The GUARDIAN's John Plunkett reports the BBC has "lost exclusive radio rights to the FA Cup, sharing the world's oldest domestic football competition for the first time with a commercial rival, TalkSport." The FA Cup matches will be split after TalkSport signed a "six-year deal which also includes England friendly internationals." TalkSport also has "bagged the rights to broadcast FA Cup games around the world as part of its new global broadcast operation due to launch at the beginning of next season" (GUARDIAN, 7/27).
GO PACK GO: In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley noted former NFLer Mark Tauscher "has been hired by the Journal Broadcast Group to provide pre- and post-game commentary on Packers radio broadcasts, and pre-game commentary on the Packers TV network this season" (JSONLINE.com, 7/25). The Packers Thursday announced the official team website, Packers.com, will add Pro Football HOFer and broadcaster Larry McCarren to its coverage. McCarren will offer insight and analysis through videos on a daily basis during training camp. His video work also will include interviews with players and coaches, game previews and game observations (Packers).
DEPARTURES: Thunder sideline reporter Kelly Crull said that she "is exploring other career options and will not be returning for her third season" with the team. In Oklahoma City, Mel Bracht notes Crull joined the Thunder in August '10 "after spending the previous two years as a sports reporter" for KOCO-ABC (OKLAHOMAN, 7/27). The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES wrote the city "will lose one of its own" when Comcast SportsNet Chicago reporter Sarah Kustok "signs off" the net in the coming weeks. Kustok began her career with CSN in '09 and "more recently has performed fill-in anchor and studio work for" WMAQ-NBC. There is "no word yet as to where" Kustok is headed (SUNTIMES.com, 7/26).
