The BBC is "desperately trying" to keep flagship radio show Test Match Special alive by moving its talent to a new online app after losing the rights to all of England’s major overseas tours for the next two years, according to Tom Morgan of the London TELEGRAPH. Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan and Phil Tufnell will stay in the U.K. to record the show away from the cricket commentary box "as part of a sneaky fightback" against Talksport for England's tour of Sri Lanka. Agnew and his colleagues are "expected to pull together their analysis from Sky Sports footage after being forced to stay at home to make The Cricket Social while ball-by-ball coverage is provided by their commercial rival." A BBC spokesperson said, "The majority of Test Match Special names will be in the U.K. We will be building on our ever-popular online coverage, with the stars of Test Match Special presenting an interactive cricket show." BBC Radio 5 Live and other outlets will "still use live updates from reporters at the matches in Sri Lanka, but not live commentary" (TELEGRAPH, 10/2).
