Absolute Radio to broadcast Euro 2012 games

Absolute Radio has secured commentary rights to England and Ireland matches and the knockout stages of the Euro 2012 football championship, and claims it will be the first to broadcast live games from the tournament on FM. The commercial broadcaster has struck a deal for the live commentary rights to all six England and Ireland games in the group stage of the tournament, which kicks off next month in Poland and the Ukraine. Absolute also has secured the rights to cover two of the quarter finals, one semi-final and the final. The radio broadcaster is claiming a first with matches going out live on FM in London and the south-east, as well as nationwide over AM. BBC Radio 5 Live and TalkSport hold radio rights for all Euro 2012 matches, but only broadcast on MW. Absolute Radio presenter Jom Proudfoot, a former TalkSport commentator, will cover all the games, most of which kick-off about 7.45pm UK time. This will dovetail with specially scheduled editions of Ian Wright's Rock 'n' Roll Football Show, which will start at 5pm every day of the tournament, from 8 June to 1 July. "Wrighty's been there, he's done it and he knows what the players will be going through," said Paul Sylvester, head of presentation at Absolute Radio. "He'll have an amazing insight and will give his views in his brilliantly unique way." Live commentary of matches will also be available on digital radio, the internet, mobile phones and digital TV. Absolute Radio is in the second year of a three-year Premier League deal. The broadcaster has the rights to 32 matches and gets the second pick of 3pm Saturday games, but it is the first time that it has branched out to European Championship rights.