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TNT Sports (United Kingdom)

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TNT Sports
CountryUnited Kingdom, Ireland
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
Ireland
HeadquartersChiswick Park,London
Programming
Picture format2160pUHDTV
1080iHDTV
Ownership
Owner
Sister channelsEurosport 1
Eurosport 2
TNT Sports 1
TNT Sports 2
TNT Sports 3
TNT Sports 4
TNT Sports Box Office
History
Launched1 August 2013
Former namesBT Sport (2013–2023)
Links
Websitetntsports.co.uk
Availability
Streaming media
BT PlayerWatch live(1, UK only)
Watch live(2, UK only)
Watch live(3, UK only)
Watch live(4, UK only)
Virgin TV GoWatch live
Now TVWatch live(Ireland only)

TNT Sports(formerlyBT Sport) is a group ofpay televisionsports channels in theUnited KingdomandIreland.Owned byWarner Bros. Discovery Sports EuropeandBT Group,they first launched on 1 August 2013. The channels are based at Warner Bros. Discovery's complex inChiswick Business Park,London,having been based atHere East,the formerInternational Broadcast Centrein theQueen Elizabeth Olympic Parkin London until July 2023.[1]The channels are available on theEE TV,SkyandVirgin Mediatelevision platforms in the UK andSkyandVodafone TVin the Republic of Ireland.

The networks were established in 2013 after BT Group's acquisition of rights to thePremier League.BT also acquired the operations of previous rightsholderESPNprior to launch, integrating them with BT Sport. In 2022, BT Group announced an agreement withWarner Bros. Discoveryto form a joint venture that would eventually merge BT Sport with its localEurosportbusiness. The transaction was approved in July 2022 and on 18 July 2023 BT Sport rebranded asTNT Sports,with Eurosport UK to be folded into the brand no later than early-2026.[2][3]

History[edit]

Former BT Sport logo
Further information:Timeline of TNT Sports

Premier League deal, launch[edit]

News of BT's first foray into sports broadcasting first came about on 12 June 2012, when it was announced that they had won the rights to 38 livePremier Leaguematches for three seasons from the2013–14 season,beatingESPN UK,which had held the shared rights withSky Sportstheprevious season.BT announced at the same time that it would be launching its own channel for its new football coverage.[4]The news followed speculation that ESPN was reconsidering its position in the UK.[5]The following months also saw BT win rights toPremiership Rugbyand its associated7s Series,as well asAmerican,Brazilian,FrenchandItaliantop-flight football.[6][7]

On 25 February 2013, BT announced an agreement to acquire ESPN's television networks in the UK and Ireland, includingESPNand international sports channelESPN America;this agreement gave BT rights to theFA Cupbeginning in2013–14,theBundesligaandUEFA Europa Leaguethrough 2015, and theScottish Premier Leaguethrough 2017, as well as other international event rights licensed through ESPN. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but BT was understood to be paying "low tens of millions". The deal was expected to close by 31 July, and BT was expected to operate at least one ESPN-branded channel as part of the BT Sport service.[8]

BT made other notable rights deals ahead of BT Sport's launch, includingUFCmixed martial arts under a three-year deal,[9]andMotoGPbeginning in 2014, under a five-year deal.[10]In May 2013, BT announced that BT Sport would be offered for free to its internet subscribers viastreaming.[11]Media analystSteve Hewlettfelt that BT's entry into the sport market was an effort to help strengthen itstriple playbusiness and, in particular, help retain internet subscribers lost to Sky (which he believed would result in greater financial loss than those that would be sustained by operating BT Sport).[12]

BT Sport launched on 1 August 2013.[13]On 12 August, BT reported that over 1,000,000 households had subscribed to the service ahead of the start of the2013–14 Premier League,although admitting that the majority of them were BT internet subscribers.[14]

