The Wireless Group’s TalkSport radio station is seeking damages of up to £100,000 against the BBC after the corporation claimed it had exclusive radio rights to broadcast coverage of the Euro 2004 football tournament.
On 10 June, the BBC broadcast trailers on BBC One claiming that Radio Five Live had “exclusive” access to the competition.
However, TalkSport has insisted the BBC knew this to be false all along. Its lawyers pointed out that UEFA had granted the station official commentary rights as well as official broadcaster status.
“They knew we had the rights and yet they went ahead and produced a trail that said they had exclusive coverage,” a spokesman told Press Gazette.
The BBC has since said “sorry for any confusion caused” and corrected the trailer.
“There is no question of anyone at the BBC lying – the statement was made in good faith by someone who believed the position was the same as in previous European Championships,” a spokeswoman insisted.
By Wale Azeez
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