BBC wins rights battle

TalkSport boss Kelvin Mackenzie

Commercial radio station TalkSport has been ordered by the High Court to stop labelling its coverage of Euro 2000 as "live" following a complaint from the BBC.

TalkSport, ex-Sun editor Kelvin McKenzie's latest media venture, told the court on Monday it would no longer promote its coverage as "live" or "official" and would make clear that its commentators were watching the games on television away from the stadium.

Exclusive radio rights to Euro 2000 are held nationally by BBC Radio 5 Live and the Capital Radio group of local stations. TalkSport, part of the Wireless Group, has been advertising and promoting its coverage of Euro 2000 as live.

The station, which does not have accreditation to allow personnel into any of the stadia at Euro 2000, has been broadcasting what it claimed to be "live" commentary of the matches from a studio in Amsterdam with its commentators speaking over a sound-effects tape.

TalkSport's promotion and coverage over the weekend was duping listeners

BBC Sport's Bob Shennan

At Monday's hearing, Mr Justice Blackburne ordered TalkSport to make clear on air that their coverage is not "live" in the normal sense, that their commentators are watching the games on television and not in the stadium, and that Talksport does not have broadcast rights to the tournament.

Bob Shennan, head of BBC Sport production and controller-designate of BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "TalkSport's promotion and coverage over the weekend was duping listeners.

"TalkSport aren't in the stadium, they don't have the broadcast rights, they don't have a proper sound feed and they haven't paid for it. Their coverage was simply second-hand."

Contempt

Director of BBC Radio, Jenny Abramsky, said: "This is not live coverage as listeners are entitled to expect. TalkSport is treating its audience and the sport of football with contempt.

"If they had been allowed to get away with this, then listeners and sport would both be the losers."

Shennan added: "If TalkSport continues to drive a coach and horses through the market for sports rights then sport will eventually lose a vital source of income.

"No broadcaster is going to offer significant sums of money for sports rights if another broadcaster is simply going to hi-jack their coverage."