On 9 November 2013, BT Sport announced its acquisition of rights to theUEFA Champions Leagueand Europa League beginning in2015–16,under a three-year deal valued at £897 million, replacing Sky and ITV.[15]The interactive service BT Sport Extra launched in 2014.[16]In January 2015, BT Sport renewed its licensing agreement withESPN Internationalunder a seven-year deal, allowing it to continue operating an ESPN-branded network as part of BT Sport, and hold rights to ESPN original programming, and event broadcast rights that are distributed internationally by ESPN.[17]

UEFA deal, expansion[edit]

On 9 June 2015, BT announced they would launch a new channel, BT Sport Europe, which would carry all UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches. Concurrently it was announced that only the BT Sport 1 channel would be free to BT internet subscribers, and that BT Sport 2, BT Sport Europe andBT Sport ESPNwould require viewers to subscribe for £5 extra. BT also announced aFreeview HDchannel, BT Sport Showcase, which would carry 12 Champions League matches and 14 Europa League matches per season on a free-to-air basis, including at least one match per-round, each English team featured once, and the finals of both tournaments.[18][19]

BT Sport also announced that it would launch BT Sport Ultra HD, the first4Ksports channel in the UK, on 2 August for the2015 FA Community Shield.The channel would initially be exclusive to BT TV onBT Infinity,with a 4K service package and compatibleYouViewset-top box.[20]In 2016, BT Sport Europe was renamed BT Sport 3.

In 2017, BT Sport began an agreement with bo xing promoterFrank Warren,under which Warren's channelBoxNationwould be distributed as part of the BT Sport service, and that BT Sport and BoxNation would co-produce 20 cards per-year, which would air on Saturday nights and be simulcast by both networks.[21][22]In April 2018, BT Sport announced apay-per-viewservice,BT Sport Box Office,with an intent to broadcast premium bo xing events.[23]On 2 August 2019, BT Sport relaunched its 4K channel as BT Sport Ultimate, and began to offerDolby Atmossound andhigh dynamic range (HDR)on supported devices.[24]

On 20 June 2019, BT Sport announced an agreement to carry the programming andpay-per-viewsof U.S.professional wrestlingpromotionWWE,ending a relationship with Sky Sports that dated back to the network's launch in 1989.[25]

Joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT Sports[edit]

In April 2021, it was reported that BT were exploring a sale of all or part of BT Sport, in order to focus more on its fibreoptic services. Rumoured suitors includedAmazon Inc.(which is one of the Premier League's current rightsholders), the sports streaming providerDAZN(which had notably beat outSky Italiafor exclusive domestic rights toSerie Afootball), and ESPN ownerDisney.[26][27][28]By September 2021, DAZN were reported to be in "advanced talks" with BT.[29][30]However, in December, it was reported that negotiations had stalled, and thatDiscovery Inc.—who owns competitorEurosport,and were preparing to merge withWarnerMediato formWarner Bros. Discovery(WBD)—was negotiating a joint venture with BT to combine their respective networks.[31][32]In February 2022, the two companies entered exclusive negotiations.[33]

On 11 May 2022Warner Bros. Discovery EMEAannounced that it had reached an agreement to combine its Eurosport UK business with BT Sport in a 50/50 joint venture, in a transaction scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022 pending approval from regulators and sports bodies. Under the agreement, WBD will assume the operations of BT Sport, and merge them with Eurosport under a new brand at a later date. WBD will pay £93 million to BT over three years; if performance targets are met, WBD will pay a bonus of up to £540 million. The company will also have the option to buy out more of BT's stake in the venture. As part of the agreement, BT agreed to distribute Warner Bros. Discovery's factual streaming serviceDiscovery+—which is the streaming platform of Eurosport—at no charge to most BT TV subscribers, and those who subscribe to BT Sport via the company directly.[34][35][33]

The venture was approved by theCompetition and Markets Authority(CMA) on 22 July 2022,[36][37]and the merger was completed on 1 September.[38]On 1 August 2022,BT Sport ESPNwas rebranded as BT Sport 4, while the BT Sport Extra overflow channels were rebranded as BT Sport 5 through 10.[39]

