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The Latest talkSPORT News
From the talkSPORT1089.co.uk News Centre

This website endeavours to bring its readers the very latest news regarding the UK's national commercial sports radio station. In bringing you news on talkSPORT, we will be using a number of sources including the Media Guardian, Media Week, Radio Times and UK Radio.

talkSPORT News Archive: January & February 2005 I March & April 2005

Final Day Championship Schedule on talkSPORT
Added: Saturday 30th April

talkSPORT have released their schedule for Sunday 8th May, the final day of the Championship season, and includes a Football First Championship Special with Adrian Durham.

Andy Townsend and Mike Parry will host the Weekend Sports Breakfast between 8:00am-12:00pm with a review of the final day of the League One and Two action and the penultimate weekend of the Premiership season. Plus, a look ahead to the final day of the Championship season, the Spanish Grand Prix and Powergen Challenge Cup 5th Round.

From 12:00pm, Adrian Durham, Rodney Marsh and Gary Stevens will host a Football First Championship Special with updates and reports from every single match in the division, including extensive coverage of the race for promotion with Ipswich, Sunderland, Wigan and the play-offs.

Chris Cooper, Gabriele Marcotti and Nigel Spackman will host The Final Whistle from 4:00pm-8:00pm with full analysis and discussion on the main talking points of the final weekend of the Championship season and what it means to those who have been promoted and relegated to the Premiership and League One.

The full schedule for Sunday 8th May on talkSPORT is as follows:

2:00am Charlie Wolf 6:00am Fisherman's Blues with Keith Arthur 8:00am The Sports Breakfast with Andy Townsend & Mike Parry 12:00pm Football First with Adrian Durham, Rodney Marsh & Gary Stevens (London Only: 3:30pm Football First Premiership Live with Jim Proudfoot & Alvin Martin: Arsenal v Liverpool) 4:00pm The Final Whistle with Chris Cooper, Gabriele Marcotti Nigel Spackman 8:00pm The Golf Show with Ray Houghton & Andy Brookes 10:00pm-1:00am Mike Dickin.

allTALK FM in Edinburgh, Manchester & Solent
Added: Monday 25th April

The Wireless Group is renaming its new Edinburgh radio station from Dunedin FM to allTALK FM as part of a plan to create a local speech radio brand across the UK in Manchester and Solent.

Applications have been made by The Wireless Group for the new FM licences in Manchester and the Solent region with the allTALK FM format following their winning application for the FM licence in Edinburgh last year. Calum Macaulay, Director of Development for The Wireless Group, said: "The Wireless Group is committed to creating a network of local and regional speech stations across the UK.

Edinburgh represents the first of these wins and will be the first on air station to carry the allTALK FM brand name. We are gearing up towards the station being operational by the end of this year and hopefully followed by further allTALK FM stations in 2006. Speech radio has been the dominated by the BBC with over 10 million adults tuning into a local or regional BBC service every week. allTALK FM will challenge this dominance."

Meanwhile, talkSPORT will broadcast UK Leaders Live on Sunday 1st May between 10:00am-11:30am as Tony Blair, Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy are to answer questions put to them by the public. The programme will be broadcast on almost 200 commercial radio stations and will be presented by Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Margherita Taylor.

The full schedule for Sunday 1st May on talkSPORT is as follows:

2:00am Charlie Wolf 6:00am Fisherman's Blues with Keith Arthur 8:00am The Sports Breakfast with Andy Townsend & Mike Parry 10:00am UK Leaders Live with Krishnan Guru-Murthy & Margherita Taylor 11:30am Whale on Sunday 4:00pm The Final Whistle with Rhodri Williams, Gabriele Marcotti & Jason Cundy 8:00pm The Golf Show with Ray Houghton & Andy Brookes 10:00pm-1:00am Mike Dickin.

Brazil Backs Horses To Lure Investors Into New Club
Added: Sunday 24th April

Alan Brazil, presenter of The Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT, is listing a new horseracing business on the alternative trading exchange 535x, in a move that is understood to have raised around £1m.

Alan Brazil Leisure runs a racing club that allows its members to buy a small stake in a stable of four racehorses for an annual fee of around £300. Shares in the one-year-old venture, which also runs racing-related corporate hospitality events, will begin trading through the 535x exchange tomorrow.

The new funds are being used to buy three more racehorses by the end of the year and bring in a professional management team, which has been set a target of growing membership from 700 to 5,000 over the next three years. The first of the new bloodstock has already been acquired, a two-year-old filly called Balik Pearl due to make her debut within a month.

Funds are also to be ploughed into Alan Brazil's Racing website, which has been used to set up marketing partnerships with online gambling firms Cantor and Betfair under the name "Bet with Brazil". The long-term goal with the corporate hospitality arm of the business is to diversify into other sports, particularly football. The 535x trading platform is also home to Trevor Bayliss Brands, the consortium set up by the award-winning inventor of the clockwork radio.

