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Popular Soccer Host Kay Murray Joins Al Jazeera’s beIN Sport

If you’re a big international soccer fan, then you may know the name of Kay Murray. She’s been a host on Real Madrid TV and also a co-host of FIFA’s Ballon D’Or Awards. In addition, she’s very active on Twitter and is very responsive to fans.

She has also appeared on Fox Soccer and on TalkSport in the UK.

The Al Jazeera-owned beIN Sport has announced that it has hired Murray to be a host on its signature studio show, “The Express” and will make appearances on its various programming on the network. She’ll continue to co-host the Ballon D’Or Awards next year.

Here’s the press release from Al Jazeera.

beIN SPORT SIGNS KAY MURRAY, CELEBRATED SOCCER TV JOURNALIST, AS PRESENTER

Longtime Real Madrid TV Presenter and Co-Host of FIFA’s Prestigious Ballon D’Or Awards Gala Joins International Sports Network’s On-Air Talent Roster

MIAMI, FL – December 14, 2012 – beIN SPORT today announced that popular soccer TV star Kay Murray has joined the on-air talent team at the new independent 24-hour international sports network.

For the past six years Murray served as the senior presenter for Real Madrid TV, covering one of the world’s most legendary soccer clubs for its millions of international fans in both English and Spanish versions of the channel. Murray hosted the channel’s most popular show, Extra Time, as well as the Real series where she regularly interviewed the club’s manager and top players. In addition, Kay served as the “pitchside” reporter for Real Madrid on all match days, both home and away, as well as during pre-season tours of the U.S.

Last year, Murray served as co-host of the prestigious FIFA Ballon D’Or awards gala, honoring the world’s top soccer player of the year.  She returns as co-host of the 2013 ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland on Jan. 7.

Murray will initially join beIN SPORT’s The Express, a pre- and post-game show that provides up-to-date news and analysis on the biggest live soccer matches of the day.

“For this lifelong soccer fan, it is truly a dream come true to be joining such a world-class sports network as beIN SPORT,” Murray said. “With its exclusive coverage of Spain’s La Liga and other premier leagues, I get to continue to report on Real Madrid as well as many more of the top soccer teams and players in the world.”

In addition to her Real Madrid TV duties, Murray has also appeared regularly on the Fox Soccer Network, TalkSport’s popular UK radio show Sports Bar, and satellite channel Astro SuperSport in Malaysia. She has been featured on a number of U.S.-based radio stations and podcasts as well, including the popular Beyond the Pitch podcast. Murray is also a contributing writer to several U.S.-based and international soccer news sites.

During her decade of covering the sport, Murray has interviewed some of soccer’s biggest names, including the late Sir Bobby Robson, Jose Mourinho, Rui Faria, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.

A native of Middlesbrough, England, Murray is a graduate of the National Council for the Training of Journalists in the United Kingdom.

Murray’s fans can follow her on her Facebook page and Twitter site @KayLMurray.

There you have it.

Various Monday Links

Let’s do some linkage on this Monday.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with TNT’s Charles Barkley about the next phase of his career.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today notes that Saturday nights are becoming a sports TV bastion.

Chris Chase at USA Today’s Game On blog has video of an NFL referee cursing which surprised CBS’ Kevin Harlan.

Liana B. Baker and Lisa Richwine of Reuters says US cable sports networks are in a scrum for ad dollars.

Kimberly Nordyke of the Hollywood Reporter writes that Time Warner SportsNet has signed Cox, but Comcast, DirecTV and Dish still remain holdouts.

Jon Lafayette of Broadcasting & Cable says Travel Channel has signed a deal with the NFL to produce a show on the Cleveland Browns traveling to road games.

E.J. Schultz of Advertising Age says despite the NHL lockout, hockey marketers are finding ways to find their target audience.

Media Life Magazine says CBS scored with Alabama-LSU in primetime on Saturday.

Chuck Ross at TV Week explains why baseball remains the greatest game despite its ratings.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report talks with CBS/TNT’s Marv Albert about calling games at the age of 71.

Ed wonders where Michelle Beadle will fit in NBC Sports Network’s plans.

