The BBC has suffered a significant setback after being outbid for the radio broadcasting rights for England’s tours to Sri Lanka and the West Indies next winter. The live ball-by-ball radio rights have been bought by talkSPORT, which is also close to sealing an agreement for the same rights for England’s tour to South Africa in 2019-20. It is the first time that the BBC’s Test Match Special has lost the rights since 2004-05, when it was also outbid by talkSPORT for England’s tour to South Africa. The move will disappoint some cricket purists, but there has been concern for some time inside the BBC about increased competition from talkSPORT after its owners, Wireless Group, was bought by Rupert Murdoch’s News UK, which also publishes…

Source: The Times April 17, 2018 23:01 UTC