Brazil said: "Since my playing days I've loved to go racing. I used to stand and watch the owners in the parade ring and dreamt that one day that would be me. The racing club provides an enjoyable involvement in the world of horse racing."

Ulster TV in Talks to Buy The Wireless Group
Added: Tuesday 19th April

Ulster TV has entered into talks to buy The Wireless Group, owners of talkSPORT, with Kelvin MacKenzie expected to quit if UTV win the unofficial auction reports the Guardian.

The Belfast-based owner of the ITV franchise in Northern Ireland is understood to be holding discussions over a bid that values the broadcaster at more than £100m. The surprise move pitches UTV against The Wireless Group Chief Executive Kelvin MacKenzie, who is attempting to put together a management buyout that values the company at £100m, or 90p a share.

UTV has become a major player in commercial radio in the Republic of Ireland, with stations in Dublin and Cork. It confirmed its growing presence in the radio market last month by winning a licence for Belfast. UTV is believed to have made a takeover approach for UKRD, a privately owned local radio company with a dozen stations, as it seeks a foothold in Britain.

UTV declined to comment last night but Goldman Sachs, the investment bank orchestrating The Wireless Group sale, has granted a period of exclusivity to the company. It is understood that the biggest shareholders in talkSPORT's owner, Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and investment group Liberty Media, had urged Wireless Group's bankers to end the uncertainty.

MacKenzie's takeover approach became public in February but the bid foundered before the end of the month when the former Sun editor's financial backers, Veronis Suhler Stevenson, pulled out. TWG Chief Executive, who owns 6.4% of the broadcaster, is now in talks with venture capital group 3i over a renewed approach.

Industry observers have warned that whoever wins the unofficial auction will inherit a national commercial radio station facing strong competition from the BBC. Chrysalis Group, owner of the stations Heart and Galaxy, is understood to have backed away from bidding for Wireless Group because of the competition. MacKenzie and senior management at talkSPORT are expected to quit if the UTV takeover bid is accepted by The Wireless Group's non-executive directors.

MacKenzie made his approach after becoming frustrated by the City's reticence to invest in speech radio, one of the most costly broadcasting genres. He told the Guardian last month that he was "passionate" about talk radio: "I do have the secret that makes speech radio work but I am not telling anyone." He was unavailable for comment last night.

talkSPORT May Day Schedule
Added: Tuesday 19th April

talkSPORT have released their schedule for the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday 2nd May and includes The Sports Breakfast with Paul Breen-Turner and Ray Houghton.

Paul Breen-Turner and Ray Houghton will be in for Alan Brazil and Graham Beecroft on The Sports Breakfast with Adrian Durham in for Patrick Kinghorn on The Game from 4:00pm-7:00pm. Adrian Durham will be joined by The Game's regular pundit, former Chelsea and Ipswich defedner Jason Cundy.

Rhodri Williams and Gabriele Marcotti will be on Evening Kick-Off between 7:00pm-10:00pm with regular hosts Ian Collins, Mike Parry and Hawksbee and Jacobs scheduled for the regular slots at 10:00am-1:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm respectively on talkSPORT.

The full schedule for Monday 2nd May on talkSPORT is as follows:

1:00am Mike Mendoza 6:00am The Sports Breakfast with Paul Breen-Turner & Ray Houghton 10:00am Ian Collins & Mike Parry 1:00pm Sportswatch with Andrew McKenna 1:10pm Hawksbee & Jacobs 4:00pm The Game with Adrian Durham & Jason Cundy 7:00pm Evening Kick-Off with Rhodri Williams & Gabriele Marcotti 10:00pm-1:00am James Whale.

Champions League Live: Chelsea v Liverpool on talkSPORT
Added: Thursday 14th April

talkSPORT will broadcast live commentary of both Champions League Semi-Final matches between Chelsea and Liverpool on Wednesday 27th April and Tuesday 3rd May.

Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin will be talkSPORT’s commentary team for the all-English Champions League Semi-Final encounters taking place at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 27th April and six days later at Anfield on Tuesday 3rd May. Both matches kick-off at 7:45pm.

In the Champions League Quarter-Final, talkSPORT broadcast both legs of Chelsea’s matches against Bayern Munich with José Mourinho’s side going through 6-5 on aggregrate. Liverpool beat Juventus over the two legs 2-1 with a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Delle Alpi.

There will also be reports and updates of AC Milan v PSV Eindhoven in the other Champions League Semi-Final on Tuesday 26th April and Wednesday 4th May during Evening Kick-Off with Adrian Durham. Following the conclusion of both matches, Adrian Durham will host Champions League Final Whistle with analysis and reaction to Chelsea v Liverpool between 10:00pm-1:00pm on talkSPORT.

