Sport

Sky VR gets up close with the Haka

In partnership with Sky Sports, Sky VR is bringing rugby union closer than ever before in this powerful documentary which will bring the legacy of the Haka to light.

The film, says Sky VR’s executive producer Neil Graham “transports the viewer into the heart of the world’s most iconic sporting and cultural ritual.”

The virtual reality film follows the journey of a young Maori man as he explores the ancient cultural traditions which drive rugby in New Zealand.

Sky Sports to show every match in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

The matches will be available on TV and across other Sky Sports platforms, making Sky the first-ever UK broadcaster to show every game of an ICC Women’s World Cup.

Viewers will be able to enjoy the excitement and drama of every moment, as England look to reclaim the trophy that they last won in 2009. 

Ex-England captain Charlotte Edwards will join Isa Guha in the studio for the final at Lord’s to bring viewers all the action as it unfolds. 

BT announces live UEFA Champions League coverage in virtual reality

BT has revealed plans to broadcast the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League finals for free on YouTube, the BT website, BT Sport channels and the BT app for 2017.

The UEFA Champions League final will be broadcast for the first time in 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos on BT Sport and 4K UHD on YouTube, with multiple 360 degree streams on Youtube and the new BT Sport VR App, which allows viewers to choose their own camera viewpoint as well as commentary and graphics.

Eurosport's Jonathan Edwards discusses doping scandals, keeping fit and the Giro d'Italia

Jonathan Edwards in St Moritz (Credit: Eurosport)

Edwards, who set the triple jump world record in 1995 with a distance of 18.29 metres, says “it doesn’t seem right or fair” that his astonishing feat should be erased from the record books.

Away from athletics, Edwards has been preparing for his next major career move, as he takes on hosting duties for Eurosport’s live cycling coverage, part of the broadcaster’s exclusive deal for him to be its lead presenter for flagship sports programming.

Jonathan Edwards to front Eurosport’s cycling coverage

Edwards has worked as both a presenter and analyst at the past four Olympic Games. He joins the cycling presenting team after being appointed Eurosport's lead presenter for flagship sports programming.

“Cycling is a huge passion of mine, both as a fan and a committed rider whenever I get the opportunity, so I’m incredibly excited to join Eurosport’s cycling team for the first two prestigious Grand Tours of the season. It’s another exciting chapter in my journey with the Eurosport team and the first stage in Sardinia can’t come too soon,” said Edwards.

Ore Oduba to host Dave's tennis coverage

Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba will host the live show on Dave.

Tie Break Tens is a short format of tennis where only tie-breaks are played. Each match is a first-to-ten point tie break. Every tournament awards a winner-take-all cheque after a four-hour session of high pressure tennis. 

A total of 16 players will compete in 14 tie-break matches, with two tournaments running side by side, over the course of the evening.

BT Sport acquires exclusive UK rights to speedway

BT Sport will show the FIM Speedway Grand Prix and Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cut for a second season, which will see all eight Premiership clubs battle it out for a top four spot.

The channel has secured itself as the home of speedway in the UK, with 34 speedway events broadcast live in 2017, 18 British speedway fixtures live starting with the British final on the 19th June in Manchester, 12 Speedway Grand Prix and 4 Speedway World Cup.

BT extends Champions League and Europa League coverage

The three year renewal will be the first time all live games, highlights and in-match clips of both competitions will be together exclusively.

The 2018/19 UEFA Champions League will have a minimum of four participating teams from each of England, Spain, Germany and Italy, which will ensure more games between the top European teams.

UEFA Champions League ‘double header’ nights will be broadcast in conjunction with live matches, which will kick off at both 6pm and 8pm during the Group Stage. 

Sky Sports Mix adds Tough Mudder to extreme sports schedule

Sky Sports Mix has added the 2016 World’s Toughest Mudder to the programme schedule, which has seen 33 different sports since the channel launched in August 2016.

This will be the first time the 24-hour endurance race will be broadcast on UK television.

The race will see competitors battle it out over a 5-mile course, tackling challenging obstacles in a race to be crowned World’s Toughest Mudder. 

Eurosport acquires CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2017 and 2019 rights

The new deal extends the CAF Africa Cup of Nations’ long-standing relationship with Eurosport, which has televised the tournament in the UK and Ireland every year since 1994.

Eurosport will broadcast live games on Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2, and stream all matches live on the Eurosport Player.

Gabon, the 2017 hosts, will stage the opening match in Libreville on January 14 against Group A opponents Guinea-Bissau who make their first appearance in the 16-nation tournament.