The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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No New Deal

No Commentaries by BBC - Radio Humberside

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 04/08/2006

BBC Radio Humberside have today issued a statement that they will not be providing its established football commentary coverage of Grimsby Town, as the new season gets under way.

The announcement was made today (Friday) by managing editor, Simon Pattern, who said he was disappointed that it had not been possible to successfully negotiate a new Broadcast Agreement - despite discussions between the Club and the radio station.

He confirmed the Club had been seeking a fee that would have been over 60% more expensive than the costs in the previous deal, and that the BBC felt such a huge increase could not be justified.

He said: "We really do regret that we'll not be able to provide the level of service to fans of Grimsby Town that they have become used to on BBC Radio Humberside. The BBC has a responsibility to deliver value for money for the License Fee payer, but in a climate where elsewhere costs for coverage of football on local radio have remained static, a request for such a large increase by Grimsby Town could not be agreed to."

"We're sorry too that the club has chosen to withdraw the level of access to the players and managers that our reporting staff used to have, it simply means fans will not be able to hear the voices of the club as easily as they could before."

The previous two year contract concluded at the end of the last season. Discussions centrally between the Football League and the BBC have been underway during the summer months, followed by discussions between BBC Radio Humberside and Grimsby Town Football Club.

Despite today's news though, Mr Pattern confirmed that under a central agreement between BBC Sport and the Football League, BBC Radio Humberside will still be able to provide regular reports during live Grimsby Towns games.

Commentaries will be available for matches involving Hull City and Scunthorpe United on BBC Radio Humberside.


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