BBC Radio 5 live sports extra to air Women football
MUMBAI: For the year 2014, the Football Association and the BBC have signed a new deal allowing Radio 5 live sports extra to broadcast women's football live. The 5 live sports extra will offer live commentary throughout the 2014 FA Women's Super League (WSL) season.
There will be building-up and live commentary from at least 16 games during the season on 5 live sports extra with some coverage on Radio 5 live which will start from 16 April. The commentary team will have WSL players who will provide their expertise to bring unique awareness and knowledge of the game. It will include extensive access to clubs, alongside interviews with players and coaches.
The first show will focus on Rick Passmoor's Notts County and Shelley Kerr's Arsenal as they take on each other at Meadow Lane Stadium. Other games confirmed include title holders Liverpool taking on Everton on 30 April, before they face the newest recruits to WSL, Manchester City on 14 May.
BBC Radio 5 live controller Jonathan Wall said, "I am delighted that 5 live sports extra is able to bring even more coverage of women's football to the BBC through this new partnership. The 2014 FA Women's Super League season is set to be the best yet and strengthens the impressive line up of live sport we already have on sports extra."
FA National Game and Women's Football director Kelly Simmons said, "We are delighted with our partnership with the BBC to showcase top level women's football across all their platforms. Our fans, along with newcomers to the game, will enjoy unprecedented levels of women's football coverage in what is a very exciting year ahead. We've set out a plan with our partners to develop high quality semi-professional women's football in England and the partnership with the BBC is instrumental in helping us deliver on our ambition."
The Women's Football Show is also available on BBC iPlayer for a week afterwards. The BBC Sport website will also have a bi-weekly goals round-up video throughout the WSL season from mid-April. 5 live sports extra can be accessed on digital radio.