On 21 February 2023, it was announced that BT Sport would rebrand asTNT Sportson 18 July 2023, ahead of the 2023–24 football season; the branding is derived from WBD's U.S. general entertainment channelTNT(which has historically carried sports coverage, such as theNBA;the brand had alsopreviously operated in the UK),[40]and has also been used by WarnerMedia sports networks in Latin and South America. The Eurosport UK channels will be folded into TNT Sports at a later date, expected to be no sooner than the2024 Summer Olympics,but no later than the2026 Winter Olympics.[41][42][43]The network's new brand identity was developed by DixonBaxi, using a "viewfinder"formed from rotated" T "letters as a visual motif, and using the" N "from the logo as a homophone of" and "to join pairs of concepts (such as fixtures).[44]

Availability[edit]

In the UK, TNT Sports is available in standard definition with all BT TV packages for BT Broadband customers. The4Kchannel TNT Sports Ultimate is also available toBT Superfast Fibrecustomers for an additional fee.[20]TNT Sports operates six part-time overflow channels, originally branded as BT Sport Extra, but branded since July 2023 as TNT Sports 5–10. They are carried via thered buttonon Sky, and displayed as individual channels on the BT andVirgin MediaEPGs.[39]TNT Sports is also available to EE mobile phone contract customers to view via TNT Sports & Discovery+ apps or to stream via Discovery Plus' website. This can be streamed on a laptop or PC which is a stark contrast to how BT Sports used to work.

OnSky,TNT Sports 1 only is currently offered for free to broadband subscribers as 'TNT Sports Lite', regardless of what subscription they have.Plusnet TValso offered the same until 1 November 2021 when their TV brand was discontinued,[45]however, TNT Sports is still available to Plusnet customers via the app service.[46]Customers who wish to view the remaining channels can subscribe to the 'TNT Sports Pack' in either standard or high definition.[47]BT also provide broadband subscribers access to the channels via theDiscovery+app.[48]

Virgin Media customers receive TNT Sports 1, 2, 3, 4, and Ultimate as part of their "Full House" bundle however, they do not receive AMC from BT.

TalkTalk TVcustomers subscribed to the TNT Sports Pack in order to receive the entire range of channels.

In addition,Freeview HDcustomers receivedBT Sport Showcaseand Virgin Media customers receivedBT Sport Free.They closed on 30 June 2018.

On 4 December 2018, the SD versions of BT Sport and BT Sport ESPN stopped broadcasting on Virgin Media.

On 6 February 2019, BT Sport released the app forXbox One.[49][50]It was later released forPlayStation 4on 31 May 2019.[51]On 8 September 2020, BT Sport also launched onFire TV,Android TVandRokuTV.[52]On 18th July 2023, following the rebrand to TNT Sports, the channels became available on the Discovery+ service for viewers in the UK, with the BT Sport application discontinued on all platforms from October 12th 2023.

Programming[edit]

Plans for the channels launch came about when it was announced in June 2012 that the broadcast rights to thePremier Leaguefrom the 2013–14 to 2015–16 seasons were awarded to BT andSky,outbidding existing broadcasterESPNfor the rights.[53]BT showed 38 live matches from the Premier League each season, including 18 first pick matches, from the 2013/14 season til the end of the 2015/16 season.

In October 2012, BT announced it had also agreed deals to airSerie A,Ligue 1,BrasileirãoandMajor League Soccer,all of which were previously broadcast on ESPN,[54]as well asPremiership Rugby.[55]

In January 2013, BT announced they would also broadcastWomen's Tennis Associationmatches from 21 tournaments.[56]

On 25 February 2013, BT announced that it had acquiredESPN's UK channels and their sports broadcasting rights, including rights to theFA Cup,UEFA Europa League,Scottish Premier League,BundesligaandNASCAR.[57]This led to the shutting down ofESPN ClassicandESPN Americain favour of the BT Sport channels.

