Premier League sells UK live audio rights to BBC and talkSPORT

The Premier League has completed the sale of its UK live audio commentary rights for the next four seasons, 2025/26 to 2028/29.

Six packages of rights were tendered and, following a competitive process, have been awarded to the BBC and talkSPORT as follows:

The six packs provide live audio commentary rights to all Premier League matches that take place outside of Saturday 7pm. Two matches within each 3pm window will be selected for audio broadcast.

On the last day of each season, four matches will be selected for audio broadcast. Midweek event programs will be provided by Audio Broadcaster for Pack 2, 3 and 6.

Premier League media chief Paul Molnar said: “We are delighted to continue our long-term partnerships with the BBC and talkSPORT, both of which have consistently delivered excellent live Premier League football across a wide range of platforms. Their engaging live commentary and wider programming is an essential service for Premier League fans across the UK and we look forward to working with both organizations over the next four seasons.”

Heidi Dawson, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra said: “With more live commentary matches than ever before, BBC Radio 5 Live remains the home of Premier League football. For the next four years, 5 Live will bring football fans the biggest games of the weekend with all the drama and excitement of the world’s biggest football league.”

News UK EVP, President of Broadcasting, Scott Taunton said: “Today we continue our partnership as the Premier League’s only national commercial radio partner, bringing all the action across weeknights, including Monday Night Football, as well as kicking off the weekend with the exclusive Saturday lunchtime game. talkSPORT maintains its position as the home of football. , with more live games than any other radio station.

“Our unrivaled presenting and commentary teams across talkSPORT and talkSPORT2 deliver best-in-class live coverage to millions of football fans across the UK for the Premier League, as well as games across all major football tournaments.”

Splitting of packages

Live Sound Pack 1: (Approximately 65 live matches)

(a) Two (2) live matches scheduled to start at 15:00 on the Saturday of each weekend schedule where two (2) or more matches are scheduled to be played at that time (except for any shared FA Cup Final Weekend and the final day of the season);
(b) On any split FA Cup Final weekend, two (2) matches on the Sunday in the time slot used for matches not selected as part of the Live Audio-Visual Packages AE (provisionally 15:00) as long as there are two (2) or more matches played in that slot; and
(c) One (1) additional Live Match on the last day of the season.

Live Sound Pack 2: (Approximately 43 live matches)

(a) All matches scheduled to start at 12.30pm on Saturday (or around 12.30pm on Sunday on any split FA Cup Final weekend);
(b) All matches scheduled for kick-off at 19.30 – 20.00 on Saturdays;
(c) All 10 matches played as part of the second midweek programme; and
(d) An additional live match on the last day of the season.

Live Sound Pack 3: (Approximately 43 live matches)

(a) All matches scheduled to start at 5.30pm on Saturday (or around 5.30pm on Sunday on any split FA Cup Final weekend);
(b) All 10 matches played as part of the fifth midweek programme; and
(c) An additional live match on the last day of the season.

Live Audio Pack 4: (Approximately 66 Live Matches)

(a) All matches scheduled to start at 2pm on Sunday (or around 7pm on the Sunday of any split FA Cup Final weekend).

Live Audio Package 5: (Approx. 35 Live Matches)

(a) All matches scheduled to start at 15.30 – 16.30 on Sundays (except possibly shared FA Cup Final weekend);
(b) Each match played as part of a shared FA Cup Final weekend by a club playing in the FA Cup Final in that season; and
(c) An additional live match on the last day of the season.

Live Audio Pack 6: (Approximately 68 matches)

(a) All matches scheduled to start at 19.30-20.00 on Fridays;
(b) All matches scheduled to start at 12.00 on Sundays (except possibly shared FA Cup Final Weekend);
(c) All matches scheduled to start at 8pm on Mondays (including any split FA Cup Final weekend);
(d) All matches postponed from the weekend fixtures and rescheduled to be played on midweek evenings (other than matches falling within (a) and (c) above, but excluding any FA Cup final matches postponed to midweek); and
(e) All thirty (30) matches played as part of the first, third and fourth midweek schedule.