This weekend Leicester City begin their Premier League title defence when they take on Hull.
For the 2016/17 season the commentary rights awarded by the league are split between BBC Radio 5 live with five ‘packages’ whilst talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 pick up the remaining three.
BBC Radio 5 live have announced a new programme for the 2016/17 season. The Friday Football Social sees Jermaine Jenas team up with Darren Fletcher as they preview the fixtures and talking points ahead of each weekend. The first instalment will air on Friday, 26th August. Football phone-in 606 returns with Final Score presenter Jason Mohammad. Ian Wright and Kelly Cates, who has moved from Channel 5’s football coverage to Sky Sports, will host the Sunday edition.
The BBC news and sport station will also cover Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League, internationals and women’s football.
Returning commentators include Alan Green and Ian Dennis, alongside pundits Danny Mills, Robbie Savage, Mark Lawrenson, Martin Keown and others.
Local BBC radio stations continue to cover their local teams, with BBC Tees recently extending their coverage of newly promoted Middlesbrough for another three years.
talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 become the only national commercial radio stations in the UK to carry live Premier League commentary. The station will broadcast 28 matches each Sunday afternoon, which normally kick off at 1.30pm or 2.15pm. talkSPORT has also retained rights for late Saturday afternoon matches, which normally commence at 5.30pm.
Specific Saturday afternoon matches will also play out on new digital radio station talkSPORT 2 at 3pm.
“We are very pleased that talkSPORT has been awarded three of the Premier League’s live audio packages, giving us the opportunity to play out more live Premier League football for our listeners than ever before,” said Scott Taunton, Chief Operating Officer at talkSPORT’s owner Wireless Group.
The station also broadcasts fixtures from the FA Cup, Champions League and England internationals.