BBC will not fund pundits working for rival podcasts during World Cup

The BBC has made clear it will not use licence fee payers’ money to help leading pundits such as Micah Richards work for rival podcasts during this summer’s World Cup, and will base most of its presentation at its Salford studios. Cost constraints and environmental considerations are cited as reasons for the Salford-based presentation, with Richards expected to have a leading role for the BBC but also committed to appearing on The Rest is Football podcast, which will be presented by Gary Lineker in New York.

The Rest is Football is expected to be shot to higher production standards this summer after a distribution deal with Netflix, following a £14m deal agreed last month. That deal with Lineker’s production company, Goalhanger, is understood to include a commitment to produce more than 40 Rest is Football video podcasts during the World Cup, and Netflix will want to feature as many big-name guests as possible.

Lineker will be in Netflix’s New York studio throughout and other pundits will join when available. The BBC has told its pundits it is happy for them to do other media work during the World Cup but it will not subsidise the cost; as a result, Richards’ travel costs will have to be met by Netflix or Goalhanger.

Alan Shearer will be in the US throughout on BBC co-commentary duties, so there is more chance of him presenting The Rest is Football alongside Lineker in person.

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