well pleased to secure four Premiership packages despite “unprecedented competition.” With no apparent disappointment, he said, “We know how important live football, above all the Premier League, is to our audience so it is very good news that we will continue to offer 5 Live listeners the fullest football coverage, including not only the Premier League but also the Champions’ League, international matches, the FA Cup, the Football League and Scottish Premier League.”

Absolute Radio has reportedly secured the remaining rights package to broadcast live commentary from the Premier League, ending the domination of the BBC and TalkSport. According to The Guardian, the 3–year agreement entitles Absolute (formerly Virgin Radio) to broadcast commentary from 32 Saturday 3p.m.Premier League games, essentially a “second pick” behind 5 Live. CEO Clive Dickens said that football added an “obvious extension” to Absolute’s music/entertainment content, adding, “We have a solid presenter line-up including world-class comedic talent Frank Skinner and Dave Gorman, an unprecedented support of live music and now this new exclusive football offering. It is a compelling mix.”