ITV TO KICK OFF ‘THE PREMIERSHIP’

ITV WILL transform Saturday evening football coverage when the FA Barclaycard Premiership kicks off on 18 August with the complete service for terrestrial viewers.
The channel will screen a new highlights programme, ‘The Premiership’, at 7pm, with a second extended and updated programme later in the evening.
Hosted by Desmond Lynam and with regular analysts Terry Venables and Ally McCoist, the 7pm programme will packed with action, opinion, comment and analysis. The trio will return later in the evening with a reprise of ‘The Premiership’ - an extended version with more action, updates and news.
Brian Barwick, ITV’s Controller of Sport, said: “ ‘The Premiership’ in the Saturday peak time schedule is a pioneering and ambitious move for televised football. Our main programme is in position A and no longer a late night preserve.
“The programme is aimed at the widest possible audience. We want our football to be a family affair. Football is at the heart of the nation, ITV1 have put it into the heart of the schedule.”
David Liddiment, ITV Director of Channels, said: “The scale and ambition of our Premiership programming should leave fans in no doubt about ITV’s commitment to the game. ‘The Premiership’ provides, week in – week out, some of the greatest entertainment available to the British public. With its new early evening slot, the programme takes its place alongside a line-up of top entertainment and drama to create a great Saturday night in on ITV.”
The first edition of ‘The Premiership’ on August 18 will feature two main games: Liverpool v West Ham Utd and Middlesbrough v Arsenal. (CD)