BBC Clarifies No Licence Fee Funding for Pundits' Podcast During World Cup
The BBC has made it clear that licence fee payers will not be responsible for any costs associated with pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards' involvement in The Rest Is Football podcast during this summer's World Cup. According to information obtained by the Press Association, all expenses related to the podcast will be kept entirely separate from the broadcasters' own budgetary commitments.
Netflix Deal and Production Arrangements
The podcast, which originally launched in August 2023 and reportedly attracts around seven million monthly listeners, will be shown on Netflix in video format this summer. This follows a deal struck between the streaming giant and Goalhanger Podcasts in December. Goalhanger Podcasts is a company co-founded by former BBC presenter Gary Lineker.
While the exact financial details remain confidential, multiple sources have confirmed that neither flights, accommodation, nor any other production costs for Shearer and Richards' podcast work will fall on the BBC. During Euro 2024, similar arrangements saw podcasts filmed at a Berlin venue rented by Goalhanger at no cost to the BBC.
Pundits' Dual Commitments During Tournament
Former England and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer is expected to be present in North America throughout the World Cup finals, balancing his podcast commitments around his contracted BBC work. Meanwhile, Premier League title winner Micah Richards will primarily be studio-based in the UK for his BBC duties but will have flexibility to travel to the United States for other work that doesn't conflict with his broadcasting schedule.
More than forty episodes of The Rest Is Football are planned as part of the World Cup arrangement with Netflix. While Gary Lineker is expected to host from a studio in New York, there's recognition that Shearer and Richards may sometimes need to participate virtually due to their BBC obligations, though both are set to be heavily involved in the podcast series.
Financial Context and BBC Coverage Plans
The reported value of the World Cup deal between Goalhanger and Netflix stands at approximately £14 million, significantly exceeding Lineker's BBC salary of £1.35 million for the 2024-25 period. The BBC has declined to comment on whether Netflix or Goalhanger will cover production and logistics costs under their agreement.
With Lineker having left the BBC earlier than planned at the end of last season, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan are set to lead the corporation's World Cup coverage. These presenters will be primarily based in the UK during the tournament, with possible brief travel to the United States if required for BBC duties, though extensive back-and-forth travel isn't anticipated.
The BBC acknowledges increased coverage costs for this tournament compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with 104 matches scheduled compared to 64 four years ago. However, the corporation emphasizes that pundits' external podcast work represents a completely separate financial arrangement that won't impact licence fee expenditure.
