TalkSport shows to air in US on Sirius XM

TalkSport has agreed a new partnership with Sirius Satellite Radio that will see programmes from the UTV Media-owned station broadcast to 21 million satellite radio listeners in the US.

The programmes tie-up is designed to bolster Sirius XM's existing coverage of the new English Premier League season, which gets underway tomorrow across the UK.

Under the deal, Sirius XM's weekend coverage of the Premier League will be boosted with the addition of TalkSport's Weekend Sports Breakfast, featuring Mark Saggers and Mickey Quinn previewing all the weekend's action.

After the live football has finished on Saturdays, Sirius XM subscribers will be able to join UK football fans for Call Collymore, the football phone-in hosted by former footballer Stan Collymore. The programme will be followed by Football First presented by Ian Danter, Alvin Martin and Ray Houghton.

Every Sunday, Sirius XM will simulcast TalkSport's brand new show The Press Pass, hosted by sports writer Des Kelly, along with rugby programme Full Contact.

On weekdays, Sirius XM's schedule will get access to TalkSport's two flagship shows, The Sports Breakfast presented by Alan Brazil and Ronnie Irani, as well as Drive Time with former cricketer Darren Gough and football commentator Adrian Durham. All shows will be broadcast live, and followed by repeats.

Piers Collins, business development strategist for TalkSport, said: "I'm delighted to be working with Sirius XM to bring TalkSport to the US as the appetite for quality speech radio across the globe grows, and I look forward to hearing fans dialling in from the US."

Steve Cohen, Sirius XM's senior vice president of sports programming, said: "The addition of TalkSport programming is a terrific enhancement to our lineup and offers a higher level of access for US-based soccer fans. In addition to live Premier League matches, our listeners will now get some of the UK's best sports talk."

In January this year, Sirius XM also agreed an exclusive, multi-year deal with Manchester United to broadcast live radio coverage of the club's matches in the US.

BBC Radio 1 was dropped from Sirius XM earlier in the week after six years on the satellite radio platform, but the corporation is in talks to bring the station back to US listeners.