The full schedule on talkSPORT for Wednesday 27th April & Tuesday 3rd May is as follows:

1:00am Mike Mendoza 6:00am The Sports Breakfast with Alan Brazil & Graham Beecroft 10:00am Ian Collins & Mike Parry 1:00pm Sportswatch with Andrew McKenna 1:10pm Hawksbee & Jacobs 4:00pm The Game with Patrick Kinghorn & Jason Cundy 7:00pm Champions League Live: Chelsea v Liverpool 10:00pm Champions League Final Whistle with Adrian Durham 11:00pm-1:00am James Whale.

talkSPORT General Election Coverage
Added: Wednesday 13th April

Alan Brazil, Tony Banks and Steve Norris will be hosting The Sports Breakfast: General Election Special on Friday 6th May between 6:00am-10:00am on talkSPORT.

Tony Banks is the Labour MP for West Ham and is a former talkSPORT presenter. He used to host Tony Banks Sporting Lunch on Sunday between 12:00pm-2:00pm in 2000 when the station launched. Steve Norris was the Conservative Party candidate in the London Mayoral Election in 2004 and, like Banks, is also a former talkSPORT presenter having hosted a Sunday night phone-in show between 8:00pm-11:00pm in 2003.

Banks and Norris will be hosting a special edition of The Sports Breakfast on the morning after the day of the General Election on Friday 6th May as Tony Blair, Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy battle it out for the right to walk into Number 10 as Prime Minister.

In addition, James Whale and Mike Mendoza will be hosting talkSPORT’s Election Coverage throughout the night beginning at 10:00pm on Thursday 5th May when the polling booths close. Mike Mendoza will continue with the coverage during the night from 1:00am-6:00am with the latest news from the Local Elections and the breaking news from the General Election. Ian Collins will follow The Sports Breakfast at 9:00am on talkSPORT with the latest news, analysis and reaction to the General Election result.

The full schedule for Thursday 5th May & Friday 6th May on talkSPORT is as follows:

10:00pm James Whale 1:00am Mike Mendoza 6:00am The Sports Breakfast: General Election Special with Alan Brazil, Tony Banks & Steve Norris 9:00am Ian Collins 1:00pm Sportswatch with Andrew McKenna 1:10pm Hawksbee & Jacobs 4:00pm The Game with Patrick Kinghorn & Jason Cundy 7:00pm-10:00pm Evening Kick-Off with Adrian Durham & Alvin Martin.

Football First FA Cup Special: Manchester United v Newcastle United
Added: Monday 11th April

talkSPORT will broadcast unofficial coverage of Manchester United v Newcastle United on Sunday 17th April with the victor facing the winners of Arsenal v Blackburn on Saturday 16th April.

Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin will be talkSPORT's commentary team for unofficial coverage of the Semi-Final encounter, courtesy of studio monitors for Manchester United v Newcastle from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday 17th April from 2:00pm.

Adrian Durham will be joined by Nigel Spackman and Gabriele Marcotti between 4:00pm-8:00pm on The Final Whistle with a full review of the FA Cup and Premiership action of the weekend. Plus, analysis, reports and debate on the other football news of the day.

On Saturday 16th April, Adrian Durham, Alvin Martin and Gary Stevens will host Football First with updates and reports from every match from the Premiership to the Conference, plus the FA Cup Semi-Final from the Millennium Stadium for Arsenal v Blackburn at 12:15pm.

The full schedule on talkSPORT for Sunday 17th April is as follows:

2:00am Mark Keen 6:00am Fisherman's Blues with Keith Arthur 8:00am The Sports Breakfast with Andy Townsend & Mike Parry 12:00pm Football First FA Cup Special: Manchester United v Newcastle  with Chris Cooper & Alvin Martin 4:00pm The Final Whistle with Adrian Durham, Nigel Spackman & Gabriele Marcotti 8:00pm The Golf Show with Ray Houghton & Andy Brookes 10:00pm-1:00am Mike Dickin.

talkSPORT Nominated for Sony Radio Academy Award
Added: Tuesday 5th April

talkSPORT have been nominated for The Station Sound Award in the 2005 Sony Radio Academy Annual Awards with the ceremony taking place on Monday 9th May.

BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Suffolk, Kerrang! Radio and Kiss 100 have also been nominated in The Station Sound Award along with talkSPORT. BBC Radio Five Live won the 2004 Gold Award in this category with XFM taking the Silver Award and BBC Radio Cleveland taking the Bronze Award.

talkSPORT last won a Sony Award in 2001 with their coverage of The Open Championship from St. Andrews. They took the Silver Award for bringing "a fresh new approach to golf commentary which brought the game alive for a younger audience." BBC Radio Five Live won the Gold Award for their coverage of the Olympics.

talkSPORT were also nominated for UK Radio Station of the Year in 2001along with BBC Radio 3, however BBC Radio 2 won the Gold Award for the category.

The Station Sound Award is designed to recognise the overall sound of the station rather than any specific programme style. The Sony Award judges will be considering the effective selection and co-ordination of jingles, trailers and other presentation tools in establishing a distinctive audio brand and identity.

