TalkSport Inks Deal To Air EPL Matches On Chinese Radio Starting With '13-14 Season

TalkSport has “struck a deal to air” EPL matches in China in what is “thought to be the first time officially sanctioned coverage has been made available on radio in the world's most populous nation,” according to Mark Sweney of the GUARDIAN. TalkSport parent company UTV Media “struck a deal last April” for EPL radio rights outside of Europe through ‘16. TalkSport has now “reached a deal with Adrep China Advertising Services to develop” its EPL offering in China. The “long-term collaboration agreement has been reached in time for TalkSport to launch a live Mandarin radio service covering the most popular” EPL matches from the start of the ’13-14 season in August. The deal also will “extend to FA Cup coverage and Capital One Cup football.” An EPL spokesperson said that he “believed it was the first time that its official rights have been exploited on radio in China” (GUARDIAN, 4/17).