Press Release

In a first for international broadcasting in Hausa, the BBC is launching live commentary of Premier League games on the multimedia service BBC Hausa, on Saturday 18 September.

At 1345 GMT each Saturday during the Premier League season, Sharhin Kwallon Premier League presenters Aminu Abdulkadir and Muhammad Jameel Yusha'u will be bringing Hausa-speaking audiences live commentary as well as half-time and full-time analysis of key matches.

They will be joined by the BBC Hausa network of reporters across Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Ghana, talking to fans who gather at "viewing centres" in these countries to watch matches via satellite.

Sharhin Kwallon Premier League also will feature some of the debates about the match and other Premier League games on BBC Hausa Facebook.

Head of BBC Hausa, Jamilah Tangaza, says: "While football is extremely popular in Nigeria, hardly any other national league games generate as much interest and ignite as much passion as the Premier League. At BBC Hausa we are always looking for ways to tailor our multimedia programming to the needs and interests of our audiences, on whichever platform they connect with us.

"The Premier League commentary will certainly be welcomed by Hausa-speaking football lovers who will now get to hear commentary, analysis and debates around their favourite league games in their language. This is a unique offer by BBC Hausa to millions of our listeners."

Premier League commentary on Sharhin Kwallon Premier League is expected to be rebroadcast by local FM stations in Nigeria and Niger.

Notes to Editors

The BBC attracts a global audience of 241 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service and the BBC World News television channel.

BBC World Service is an international multimedia broadcaster delivering 32 language and regional services, including BBC Hausa. It uses multiple platforms to reach its weekly audience of 180 million globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels. Its news sites, which received 4.7 million weekly visitors in September 2009, include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate.

It has around 2,000 partner radio stations which take BBC content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices. For more information, visit bbcworldservice.com. For a weekly alert about BBC World Service programmes, sign up for the BBC World Agenda e-guide at bbcworldservice.com/eguide.

BBC Hausa multimedia website bbchausa.com showcases the best of BBC Hausa output, in text, audio and video. Its homepage features a multi-clip player, while embedded audio and video content is available across pages and indices.

In addition to news headlines and transcripts of stories, the website features a wide range of the BBC Hausa radio programming, including Ra'ayi Riga (Have Your Say) and a daily sports podcast.

The mobile version of bbchausa.com gives audiences the opportunity to access BBC Hausa online content, in text and audio, from their mobile phones.

BBC World Service International Publicity