The Sony Radio Academy has been celebrating the excellence within the UK radio industry for over twenty years with the first ceremony taking place in 1983. Each year over 1,200 examples of radio output are submitted to the judges for consideration as Gold, Silver or Bronze winners. It is a process that continues to recognise the excellence of journalists, writers and speech and music broadcasters from all over the UK.

In 2004, the Sony Awards honoured broadcasters such as Ace & Invisible from BBC 1 Xtra, Stephen Nolan from Belfast's City Beat, Christian O'Connell from London's XFM and national names such as BBC Radio 2's Jonathan Ross and BBC Radio Five Live's Ian Robertson.

Adrian John & Mark Keen in for Charlie Wolf on talkSPORT
Added: Monday 4th April

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Adrian John and former Magic AM phone-in presenter Mark Keen will be filling-in for Charlie Wolf on talkSPORT on Saturday 16th April & Sunday 17th April.

Adrian John, former DJ and BBC Radio 1 and occasional presenter on Top of the Pops, will be filling-in for Charlie Wolf between 1:00am-6:00am on Saturday 16th April on talkSPORT. He will be taking calls throughout the course of the night discussing a wide range of topics. John is currently SAGA Radio Digital's Evening Show presenter playing a mix of romantic tracks and songs.

Mark Keen will be in for Charlie Wolf between 2:00am-6:00am on Sunday 17th April on talkSPORT. Keen is a former DJ on Mercia FM, Leicester Sound, 106 Century FM and Kix 96. He has also presented late night phone-in programmes on Red Rose Radio, renamed Magic 999 AM, after being taken over by EMAP.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT are yet to announce which FA Cup Semi-Final match they will be providing unofficial coverage of. The BBC and Sky Sports are yet to decide which broadcaster will cover Arsenal v Blackburn on Saturday 16th April or Manchester United v Newcastle on Sunday 17th April. talkSPORT are unable to provide unofficial coverage using exclusive Sky Sports TV pictures due to legal reasons and will provide coverage of which ever game the BBC will screen.

Fear of BBC Deters talkSPORT Bidders
Added: Sunday 3rd April

The UK's largest radio companies are shunning the auction of The Wireless Group, run by former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie, because they do not want to compete with the BBC.

Radio industry sources said on Friday morning that Chrysalis, which owns the stations Heart FM and LBC Radio, would bid for The Wireless Group either by itself or in a joint venture with the Local Radio Company. However, market sources said later that day that Chrysalis had decided against this because talkSPORT faces increasingly tough competition for sports rights against the BBC's Radio Five Live.

Private equity groups 3i and CVC are among a handful of serious bidders planning to submit offers by Friday's deadline. One trade buyer is also thought to be bidding. The Local Radio Company and UKRD are interested in The Wireless Group's local radio stations but Goldman Sachs, which is running the auction, does not want to break up the company.

Stronger interest from private equity firms boosts the chances of MacKenzie keeping his job as they would need a management team to run the group. The WIreless Group is unlikely to be sold for much more than the 90p a share bid proposed by MacKenzie, which valued the group at £100m.

Gabriele Marcotti Set to Make talkSPORT Return on Sunday
Added: Friday 1st April

Gabriele Marcotti is set to make his return to talkSPORT on Sunday 3rd March on The Final Whistle alongside Adrian Durham between 4:00pm-8:00pm.

Marcotti, talkSPORT’s European Football Expert, left the station in recent weeks following a complaint to OFCOM after he described a Norwich City player as looking “like somebody with Down’s” on Evening Kick-Off on Monday 1st November 2004. OFCOM agreed that the comment made by Marcotti was inappropriate and offensive but not intended to be malicious. However, they said that care needed to be taken when using expressions which can be seen to refer to disabilities or learning difficulties.

However, it is believed that Marcotti could be making his talkSPORT return on Sunday 3rd March on The Final Whistle with Adrian Durham from 4:00pm-8:00pm. There is no news as to whether he will co-host Monday’s Evening Kick-Off show as Ray Houghton is currently scheduled for the slot.

Meanwhile, Scottish Radio Holdings said today it was "confident" about its future as an independent company amid talk that EMAP is poised to launch a takeover bid according to the Media Guardian.

The Wireless Group Preliminary Financial Results
Added: Friday 1st April

The Wireless Group, owners of talkSPORT, has published its preliminary results for the year ending 31st December 2004, and has announced an adjusted operating profit of £4.3 million.

The operating performance for The Wireless Group is as follows:

Adjusted Operating Profit: £4.3 million (2003: 2.8 million) - Up 53.6%, Turnover £39.7 million (2003: £32.6 million) - Up 22.0%, Like for like Turnover £36.3 million (2003: £32.6 million) - Up 11.5%, Like for like Turnover up 11.5% compared to industry average of 5.6% (as reported by RAB), Net Debt of £5.7 million at year end (2003: £3.3 million) – Forever acquisition, talkSPORT Adjusted Operating Profit £2.6 million (2003: 1.9 million) - Up 36.8%, ILRs Adjusted Operating Profit £6.2 million (2003: £5.6 million) - Up 10.7% Positive Contribution from Forever Stations of £0.6 million and Award of Edinburgh licence.

