Lineker, Gerrard and Mourinho the star turns for BT Sport
Digital broadcaster has assembled a 'blockbuster' team for next season's Champions League coverage
BT Sport has unveiled its new line-up of pundits and presenters as it prepares for next season when it will become the home of Champions League and Europa League football.
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, whose new BBC contract allows him to work for other broadcasters, will anchor the European coverage along with Jake Humphrey. The team of pundits will include Steven Gerrard, Jose Mourinho and Rio Ferdinand, who is also tipped to take on some presenting duties.
They will be joined by other experts including ex-players Paul Scholes, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves; former managers Harry Redknapp and Glenn Hoddle; and retired referee Howard Webb.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
BT Sport's roster has certainly won over the Daily Mail, which believes it has assembled "one of the most blockbuster line-ups in broadcasting history".
The digital TV channel, which paid almost £900m to beat ITV and Sky to the Champions League rights in 2013, has announced that access to its European football coverage will cost £5 per month for BT broadband customers. But subscribers to BT's TV service will get the BT Sport Pack featuring its new European football channel for free.
BT's existing Premier League, Premiership rugby and the Scottish Premier League coverage will remain free for broadband customers, while some Europa League matches will be made available to all at no cost.
The digital broadcaster's massive investment in European football and high-calibre pundits is the "latest huge bet in BT's strategy to use premium sports programming as a peg to sell its fast broadband service and build a TV business", says Reuters.
And it pulled a rabbit from the hat with its presenting team. "While it was an open secret that Gary Lineker would front BT Sport's coverage of the top European competition, Gerrard's unveiling as a pundit at today's launch was a surprise," says the Daily Telegraph.
And it wasn't just Gerrard's presence that surprised the media. Eurosport seemed surprised that Mourinho would also be involved, and said that the presence of both Gerrard and the Chelsea boss was "not expected".
Sky Sports, which will now be forced to concentrate on the Premier League, did it's best to rain on BT's parade, says The Guardian, "by suggesting that viewers' interest in Europe's premier club competition is not the same as it used to be".
Barney Frances, Sky Sports' managing director claimed: "Over the last five seasons we have seen Champions League audiences fall 36 per cent. Last season, we saw our lowest ever average match audience and not a single European game appeared in our top 40 football matches."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - November 29, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 29, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - November 29, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 29, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Will Gary Lineker's departure be an own goal for the BBC?
Today's Big Question Former star striker turned highest-paid presenter will leave Match of the Day after 25 years, with BBC head of sport reportedly declining to offer him a contract
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In The Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
WSL takeover: a new era for women's football?
Under the radar Split from governing body comes in wake of record crowds, TV audiences and revenue in the women's game
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
John Motson dies aged 77: five best Motty moments
Under the Radar The legendary BBC football commentator delivered countless iconic lines in 50-year career
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Uefa Champions League 2022-2023 guide: group stage draw and key dates
feature Liverpool face Rangers while Man City’s Erling Haaland has a reunion with Dortmund
By Mike Starling Published
-
Uefa Champions League final: blame game begins for chaos in Paris
feature Liverpool call for an investigation as Uefa are accused of a ‘narrative of lies’
By Mike Starling Published