Radio First, the fast-moving Sussex-based sports radio company, has linked up with satellite TV company BSkyB.

The deal will allow Radio First to broadcast its football club-related Digital radio stations on Sky Digital. No money changes hands in the deal but BSkyB has the option to take up an 18 per cent stake in Brighton-based Radio First.

The sport and music broadcasts will come as part of a BSkyB subscriber's package of programmes.

Encryption technology ensures each station is targeted precisely to its specific region, rather than BSkyB's entire subscriber base. Plans are to have the service ready for the start of the new football season in August.

Radio First is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market and last week announced it had raised £3.5million through the issue of new shares in order to expand. The deal was subject to the successful outcome of the negotiations with BSkyB and dealing in the new shares started yesterday.

Chairman Keith Harris said the service would be available to all BSkyB subscribers at no extra cost.

Radio First has already agreed four 50:50 joint ventures with Premier League clubs in order to own and operate commercial, regional digital stations and is holding talks with other clubs to expand the service.

The joint ventures are for a minimum of 12 years.

The first clubs featured will be Chelsea, Aston Villa, Derby County and Southampton. The company is also talking to two of the leading clubs in The Netherlands with a view to launching radio stations in Europe.

Mr Harris said: "Radio First is a dynamic digital radio company. It has found a way to give extremely well-known brands, such as top football clubs, a new way of benefiting from their media rights while exploiting all the opportunities that ownership of a mainstream entertainment radio station offers.

"We are looking forward to working with imaginative, professional football club managements in order to produce some special, successful stations."

Chief executive John Aumonier said it was an important step for Radio First, securing an immediate and fast-growing audience for its fan radio network.

BSkyB's chief operating officer Richard Freudenstein described the link-up as a great bonus for Sky Digital customers.