The outlook for The Wireless Group is as follows: Strong start to 2005 financial year with Group revenues, excluding contra revenue, estimated to be 9.9 per cent ahead for first quarter talkSPORT performing strongly.

Kelvin MacKenzie, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Wireless Group, said: “The first quarter for 2005 has started well with cash revenues for the group up 9.9 per cent against the same quarter in 2004. I expect national revenues will be affected in April by the General Election with some advertisers not spending until after the General Election in May. “

An announcement from the Independent Directors at TWG, commenting on Potential Offers for the Company said: “Further to the announcement on 23 February, the Board confirms it is in ongoing discussions with a number of potential offers which may or may not lead to an offer for the Company. The Board is not currently in a position to provide any further information and further announcements will be made as appropriate."

Alan Green Leaves BBC Radio Five Live for talkSPORT
Added: Friday 1st April

BBC Radio Five Live commentator Alan Green will be leaving the corporation to join talkSPORT as part of the station’s growing coverage of the Premiership & Champions League.

Green has always been known for his controversial views and forthright manner in which he puts across in match commentaries on the BBC will now be joining talkSPORT to head the station’s coverage from the Premiership in London & North-West from Monday April 4th when his contract with BBC Five Live expires.

Before his role as commentator at the BBC he was a political correspondent and handled fractious sectarian debates at the BBC’s Northern Ireland office with even handedness and calm. His talents were soon spotted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who engineered his move to the mainland and approached him to make use of his talents as a football commentator.

An insider at talkSPORT said: "Alan Green has begun contract negotiations, and is expected to join talkSPORT from the BBC shortly. Mr. Green said he would be a fool to reject such an offer from the UK’s number one commercial radio station, and provides higher quality sports coverage than BBC Five Live."

Alan Green’s first commentary match on talkSPORT is expected to be on Wednesday 6th April for Chelsea v Bayern Munich in the Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg at Stamford Bridge. BBC Radio Five Live will also broadcast the match with a possible war of words between Green and his former colleagues at the BBC.
An official statement from talkSPORT is expected on Monday 4th April when Green finalises his move to station with his final commentary for the BBC on Sunday 3rd April.

Gabriele Marcotti Departs talkSPORT Following OFCOM Complaint
Added: Wednesday 30th March

talkSPORT's European Football Expert Gabriele Marcotti has left the station following a complaint to OFCOM after he described a Norwich player as looking "like somebody with Down's".

A listener to Evening Kick-Off on Monday 1st November complained about the use of "offensive language" used in analysis of a match between Manchester City and Norwich. During the discussion, Marcotti commented on one of the Norwich players saying: "he looked like somebody with Downs".

In response to the complaint talkSPORT acknowledged that the comment made by the Marcotti was insensitive and assured OFCOM that they had taken action to address the lapse. talkSPORT had discussed the matter with the producer of Evening Kick-Off who would speak to the presenter before he next went on the air. talkSPORT also said that the presenter would also be reminded of the need to adhere to OFCOM's Programme Code whilst presenting the show.

OFCOM agreed that the comment made by the presenter was inappropriate and offensive but not intended to be malicious. However, they said that care needed to be taken when using expressions which can be seen to refer to disabilities or learning difficulties. OFCOM also welcomed the action taken by the broadcaster but felt the lack of any immediate recognition that the comment was inappropriate compounded the offence.

Gabriele Marcotti is the latest high profile pundit to leave talkSPORT following the departure of Tony Cascarino from The Game last month. Marcotti joined talkSPORT in 2001 as part of the Football First in Europe team alongside Adrian Durham, Guillem Balague, Raphael Honigstein and Xavier Rivoire but the show was axed in December 2003. Marcotti was to remain a key member of talkSPORT's football coverage on a Monday Evening alongside Adrian Durham until he left the station last week.

It is believed that talkSPORT are receiving a number of complains about the departure of Gabriele Marcotti from the station. If you believe that talkSPORT should reinstate Gabriele then email the Programme Team via the official talkSPORT website.

Steve Cooper Benefit Match: Peterborough XI v Adrian Durham XI
Added: Monday 28th March

Peterborough United XI will take on an Adrian Durham XI, including Alvin Martin and Tony Cascarino, in a benefit match for the family of ex-Posh player Steve Cooper.

Steve Cooper, who died last year aged 39, scored a superb goal in the Play-Off Semi-Final that took Peterborough to the Final at Wembley Stadium in 2000. Peterborough went on to win the Division Three Play-Off Final and were promoted to the Second Division.

talkSPORT's Evening Kick-Off and Football First presenter is organising a charity team for a match against the Peterborough team that won at Wembley to raise money for the family of Steve Cooper on Sunday 1st May.

