BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra (PatrZDZ's vision)

**BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra** (formerly **BBC Radio 5 Sports Plus**) is a national digital radio station in the United Kingdom, operated by the BBC, and specialising in extended sports coverage. It is a sister station to BBC Radio 5 and shares facilities, presenters and management, and is a department of the BBC Sport division.

The station is only available on digital radio, television platforms and BBC Sounds. Since 25 July 2016, international streaming of the station has not been available.

## History

BBC Radio 5 Sports Plus launched as part of the BBC's expansion into digital radio by launching several digital only stations that would complement existing coverage. At the time of launch, all radio sports coverage was included on the medium wave frequencies of BBC Radio 5 or on individual BBC Local Radio stations. As these platforms could not accommodate any additional sports, a new service was launched: BBC Radio 5 Sports Plus. The station began broadcasts on 24 June 1996, with coverage from the first day of play at the 1996 Wimbledon tennis tournament.

On 2 February 2002, the station was renamed BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

In 2007, the station was rebranded in line with the rest of the network. The new BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra logo was turned into a circular based logo in the colour green; according to research, the green colour was chosen as people associated it with sport. In addition, a new background of blue and red diagonal lines on the same green colour was adopted for promotions for the service. Along with the rebrand, Sports Extra became more closely aligned with Radio 5. As a result, the online presence of the station was toned down with only an upcoming schedule remaining; all other details were merged into the Radio 5 website or the new BBC Radio online homepage.

In 2011 the station, along with Radio 5, moved to MediaCityUK in Salford. Previously, Radio 5 Sports Extra had been located alongside Radio 5 in BBC Television Centre and spread over several floors.

## Broadcast

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra is broadcast only on digital platforms. It is transmitted on DAB Digital Radio and on digital television through satellite services, such as Sky and Freesat, cable operators, such as Virgin Media, DTT services via Freeview, and on IPTV. The service is also available online through the BBC website, the BBC Sounds service and the Radioplayer service part owned by the BBC. The BBC Sounds platform also re-broadcasts programmes for catch-up after original broadcast. Due to rights restrictions, some programmes are only available to UK audiences or are unavailable on the BBC's online services.

The station is a part-time service, only airing during ongoing sports broadcasts. The broadcasts themselves are live and uninterrupted, like sports coverage on Radio 5. During Sports Extra's downtime, the station does not simulcast any other broadcast. A label for Sports Extra is continuously radiated on the DAB Digital Radio multiplex to allow those tuning their radio to store the station to their device even if it is not on air. On digital TV platforms, where Sports Extra has its own dedicated full-time stream, not sharing feed capacity with any other services, a looping promotional barker is no live programming is scheduled; the EPG information during this reel will often give details of the next live event to be covered by the station, should this information be available. The Sports Extra internet stream, which used to go off air when live content was not running, now also broadcasts the promo loop.

The station's controller is Mark Chapman, who is also responsible for Radio 5's sports programming. The station operates from Quay House in MediaCityUK on a single floor alongside Radio 5's sports programming. Although Radio 5 Sports Extra uses no studio space, the teams required to organise the match coverage are shared with Radio 5.

## Programming

Radio 5 Sports Extra broadcasts a variety of sports including Test Match Special, England cricket tests and One Day Internationals, Cricket's County Championship, Major League Baseball's World Series and Wimbledon Tennis championships.