On 7 May 2013, BT Sport acquired the rights to airUltimate Fighting Championship(UFC) events and taped programming in the UK and Ireland for three years, from 1 August.[58]Two days later it was announced that BT Sport had acquired an exclusive five-year deal to broadcastMotoGPraces from the 2014 season, including free practices and qualifying as well as full coverage of Moto2 and Moto3.[59]BT Sport also broadcasts theFA WSL,A-Leagueand programming fromRed BullMedia House.[60][61]

On 9 May 2013, BT announced that they had acquired the exclusive UK TV rights to MotoGP along with the Moto2 and Moto3 championships. Later in May, BT Sport acquired rights to theFootball Conferencefor two years with 25-30 live games a season, including the end-of-season play-offs.

In January 2014, it was reported that BT Sport had acquired the rights to broadcast theWorld Rally Championshipfor the 2014 season.[62][63]

Football coverage[edit]

BT Sport has carried thePremier Leaguesince its launch; as of the 2020–21 season, BT Sport holds rights to around 52 live matches per-season, including 32 Saturday matches with 12:30 p.m. kickoffs, and 20 midweek fixtures scheduled around the winter break in January and February.[64][65][66]

On 9 November 2013, BT announced a £897 million deal with UEFA to broadcast theChampions LeagueandEuropa Leagueexclusively on BT Sport from the 2015–16 season for three years. The deal ended two decades of the competition being broadcast free-to-air onITV,although BT stated that the finals of both competitions and at least one match per season involving each participating British team would still be broadcast free-to-air (doing so via the BT Sport Showcase channel).[67]

For the 2016–17 season, BT Sport premiered the studio programmeBT Sport Score,which airs on Saturday matchdays and competes primarily with Sky'sSoccer Saturday.[68]

BT Sport has held rights to theNational Leaguesince 2013, which were most recently renewed in 2020; BT Sport carries a weekly match on Saturdays, and the weekly National League highlights show.[69]It has also carried theFA TrophyandFA Vasematches.[70]

It has also carried France's Ligue 1 since 2013,[71]and Italy'sSerie A(which most recently returned to the network in 2021).[72]

On 15 February 2024, it was announced that TNT Sports had agreed a four-year deal with the Football Association to show theFA Cupfrom the 2025-26 season.[73]

Rugby union coverage[edit]

Premiership Rugby[edit]

BT became a senior broadcast partner ofPremiership Rugbyin2013–14.The original Premiership coverage deal ran until the2016–17season and allowed BT Sport to exclusively broadcast up to 69 live games per season. The Aviva Premiership's viewing figures rose by 40% in TV audiences in its first season with BT Sport.[74]A third deal was signed in December 2020 to cover Premiership Rugby and the Premiership Rugby Cup until 2024.[75]The deal covers up to 80 matches a season from 2016–17 and introduced an extended highlights programme from the 2015–16 season.[76]Subsequently, in 2017Channel 5announced a deal that would see them simulcast five matches per season until the end of the 2020–21 season.[77]ITVsubsequently took over the simulcasting rights, broadcasting up to 6 league season matches and the final between the 2021–22 and 2023–24 seasons.

The deal with BT Sport also sees them exclusively broadcastthe league's associated sevens seriesand thePremiership Rugby Cup.BT Sport also had exclusive live rights to theAnglo-Welsh Cupfrom2016–17until itsfinal competition in 2017–18.

European Professional Club Rugby[edit]

BT originally shared rights toEuropean Professional Club Rugby(EPCR)'schampionsandchallengecups with Sky Sports. The shared nature of the deal meant each broadcaster would exclusively broadcast up to 30 pool matches, 2 quarter-finals and 1 semi-final from each competition with the finals being shown by both. BT also received first pick on Champions Cup matches involving Premiership Rugby clubs.

For seven seasons from the 2018–19 season, BT Sport became the official broadcast partner of the Champions and Challenge cups and broadcast up to 134 matches per season.[78]The Challenge Cup will be shown exclusively on BT Sport whilst broadcasting of the Champions Cup was shared withChannel 4in the UK andVirgin Media Sportin the Republic of Ireland until 2022 and withITVandRTÉfrom 2022 to 2024. Both channels simulcast one match from each round and the final.

