Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live's flagship football phone-in 606 will have a new sound for the new football season, it was announced today.

After a competitive pitch process indie producers Somethin' Else will make the show from August 2009 when the new football season starts.

The first show of the new season will be on 8 August to mark the start of the Football League campaign.

Throughout the 2009/10 football season Radio 5 Live and its sister digital station Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 5 Live Sports Extra will have commentary on all the key Premier, Football League, international and European games.

The programme is Britain's biggest football phone-in with a huge online community of fans who give their view on the football issues of the day.

The show will be presented by Alan Green (Saturdays, 7.20-8.30pm) and a new line-up for Sundays (6.00-7.30pm) of 606 regular presenter Spoony paired with respected journalist Gabrielle Marcotti.

The show will feature all the interactivity it is famous for with an increased online presence.

Other new features will include a new 606 podcast featuring the top 10 calls of the week, and the 606 soapbox – a visible area outside grounds where fans are invited to gather and give vent to their thoughts on air.

The programme has been a staple of Radio 5 Live and its predecessor station's output since the Nineties and over the years has featured various presenters including Danny Baker, David Mellor, Richard Littlejohn and Adrian Chiles.

The show has also featured occasional specials including one featuring the then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2006 and another with David Beckham when he moved to the United States.

Somethin' Else will take over from Campbell Davison Media who have produced 606 for 5 Live for the last six years, steadily increasing its audience share.

Radio 5 Live Controller Adrian Van Klaveren said: "I'm hugely excited by the plans for the new season on 606 which is a flagship show for us and a great platform for fans to express their views on the game.

"Campbell Davison have done a great job with the show and I'd particularly like to thank them for all they've done to make it such a success."

Steve Ackerman, Managing Director of Somethin' Else, said: "We're incredibly excited to be entrusted with such a flagship show as 606.

"With our cross-platform credentials we're looking forward to increasing the levels of on-air and online interaction and helping 606 to evolve. All of the team at Somethin' Else can't wait to get started."

Notes to Editors

Campbell Davison Media will continue to work closely with RadioΒ 5Β Live, producing Danny Baker's new Saturday morning show from September.

Somethin' Else's contract to produce the show runs for three years to cover the seasons 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12.

AB