Sport

David Coulthard to present Channel 4's Formula 1 coverage

David Coulthard, Formula 1, Whisper Films, Top Gear

The broadcaster has awarded the contract to experienced independent sports production company, Whisper Films, which was founded in 2010 by Coulthard, BT Sport and former BBC F1 presenter Jake Humphrey and former BBC F1 producer Sunil Patekl.

This announcement follows the news last month that Channel 4 would become the terrestrial TV home of Formula 1 from 2016-2018.

Boxer David Haye's comeback fight to air live on Dave

David Haye will face Australian boxer Mark De Mori in his comeback fight at London's O2

The former world champion will take on Australian heavyweight Mark De Mori in his first fight in over three years.

Haye, also known as The Hayemaker, said he was "delighted" that his comeback fight would be available to watch on the free-to-air channel: “I was determined to make this comeback fight free to everybody and fans should sit back and get ready for another fun-fuelled ride as I look to regain the heavyweight championship of the world.” 

Channel 4 becomes the terrestrial home of Formula One

Malaysian Grand Prix 2010

The BBC has terminated its contract with Formula One in order to help meet the £35 million in savings BBC Sport was asked to make by BBC Director-General Tony Hall.

In a first for a UK terrestrial commercial broadcaster, Channel 4 says no advertising breaks will take place through the duration of live races.

The channel will broadcast ten races per season live, with high definition highlights from all 21 races, including those shows live on Sky Sports F1.

Sporting legends to take on world's toughest traditional sports

True Grit BBC Two

Four sporting giants will leave the world of athletics, rugby and super biking to compete in some the most demanding traditional sports in the world.

Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas, World Champion sprinter Iwan Thomas, Superbike world champion James Toseland and Canadian 100-metre gold medallist Donovan Bailey will travel the globe testing their physical prowess.

The breakdown from this year's Rugby World Cup

From New Zealand beating Australia in the final to Japan's defining win against South Africa, the Rugby World Cup 2015 has been recorded as the second most-watched rugby tournament after England got through to the final in 2007. 

A record number of television audiences tuned in to watch the games. 

ITV told the RTS: "Overall the tournament reached 32 million viewers which is 55% of the UK population." 

Netflix plans move into news

Netflix

Netflix could be expanding into current affairs, the company’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos has said.

Until now, the on-demand service has focused mainly on film and television content with a long shelf life.

However, speaking in Netflix’s Q3 2015 earnings interview, Sarandos said the company could be following its competitor HBO into producing more timely content.

In 2013, HBO teamed up with co-founder and CEO of Vice Shane Smith to produce documentary series Vice for the US cable network. The show’s fourth season is due to air next year.

ITV launch Rugby World Cup app

ITV have launched a free app that allows fans to interact live with the 2015 World Cup.

The play-along platform also allows people to catch the latest news and receive video highlights from the tournament.

The app gives fans the chance users to vote during Television Match Official decisions about whether a try should have been given.

ITV online product manager Ashley Fletcher said: “Our app is a great way for fans to get even closer to games, interact with the programme and share and debate with fellow rugby fans.”

The future of media in an age of transformative technologies

September’s International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) will mark the transition from hype to reality for a wide range of transformative new technologies. Attendees of the week-long broadcasting conference and exhibition in Amsterdam will be able to assess the growing impact of Ultra-HDTV, big data and Cloud computing.

It is no coincidence that IBC has themed its entire conference as “The future of media in an age of disruption”.

Eurosport discovers a new playbook

Eurosport

Over-the-top hyperbole is usually de rigueur when it comes to unveiling big TV sports-rights deals. But, this summer, when Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav declared his company’s €1.3bn, pan-European deal with the International Olympic Committee a “game changer”, it seemed more like an understatement.

The contract, which runs from 2018, caused many people’s jaws to drop – while others scratched their heads over its implications. It seemed like another blow to the BBC and its grip on the world’s greatest festival of sport.