Adrian Durham will be field a side featuring Patrick Kinghorn, Tony Cascarino, Alvin Martin and Gary Stevens. Andy Townsend, Andy Jacobs and Warren Haughton could also take part in the Adrian Durham side taking on the Peterborough United 2000 Play-Off Final XI.

Peterborough United Play-Off Final XI v Adrian Durham's XI will take place at the London Road Stadium, the home of Peterborough United FC, on Sunday 1st May. More details will be made available closer to the date.

MacKenzie Seeks Wireless Backers
Added: Monday 28th March

Kelvin MacKenzie is understood to be talking with venture capital firm CVC over funding to take The Wireless Group, owners of talkSPORT, into private ownership.

CVC is the second private equity firm involved with MacKenzie over funding a management buyout of the company behind the UK commercial sports station talkSPORT and has been quoted on the stock market since being floated in 2000.

MacKenzie's talks with American bank Veronis Suhler Stevenson, collapsed in February amid disagreements over terms and size of incentive payments for management. MacKenzie was then aiming to offer 90p a share to Wireless Group investors, valuing the company at £100m. The current share price is 81.5p.

The two key investors at the Wireless Group are Liberty Media, controlled by US mogul John Malone, which owns 28.5%, and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, which owns 26%. Both of these shareholders indicated their willingness to sell. MacKenzie owns just under 7% and the rest is owned by institutional investors, including Jupiter Asset Management and SocGen.

MacKenzie wishes to take the company private to invest further in talkSPORT for major sporting rights and programming on the national commercial sports radio station.

Live Champions League Quarter-Finals on talkSPORT
Added: Sunday 20th March

talkSPORT will broadcast the Champions League Quarter-Finals with Liverpool v Juventus and Chelsea v Bayern Munich taking centre stage as the knockout rounds continue.

On Tuesday 5th April, Adrian Durham and Alvin Martin will be on Evening Kick-Off with reports and updates from Anfield for Liverpool v Juventus and from Stade de Gerland for Lyon v PSV. talkSPORT will have live commentary from the Delle Alpi for Juventus v Liverpool in the Champions League Quarter-Final Second Leg with Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin on Wednesday 13th April at 7:45pm.

On Wednesday 6th April, Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin will be talkSPORT's commentary team at Stamford Bridge for live coverage of the Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. There will be live commentary of the Second Leg at the Olympiastadion in Munich with Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin on Tuesday 12th April at 7:45pm. There will also be reports and updates from Milan v Inter from the San Siro Stadium in Italy.

The full schedule on talkSPORT for live Champions League commentaries is as follows:

1:00am Mike Mendoza 6:00am The Sports Breakfast with Alan Brazil & Graham Beecroft 10:00am Ian Collins & Mike Parry 1:00pm Sportswatch with Andrew McKenna 1:10pm Hawksbee & Jacobs 4:00pm The Game with Patrick Kinghorn 7:00pm Champions League Live 10:00pm Champions League Final Whistle with Chris Cooper & Alvin Martin 11:00pm-1:00am James Whale.

Paddy Power Suspends Alan Brazil Betting
Added: Thursday 17th March

Paddy Power, yesterday suspended betting on Alan Brazil, which was offering odds on him returning from the Cheltenham Festival in time for Friday’s Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT.

According to Charles Sale in his Sports Agenda column in the Daily Mail, the Irish bookmaker closes the book following reports that bon viveur Brazil was enjoying himself so much at the varied refreshment stops on the course that Paddy Power reckon there is no chance of him leaving before the end of the Festival on Friday.

Brazil, who was sacked but later re-instated last year following his antics at the Cheltenham Festival, said:“To be honest it was my own fault last year and I did get the sack. I thought stuff it and went skiing on the Saturday. The snow was fantastic as it happens and it wasn't until I got back on the following Monday that I thought: What am I going to do? But that's just me. I'm a social animal and sometimes I overstep the mark. The one thing about me is that I don't pull sickies. I'm always honest and I always go in, even if I am worse for wear."

However, last year's difficulties have done nothing to diminish his affection for the Festival, he told The Guardian. "I love it, I absolutely love it. From the moment I finish the breakfast show on Monday morning and get in the car and head for the M40 I get excited. And that's only the Monday. You get to the top of Cleeve Hill, see the amphitheatre and just think, this is it, this is a special place."

Judging by the number of well-wishers and acquaintances swirling round him this week, Brazil deserves some sympathy for his punishing social schedule. "I love the social side of it, the fact there are so many friends and old faces that you see in the Arkle Bar, the Guinness bar and the rest of it," he said. "The only problem is I have to go to about 20 different boxes to meet people."

Alan Brazil is schedule to co-host The Sports Breakfast alongside Graham Beecroft from 6:00am tomorrow morning. Will he do it? Tune in and find out.

Paul Breen-Turner & Rodney Marsh in for Hawksbee & Jacobs
Added: Wednesday 16th March

Paul Breen-Turner & Rodney Marsh will be filling-in for Hawksbee & Jacobs between 1:00pm-4:00pm from Monday 28th March until Friday 1st April on talkSPORT.