Premiership Women's Rugby[edit]

BT Sport originally only had rights to show both the semi-finals and the final ofPremiership Women's Rugbyin the2022–23 season.Ahead of the2023–24season, TNT gained broadcasting rights to one game per weekend as well as both the semi-finals and the final.[79][80][81]As part of the deal, there is provision for afree-to-air providerto show both the semi-finals and final alongside TNT.[81]

Cricket coverage[edit]

In August 2015, BT Sport acquired rights toCricket Australiaunder a five-year deal starting in the2016–17 season;the package included rights to internationals hosted by Australia (including English tours of Australia such as the2017–18 Ashes series), as well as rights to the domesticBig Bash League.[82]BT Sport renewed its rights in the2021–22 season,holding rights to Australian internationals through the 2025 season (including the2021–22 Ashes series); the rights to the BBL andWomen's Big Bash Leaguewere sold separately to Sky Sports.[83][84]In February 2021, BT also reached deals forNew ZealandandWest Indieshome matches.[85]

In January 2024, TNT announced its first major cricket rights acquisition when it obtained the rights to theIndia national cricket teamfrom 2024 to 2028. The deal is signed just a few days prior to the start of theIndia v England test series.[86]

Motorsport coverage[edit]

BT Sport's flagship motorsports event isMotoGP.In addition it shows theMoto2,Moto3,Red Bull MotoGP Rookies CupandJuniorGP.Suzi Perryhosts the coverage alongside punditsColin Edwards,Sylvain Guintoli,Michael LavertyandNeil Hodgson.Commentary is provided by Gavin Emmett and Hodgson, with Charlie Hiscott joined for Friday sessions coverage. Natalie Quirk appears as reporter. Emmett also presentsChequered Flagwhich is aired after the MotoGP race has finished.

The channel also has live broadcasts of theWorld Rally Championship(since 2014) andFormula E(since 2024).[87][88]Previous coverage included theFIA World Endurance Championship,FIA European Formula Three Championship,British Formula Three Championship,World Series by Renault,BRDC Formula 4 Championship,Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters,International GT OpenandSupercars Championship.

American sports coverage[edit]

BT Sport showed extensive coverage of American sports, includingMajor League Baseball(MLB),College sport,Major League Lacrosseand theX Games.This was supplemented by BT Sport's a long-term agreement withESPNto carry its original programming (including original documentaries and studio programmes), and events whose international rights are owned byESPN International.[89]However, when TNT Sports replaced BT Sport in 2023,[90]they continued their coverage of baseball, but dropped its coverage of college sport.[91]

NBA[edit]

BT Sport had inherited the rights to theNBAfrom ESPN UK.[92]In the2017–18 NBA season,BT Sport lost the rights to Sky.[93]TNT Sports regained the rights ahead of the2023–24 NBA season,with plans to broadcast at least nine games per-week throughout the regular season.[94][95]

Combat sports coverage[edit]

Mixed martial arts[edit]

TNT Sports holds the UK rights toUFCprogramming, most recently renewed in 2018,[96]including live events and other non-live programming. They also broadcastCage Warriorsevents on occasions.[97]

SinceUFC 239,selected UFC pay-per-view events have now been carried exclusively onBT Sport Box Office,and are no longer included at no additional charge—a move which faced criticism from domestic fans.[98][99]

BT Sports first ever live event was August 3, 2013 of which wasUFC 163headlined byJosé AldoandThe Korean Zombie.[100]

BT Sport have been highly praised by the UFC and fans alike for their coverage and work on their promo's.[101][102]They have also created their own original programming to go alongside this such asDan Hardy's Breakdown Show,[103]preview and post fight shows[104]and even hosting their own awards show with Nick Peet, Adam Catterall and UFC Hall of FamerMichael Bisping.[105]

BT Sport will often air UFC produced shows during their programming such as UFC Now,[106]Connected,[107]Main Event,[108]Greatest Fights,[109]Countdown[110]and more.

