During today's Sport on Saturday show, BBC Hereford and Worcester anchor Trevor Owens explained a planned cut in coverage of Bulls matches this season.
Owens told listeners that it was now costing the BBC around £800+VAT to get rights for a single live match commentary, stating that Hereford United had increased the fees required, whereas the cricket and rugby carried by the station was free of rights fees. That meant that, on a restrictive budget, the station could carry several rugby matches for the price of one Bulls match.
BBC Hereford and Worcester will still continue to report from matches, but live commentaries will be few and far between.
Grimsby faced a similar situation last season after BBC Radio Humberside pulled their live coverage as the Mariners hiked their asking price, leaving supporters without commentary for several months. Commercial station Compass FM eventually stepped in for away games, but supporters are still unable to get full commentary on home games. It is unlikely that any of the current crop of Herefordshire commercial broadcasters would be interested in carrying live match coverage.
Update: We have been asked to point out that the cost increase is down to the Football League contract with the BBC and not down to Hereford United.