Breen-Turner and Marsh make their debut as a talkSPORT duo following their current stint on The Sports Breakfast in for Alan Brazil alongside Graham Beecroft during The Cheltenham Festival.

Former Manchester City legend, Marsh, made his first appearance on talkSPORT in 2002 when he fronted 505. However, his shows failed to materialise into what was promised and Marsh left the station shortly after to continue his role at Sky Sports. Marsh was, however, sacked by Sky Sports after making an on-air remark about David Beckham and the Asian Tsunami a couple of months ago and has now joined talkSPORT.

Meanwhile, Ian Collins will be hosting the mid-morning show by himself on Easter Monday 28th March between 10:00pm-1:00pm on talkSPORT. Followed by Paul Breen-Turner and Rodney Marsh in for Hawksbee & Jacobs between 1:00pm-4:00pm.

talkSPORT Reprimanded Over “Inappropriate” Remark
Added: Monday 14th March

talkSPORT have been reprimanded by OFCOM after a presenter on Evening Kick-Off described a Norwich City player as looking “like somebody with Down’s”.

A listener to talkSPORT’s Evening Kick-Off on Monday 1st November complained about the use of “offensive language” used in analysis of a match between Manchester City and Norwich. During the discussion, one of the presenters commented on one of the Norwich players saying: “he looked like somebody with Downs”.

In OFCOM’s programme complaints report for March, it states that the listener felt that the offence was compounded by the fact that no apology was broadcast on the show.

In response to the complained talkSPORT acknowledged that the comment made by the present was insensitive and assured OFCOM that they had taken action to address the lapse. talkSPORT had discussed the matter with the Producer of Evening Kick-Off who would speak to the presenter before he next went on the air. talkSPORT also said that the presenter would also be reminded of the need to adhere to OFCOM’s Programme Code whilst presenting the show.

OFCOM agreed that the comment made by the presenter was inappropriate and offensive but not intended to be malicious. However, they said that care needed to be taken when using expressions which can be seen to refer to disabilities or learning difficulties. OFCOM also welcomed the action taken by the broadcaster but felt the lack of any immediate recognition that the comment was inappropriate compounded the offence.

Meanwhile Kelvin MacKenzie, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Wireless Group, owner talkSPORT, is in talks with CVC Capital Partners to back a fresh £100m offer for the company. MacKenzie has also held discussions with rival private-equity firm 3i, and is expected to secure backing imminently.

Unofficial World Cup Qualifiers on talkSPORT
Added: Sunday 12th March

talkSPORT will broadcast unofficial commentary of England's World Cup Qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan on 26th March and 30th March respectively.

Adrian Durham and Gary Stevens will be at the Sports Café in Manchester on Football First International Preview between 12:30pm-2:30pm with all the latest news ahead of a massive afternoon of World Cup Qualifiers, including England v Northern Ireland, Israel v Republic of Ireland, Italy v Scotland and Wales v Austria on Saturday 26th March.

From 2:30pm, Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin will provide unofficial commentary of England v Northern Ireland in the World Cup Qualifiers courtesy of the talkSPORT studio monitors from Old Trafford for the 3:00pm kick-off. Graham Beecroft will be on talkSPORT from 5:00pm for The Final Whistle with post-match analysis, reaction and debate from the fans.

The full schedule for Saturday 26th March on talkSPORT is as follows:

1:00am Charlie Wolf 6:00am Fisherman's Blues with Nigel Botherway 8:00am The Sports Breakfast with Andy Townsend & Mike Parry 12:00pm Football First International Preview with Adrian Durham & Gary Stevens 2:30pm Football First International Special: England v Northern Ireland 5:00pm The Final Whistle with Graham Beecroft 8:00pm The Unexplained with Tessa Dunlop 11:00pm-2:00am Mike Dickin.

On Wednesday 30th March, Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin will once again be talkSPORT's commentary team watching the studio monitors for unofficial coverage of England v Azerbaijan at St. James Park in Newcastle. Updates and reports will also be provided on Poland v Northern Ireland and Austria v Wales.

The full schedule for Wednesday 30th March on talkSPORT is as follows:

1:00am Mike Mendoza 6:00am The Sports Breakfast with Alan Brazil & Graham Beecroft 10:00am Ian Collins & Mike Parry 1:00pm Sportswatch with Andrew McKenna 1:10pm Hawksbee & Jacobs 4:00pm The Game with Patrick Kinghorn 7:00pm Football First International Special: England v Azerbaijan 10:00pm International Final Whistle with Chris Cooper & Alvin Martin 11:00pm-1:00am James Whale.

talkSPORT Secure 2006 World Cup Rights
Added: Monday 7th March

talkSPORT have secured the non-exclusive rights to broadcast live and delayed coverage of all 64 matches in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

In an agreement with Infront Sports & Media, talkSPORT are able to bring listeners their first FIFA World Cup live and official from the stadia used in the tournament. In 2002 for the Japanese and Korean World Cup, talkSPORT broadcast unofficial commentaries from London via television monitors as they were unable to purchase the rights to broadcast the matches live.