BT Sport is looking to renew the UFC rights until 2025.[111][112]

Bo xing[edit]

Since 2017, BT Sport has an association withBoxNationto show certain live fights fromFrank Warren Promotions.On 15 September 2018 BT Sport showed its first bo xingpay-per-viewbo xing event – the rematch betweenGennady GolovkinandSaul Alvarez[113]and on 1 December 2018 BT showed theDeontay Wilder vs. Tyson Furyfight. Both were shown on BT's pay-per-view channelBT Sport Box Office.Paul Dempseyleads the coverage alongsideRichie Woodhall,Steve Bunceand other guests.John RawlingandBarry Jonesprovide commentary withCaroline Pearceor Ronald McIntosh the ringside reporters.

Professional wrestling[edit]

On June 20, 2019, U.S.professional wrestlingpromotionWWEannounced that its programming would move to BT Sport in the beginning of 2020 (with pay-per-view programs sold via BT Sport Box Office), ending a relationship with Sky Sports that dated back to the network's launch in 1989.[25]As well as live shows, BT Sport also shows repeated highlights ofRaw,SmackDown,NXT,NXT UKandpay-per-views.In addition, they show certainWWE Networkprograms, such as WWE Ruthless Aggression and WWE 24, as well as special editions of No Filter WWE.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, WWE were unable to film their NXT UK shows under typical circumstances. To resolve this, BT let WWE utilise a set at the BT London Studios. NXT UK recommenced tapings on September 17, 2020.

The deal between WWE and TNT Sports will expire in January 2025, where all WWE content in the UK will be broadcast throughNetflixas part of a new arrangement.[114]

World Poker Tour[edit]

In February, theWorld Poker Tour(WPT) announced a new deal with BT Sports to broadcast the World Poker Tour in the UK and Ireland across BT Sports networks. The company will broadcast season XV of the WPT, which took place from 2016–2017. Highlights from the season include the first WPT victory of poker commentatorMike Sextonand the first victory by a woman in an open WPT event.[115]

Previous coverage[edit]

Football[edit]

FA Cup[edit]

BT Sport obtained the rights to the FA Cup through its acquisition of ESPN, who had one year remaining in their existing contract. In 2016, BT Group extended its contract withThe Football Associationto show up to 30 live games a season from the competition from2018–19to 2020–21.[116]

In the first and second rounds,Matt Smith,Reshmin Chowdhury,Lynsey HipgraveorDarrell Curriehosted the coverage. Lead commentary on these games was provided by Adam Summerton,Ian DarkeandPaul Dempsey,alongside co-commentators,Adam VirgoandKevin Davies.Reporters on these games included,Andy May,Natalie Quirk,Jeff Brazierand Becky Ives.

From the third round onwards,Jake Humphrey,Lynsey Hipgrave,Darrell CurrieorMatt Smithhosted, alongside pundits taken from the Premier League coverage. Lead commentators included, Darke, Dempsey and Summerton as well as,Darren FletcherandPeter Drury,and co-commentators included,Steve McManaman,Robbie Savage,Glenn Hoddle,Martin KeownandJermaine Jenas.Reporters included,Des Kelly,Reshmin ChowdhuryandAndy May.

The2021 FA Cup Finalwas the last FA Cup game covered on BT Sport, withITVregaining the rights from the 2021–22 season onwards.

FA Community Shield[edit]

From 2015 to 2020, BT Sport held exclusive live coverage of theFA Community Shield.From 2021, these rights transferred toITV.

Scottish Professional Football League[edit]

BT hosted rights to show 30Scottish Professional Football Leaguegames a season, sharing the rights withSky SportsandBBC Alba.Darrell Curriewas the main presenter with pundits includingChris Sutton,Stephen Craigan,Ally McCoist,Michael StewartandAlex Rae.All of these pundits also contributed to co-commentary duty alongsideDerek Rae,Rory Hamilton, orRob MacLeanwho were the lead commentators. There was always a 3-man commentary line up on the Scottish coverage with the most prominent co-commentary pairing being Craigan and Sutton. Emma Dodds and Connie McLaughlin were the match reporters on the coverage. From the 2016/17 season, BT Sport had aired a 30-minute preview show "Scottish Football Extra" before every live match. From the 2020–21 season, all 48 live SPFL Premiership matches will be onSky Sports.[117]

