A View from the Terrace began life as a podcast but is now a hit weekly BBC Scotland football show, mixing chat and comedy – and all from the perspective of the fans.
At an RTS Scotland event late last month, the programme’s producers at Studio Something discussed how they successfully transferred the podcast to TV.
Trust – how to earn it and how to keep it – was the key word during two panel discussions at an RTS Cymru Wales event on sports documentaries in Cardiff last month. Streamers offer big budgets for sports docs – but only commission if you can guarantee the access. And to get that access, you need trust.
When Wales play their opening World Cup game in Qatar later this month, few supporters will be cheering on the national team as fervently as Siân Doyle, the Chief Executive of S4C. She needs no reminding of the campaign’s significance to the Welsh-language channel, which, in a happy coincidence, celebrated its 40th anniversary on 1 November.
Airing the World Cup over November and December for the first time ever is playing havoc not just with the Premiership calendar, but with the UK’s TV ad market, too.
Moving the tournament from the summer to mitigate the extreme heat of the host country, Qatar, has dented ITV’s advertising revenues for the year to date.
First Russia in 2018 and now Qatar: the World Cup appears to be on a tour of the world’s least savoury destinations. There has been widespread condemnation of the exploitation and deaths of migrant construction workers – thought to number several thousand – in building new stadiums for the tournament and other major projects, and of Qatar’s criminalisation of same-sex sexual activity and severe restrictions on women’s rights.
Following a deal with holders Premier Sports, ITV has secured the UK rights to 10 matches per season featuring FC Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid until 2024/25.
ITV’s first game will be Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona on Sunday 21 August, with coverage beginning at 8.30pm for a 9.00pm kick off.
The one-off documentary follows former Arsenal and England legend Paul Merson as he opens up about his former gambling addiction.
Over the past 30 years Merson gambled away his fortune and he is not alone in his gambling addiction, with many fans battling with the same problem.
In recent years, few, if any, leaders in the UK have made such an impact as Gareth Southgate, the first manager of the England men’s football team to reach the final of an international competition since 1966.
Introducing him at Cambridge, Clare Balding described Southgate as one of the great leaders, not just in sports but in any field, including business, politics and science: “He leads with dignity, empathy and with patience – qualities that aren’t often associated with men’s football.” The strength of applause that greeted his appearance on the Convention stage said it all.
Produced by Fulwell 73 (Sunderland ‘Til I Die), the feature-length documentary will chart the rapid rise and fall of the European Super League (ESL), one of the most extraordinary sagas in recent footballing history.
The film will offer an exclusive inside look at the events and decisions that saw 12 founding member teams from the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A propose a new annual international competition, and the 72-hour period between the announcement and its swift collapse.
24 teams will compete across six groups for the top two places to qualify for the knock-outs.
Between the fierce rivalries, revenge-seekers and a hair-raising group of death, there are plenty of tasty ties to sink your teeth into.
However, as most days of the group stages will see three broadcast live on BBC or ITV, to spare you some time we’ve highlighted the round’s most highly-anticipated matches.
You can find the full TV schedule at the bottom of the page.