The 2006 World Cup in Germany will have wall-to-wall coverage on talkSPORT with commentary and coverage of every single game from the tournament. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are yet to qualify for the World Cup but have qualifying matches in the coming months.

Oliver Seibert, an Executive Director of Infront said, "We are pleased at the agreement with talkSPORT in the UK, one of the most important markets in terms of football. The interest shown in the 2006 event by radio broadcasters is very encouraging, showing how important it is to offer audiences a multitude of opportunities to follow the event in the medium of their choice."

During Euro 2004, talkSPORT broadcast up to 19 hours of coverage a day with daily programmes and phone-in shows dedicated to coverage with live commentary from every single England game and the other big games from the tournament. BBC Radio Five Live also hold the rights to the 2006 World Cup and will broadcast every game live on BBC Radio Five Live or BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra.

talkSPORT’s Unofficial FA Cup Quarter-Final Coverage
Added: Monday 7th March
talkSPORT will broadcast unofficial commentary from every FA Cup Quarter-Final clash from the Reebok Stadium and the St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday 12th March.

On Saturday 12th March, Chris Cooper and Jason Cundy will be talkSPORT’s commentary team watching studio monitors for Bolton v Arsenal in the FA Cup Quarter-Final at the Reebok Stadium. Kick-Off is at 12:15pm. At 5:15pm, talkSPORT will be providing unofficial commentary of Southampton v Manchester United at the St. Mary's Stadium with Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin.

The full schedule for Saturday 12th March on talkSPORT is as follows:

1:00am Charlie Wolf 6:00am Fisherman’s Blues with Keith Arthur 8:00am The Sports Breakfast with Andy Townsend & Mike Parry 12:00pm Football First FA Cup Special: Bolton v Arsenal 2:30pm Football First with Adrian Durham 5:00pm Football First FA Cup Special: Southampton v Manchester United 8:00pm The Unexplained with Howard Hughes 11:00pm-1:00am Mike Dickin.

On Sunday 13th March, talkSPORT will have updates and reports during Whale on Sunday and The Final Whistle of Blackburn v Leicester at 1:00pm and Newcastle v Tottenham at 4:00pm with the FA Cup Semi-Final Draw on Monday 14th March at 1:30pm on Hawksbee & Jacobs.

Champions League Final Whistle on talkSPORT
Added: Friday 4th March

talkSPORT will broadcast a Champions League Final Whistle programme between 10:00pm-11:00pm following their live coverage from Stamford Bridge & Highbury on Tuesday 8th & Wedneday 9th March.

Following talkSPORT's live commentary with Chris Cooper and Alvin Martin on Tuesday 8th March from Stamford Bridge on Chelsea v Barcelona, there will analysis, debate and discussion on the night's action from the Champions League following the final whistle. Champions League Final Whistle will also broadcast after commentary of Arsenal v Bayern Munich on Wednesday 9th March.

The introduction of Champions League Final Whistle means that the start of the James Whale Show will be pushed back until 11:00pm and finish at its regular time at 1:00am.

The full schedule for Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th March on talkSPORT is as follows:

1:00am Mike Mendoza 6:00am The Sports Breakfast with Alan Brazil & Graham Beecroft 10:00am Ian Collins & Mike Parry 1:00pm Sportswatch with Andrew McKenna 1:10pm Hawksbee & Jacobs 4:00pm The Game with Patrick Kinghorn 7:00pm Champions League Live with Chris Cooper & Alvin Martin 10:00pm Champions League Final Whistle 11:00pm-1:00am The James Whale Show.

Brazil Seeks £1.2m in Punt on the Horses
Added: Wednesday 2nd March

Alan Brazil, presenter of The Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT, is to become a stock market player with the placing of shares in his horse racing venture.

Alan Brazil Leisure is hoping to raise up to £1.2m from investors and will use the proceeds to expand the Alan Brazil Racing Club. The syndicate has about 700 members who invest in racehorses and can attend race meetings where their steeds are running.

Brazil was sacked by talkSPORT in March last year after he missed a show following a drinking session at the Cheltenham Festival. Kelvin MacKenzie, Chief Executive of talkSPORT's parent company, The Wireless Group, was then forced to reinstate his former employee following an outcry from talkSPORT listeners.

The placing will value the firm at up to £3.75m and the money will be raised through an open offer, with a share price quoted through the dealing service 535X. The subscription list for shares is expected to close on March 22. In the prospectus, Brazil said his racing club offered affordable involvement in the sport.

"Since my playing days I've loved to go racing. I used to stand and watch the owners in the parade ring and dreamed that one day that would be me. Every day on my radio show, in the street and on the track, I talk to people who, like me, love racing," he said.