Scottish League Cup[edit]

From the start of the 2016–17 season, BT Sport had been the home of exclusive live coverage of theScottish League Cup,showing two or three live matches per round, from July through to the final in November. The same personnel used on the SPFL coverage was used on Scottish League Cup coverage. From 2020,Premier Sports,will take over the rights for the Scottish League Cup showing 12 to 16 games per season.[118]

Bundesliga[edit]

BT Sport had full exclusive rights to theBundesligaand2. Bundesliga.Lead commentary on Bundesliga action comes from Ben Andrews,Steve Bower,Simon Brotherton,Paul Dempsey,Dave Farrar,James Fielden, Seb Hutchinson,Alistair Mann,Dan Mason,Jonathan Pearce,John Roder, Dan Roebuck, Mark Scott, Joe Speight, Adam Summerton, Paul Walker, Oliver Wilson and Steven Wyeth. The co-commentators includeJim Beglin,Tony Dorigo,Efan Ekoku,Kevin Gallacher,Don Hutchison,Chris Perry,Stewart RobsonandNigel Spackman.Occasionally, Premier League pundit and ex Bayern Munich player,Owen Hargreavesalso contributes to co-commentary. Ben Andrews,Tim Caple,James Fielden, Mark Scott and Oliver Wilson are the lead commentators on 2. Bundesliga coverage. BT Sport lost rights to the Bundesliga from the2021-22season onwards for the next 4 years toSky Sports.[119]

DFB Pokal[edit]

BT Sport previously broadcastDFB-Pokal.[120]From the start of the 2018–19 season, coverage moved toEleven Sportsfor a season only,.

CONMEBOL Libertadores[edit]

Previously, BT Sport showed both2018 Copa Libertadores Finalsbetween theArgentine SuperclásicorivalsBoca JuniorsandRiver Plate;in simulcast withFreeSports.[121][122]A year later, theCopa Libertadoresfinal coverage moved toBBC Two.

Süper Lig[edit]

Towards the end of the2019–20season, BT Sport began showing 3 games a week from the TurkishSüper Lig.[123]

Cricket[edit]

Caribbean Premier League[edit]

BT have broadcast all 34 matches from theCaribbean Premier Leaguemost recently in2017.Sky Sportstook over the rights from the2018edition onwards.

Indian Premier League[edit]

In 2019, BT Sport also won rights off Sky Sports to broadcast every match of the2019 Indian Premier League,however from the2020 Indian Premier Leaguethe rights switched back to Sky Sports.

Tennis[edit]

In January 2013, BT Sport signed a deal with theWTAto show 21 live tournaments from the women's tennis tour. The coverage consisted of up to 800 live hours of coverage every year until 2016, each season ending with theWTA Finals.

From January 2017, BT Sport had the rights to show 52 WTA tournaments every year until 2019. Coverage on most competitions took feeds from the WTA international TV feed, but with larger events from the Premier Mandatory and Premier 5 category matches,Sam Smithor occasionallyAnnabel Croftpresented coverage alongsideMartina Navratilova.Lead commentary was provided by Chris Bradnam,David LawandDavid Merceralongside co-commentators,Annabel Croft,Nigel Sears,Anne KeothavongandJo Durie.

The last competition on BT Sport was the2019 WTA Finalsin whichClare Baldingpresented coverage alongsideAnne KeothavongandJo Durie.WithAnnabel CroftandNigel Searsreporting from Shenzhen. Lead commentary came fromDavid LawandDavid Merceralongside Keothavong and Durie.

