BBC Five Live Sports Extra brings a greater choice of live action to sports fans by offering a part-time extension of Radio Five Live. The service aims to provide increased value for licence fee payers from the portfolio of sports rights already owned by the BBC, by offering alternative coverage to that provided on other UK-wide BBC services.
Five Live Sports Extra aims to attract sports fans of all ages and to encourage radio listening via digital platforms by offering commentary-based coverage of matches and events. We exploit sports rights already owned by the BBC. Our schedule is driven by the sporting calendar and by whatever commentaries are provided by other BBC services. When there are clashes of sports or major fixtures, Five Live Sports Extra provides alternative commentaries to those on Radio Five Live.
This year's priorities for Five Live Sports Extra are:
Priority |
Rationale |
Evolve further as the uninterrupted home of Test Match Special. |
To offer cricket fans an improved service through more engaging coverage than before, in digital quality, and minus the interruptions that were previously part of the BBC's cricket coverage. |
Nurture new sport broadcasting talent. |
To give greater experience of live action broadcasting to existing journalists, presenters and experts and to act as an entry point for the sports broadcasters of the future. |
Representing the UK's nations, regions and communities
Five Live Sports Extra extends the availability of high-quality sports coverage from around the UK to its audience. We will provide sports commentaries from wherever the action is taking place - uniting people from different locations across the UK around a shared interest, whether a local football derby or major national listed event - and giving the listener a real sense of occasion and atmosphere.
Within the limitations of our part-time service, we will stimulate, support and reflect the diversity of sporting activity in the UK, including the key drivers of national or local passion: rugby, cricket and football.
Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK
Five Live Sports Extra will continue to provide live sports coverage, including some major international events or competitions that UK-based audiences could not experience otherwise.
When required, we will offer alternative audio coverage of the big international sporting events and tournaments if there is a clash with those already on Radio Five Live. Commentary will always come live from wherever the event is taking place, adding to the experience.
Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence
It is an ongoing priority for Five Live Sports Extra to cultivate new sports broadcasting and production talent for the industry, including giving emerging presenters, commentators and experts opportunities to work on high-class sports programming across a broad range of competitions and events in the sporting calendar.
- supplementary commentary from the FA Carling Premiership
- extended cricket commentary for Test Match Special fans
- coverage of the Coca-Cola Championship, League One and League Two, the Carling Cup and the Scottish Premier League
- additional Rugby Union and Rugby League commentaries
- the Formula One qualifying rounds
- supplementary court coverage of Wimbledon, and of the US, Australian and French Open tennis
- Contribute to BBC Radio's commitment to commission at least 10% of eligible hours of output from independent producers.
Emerging communications
Five Live Sports Extra is available on DAB and via digital television. Commentaries will be streamed live on the internet whenever rights allow. Some programmes may also be available on demand after broadcast, extending the life of the programmes by making them accessible to listeners for whom a linear schedule is not convenient.
Reach: Five Live Sports Extra should contribute towards the maintenance of combined BBC weekly reach for all BBC services at over 90% by aiming to increase its own weekly reach.
Quality: Audience approval of Five Live Sports Extra and perceptions of it as high quality and innovative. Also, the proportion of originated programmes across all hours (including repeats).
Impact: Licence fee payer awareness of Five Live Sports Extra and audience perceptions of Five Live Sports Extra as engaging and challenging.
Value for money: Five Live Sports Extra's cost per listener hour.