CBS Sports reports that Dallas Mavericks announcer Mark Followill got into a bike accident over the weekend.

Radio Ink notes that former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy has joined NBC Sports Radio as an analyst.

Digital TV Europe reports that Al Jazeera’s beIN Sport in France has obtained the rights to air NBA games along with the NFL it previously signed.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe writes that NBC is going all in with soccer.

Phil Mushnick at the New York Post says Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the New York Road Runners should have admitted fault in attempting to run the NYC Marathon this past weekend.

Sarah Kogod of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that a Wizards beer ad featured an underaged 19 year old Bradley Beal.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner looks at the NBC deal to air English Premier League games starting in 2013.

Jodie Wagner of the Palm Beach Post talks with a local sports radio personality about working in the local market.

Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas says the Texas Rangers have announced their broadcast teams for next season.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports on the local sports radio ratings.

Jeff Balke of the Houston Press provides fans with ways to watch the Rockets for those who don’t have access to Comcast SportsNet Houston.

Neal Rubin at the Detroit News says a group hopes to land ESPN’s X Games for Motown.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Fox’s crew found a lot to praise about the Green Bay Packers.

Danny Ecker at Crain’s Chicago Business writes that the Big Ten Network continues to air the so-called non-revenue sports.

Paul M. Banks at the Chicago Sports Media Watch wonders why the Illinois Sports Facility Authority would hire a former TV reporter to run the agency.

John Vomhof, Jr. of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal provides a look at Fox Sports North’s new studios.

The Denver Post’s Dusty Saunders feels some sports broadcasters make predictions that can’t possibly come true.

Dusty says MLB is trying to spin the World Series ratings.

Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News writes about the last two holdouts for Time Warner SportsNet.

Tom has the SoCal sports calendar for this week.

Tom has the five things he learned over the weekend.

Sports Media Watch notes that while Alabama-LSU’s overnights were way down from last year, it still had impressive numbers for CBS.

That’s going to do it for now. Squeezed as many links as I could today.

Al Jazeera’s beIN Sport Picks Up Time Warner/Bright House Cable

Just announced by the Al Jazeera-owned beIN Sport, the network that has rights to La Liga of Spain, Serie A of Italy and Ligue 1 of France, has been picked up by the Time Warner Cable/Bright House combo meaning it increases its availability across the country.

In addition to the three leagues, Al Jazeera’s beIn Sport airs away games of the US Men’s National Team in World Cup qualifiers and English League games.

Not sure if this is a sports tier deal, but soccer fans who have missed La Liga and Serie A since their move from Gol TV in August will now get access as long as they have Time Warner/Bright House.

The two providers have agreed to pick up both the English and Spanish feeds of beIN.

Here’s the announcement.

Time Warner Cable & Bright House Networks To Launch beIN SPORT, The New Soccer and International Sports Network

beIN SPORT Scores New Affiliation Agreement with Country’s Second and Sixth-Largest Cable Operators

MIAMI, FL – November 2, 2012 – beIN SPORT, the new independent 24-hour global network dedicated to live and exclusive coverage of the world’s best soccer and international sports, today announced it will be carried by Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks.

Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks will offer the network in English and a separate network in Spanish on TV and on demand. Additionally, both networks will be made available to authenticated subscribers through the TWC TV website (www.twctv.com) and applications inside the home and through beIN SPORT’s website (www.beinsport.tv) and applications inside and outside the home.

With beIN SPORT, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks customers will have access to exciting soccer and international sports programming, including top soccer leagues and tournaments from Europe and South America, including games from Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, France’s Ligue 1, South American World Cup Qualifiers and Copa America 2015. The network also carries the away games of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team in the qualifying rounds of the 2014 World Cup.

Availability of both channels will vary by market.

“U.S. international sports fans are underserved and beIN SPORT fulfills that need. Our original programming and vast, exclusive coverage is designed to meet the desire of viewers to ‘be in’ the game and be involved in the international sports community,” said Yousef Al Obaidly, managing director of beIN SPORT. “We are excited to offer Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks customers the unmatched play of international competition captured only on beIN SPORT.”

That’s it.