For the2020 WTA Touronwards,Amazon Prime Videoare now the exclusive UK broadcaster, showing 49 tournaments a year.[124]

Darts[edit]

BDO Darts coverage[edit]

It was announced in December 2014 that BT Sport would share the rights to the 2015 BDO World Darts Championship alongsideBBC Sport.Coverage would be presented byRay Stubbsfor the first two years of their coverage. In August 2016 they signed a new 2-year deal to share rights this time withChannel 4.Matt Smith took over as presenter with Chris Mason as studio pundit and Reshmin Chowdhury as roving reporter. Commentators on BT Sport Darts coverage were John Rawling, Jim Proudfoot, Vassos Alexander, Paul Nicholson, Deta Hedman and Chris Mason, these are shared with Channel 4's coverage, as the commentary is produced independently. BT Sport did not renew their contract for the 2019 tournament and the rights are now held byQUESTandEurosport

American Sport[edit]

W NBA[edit]

As the men's league games, theWomen's NBAgames also moved toSky Sportsfrom 2018–19 season.

NCAA[edit]

Throughout its decade on air, BT Sport showed extensive coverage ofAmerican College sports,particularlyNCAA footballandNCAA basketball.BT Sport gave over significant parts of its schedules to this coverage, such as showing two, sometimes three, College Football games simultaneously. The coverage was enhanced by BT Sport broadcasting ESPN's studio-related College Sport programming via a long-term agreement withESPNto carry its original programming, which also included original documentaries and studio programmes, alongside events whose international rights were owned byESPN International.[125]This ended when TNT Sports replaced BT Sport in July 2023[126]and TNT Sports subsequently decided to drop all coverage ofCollege Sport.[127]These are the only rights that TNT Sports decided not to continue showing when it replaced BT Sport.

Magazine shows[edit]

Current[edit]

  • UFC: Beyond The Octagon- Presented by Adam Catterall alongside Gareth A Davies andDan Hardy
  • Bo xing Tonight- Presented by Paul Dempsey
  • UEFA Champions League Magazine

Former[edit]

  • BT Sport Score(2016–2023) Saturdays at 3:00 pm, Kept viewers up to date with the latest scores across the UK, and was presented by Darrell Currie andJules Breachwho were joined by various pundits.
  • ESPN FC- A football debate show alongside a list of pundits and writers includingCraig Burley,Stewart Robson,Steve McManaman,Steve Nicol,andDon Hutchison.This programme has not been seen since BT Sport was relaunched as TNT Sports in July 2023.
  • College GameDay (football TV program)- ESPN's pre-game show for College Football. This was shown in full almost every week. This, along with other related College Football programming from ESPN, ended when TNT Sports decided not to continue showing theNCAAwhen it replaced BT Sport in July 2023.[128]
  • Baseball Tonight- Again this stopped being broadcast when TNT Sports replaced BT Sport.
  • Rugby Tonight- Sundays at 17:15 pm seesMartin Bayfield,Ugo MonyeandLawrence Dallagliopresent a debate about rugby union. Their guests include current and former players and referees reviewing and previewing the Gallagher Premiership and the Heineken Champions Cup. Cancelled in July 2023 as part of a review into studio programming before the TNT Sports rebrand.

Documentaries[edit]

BT Sport produced a series offeature-lengthsportsdocumentaryfilms under the titleBT Sport Films.Among the films shown on the channel areThe Beautiful Game,I Believe in MiraclesandDon't Take Me Home.Documentaries that have been critically well-received includeRocky & Wrighty: From Brockley To The Big Time,about childhood friendsDavid RocastleandIan Wright,[129]Shoulder To Shoulder,on theIreland national rugby union teamduringThe Troubles,[130]andBrothers in Football,which tells the story ofCorinthian Football Club.[131]

TNT Sports is continuing to show new documentaries as well as showing repeats ofBT Sport Films.

Classic sport[edit]

BT Sport's weekday daytime schedules often included sporting action from yesteryear. Football features heavily and includes league matches from the 1970s and 1980s from both theITV Sport,including full editions ofThe Big Match,and the BBC'sMatch of the Dayarchives. Also featured areFA Cupmatches from the 1970s to the present day andUEFA Champions Leaguematches. Other archive sporting action included bo xing matches from theESPNandITV Sportarchives as well asMotoGPraces and Australian cricket.

TNT continues to show classic sport, but without the ESPN content.[132]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

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