The first look at the new Sky Sports News studio has been revealed as the channel prepares to undergo one the biggest revamps in its 16-year history.
Britain’s only dedicated rolling sports news channel will launch its fresh new look and brand new state-of-the-art studio on Tuesday, August 12, ahead of the start of the new 2014/15 Premier League season.
The channel will also be rebranded on-air as Sky Sports News HQ, promising to deliver even more breaking news across a streamlined TV, digital and mobile service, with improvements to online content, apps and integrated social media coverage.
Taking inspiration from the look and feel of Sky News, the new Sky Sports News set will feature a 30-foot circular giant screen, which will stand behind the presenters’ main desk in the centre of the studio.
Compared to previous sets where presenters have largely been confined to their desks, the new studio will also allow the presenters to freely walk around and interact with the giant screen for various news items and features.
Another significant change for viewers will see Sky Sports News move from its current home on channel 405 on the Sky EPG to channel 401, also from August 12.
This will see Sky Sports 1-5 move to channels 402-406 respectively, with Sky Sports F1 moving to channel 407. The EPG line-up on Virgin Media will also change.
Sky says the changes to the order of the EPG will “provide viewers with an unrivalled sports news service plus a showcase of other content on the Sky Sports channels”.
With its fresh new look and move to the top slot on the EPG of the Sky Sports portfolio of channels, the revamped Sky Sports News HQ will offer:
New Schedule: New programmes and features plus a greater emphasis on reporting stories under investigation, delivered by a team of over 200 staff, 32 reporters and 20 presenters including Kirsty Gallacher, Jim White and Natalie Sawyer.
New Studio: Almost double the size of the previous Sky Sports News studio, the new space means viewers will enjoy more breaking news delivered in new ways, including via an 18 square-metre video wall or investigation desk as just two of 11 different presenting positions.
Digital Offering: Sky Sports apps and website have been redesigned with additional personalisation, a SSN HQ ‘hub’ offering catch-up video clips and additional content alongside the live channel, breaking news notifications and trending articles.
Socia Media: A social media desk will immerse viewers in the newsroom environment as Sky Sports News HQ reporters investigate what’s being said on social media channels. Users will be able to have their say and join the debate via Sky Sports apps, skysports.com and social media.
The Daily Mirror were granted first access to the new-look studio in an exclusive behind-the-scenes feature on its website which saw reporter Andy Lines take a look at the latest preparations at Sky Studios in west London ahead of the set’s on-air debut on August 12.
Sky Sports News launched in 1998 as Britain’s first ever rolling 24-hour news channel solely dedicated to sport, becoming a hit with viewers throughout the football season with shows such as Gillette Soccer Saturday and its wall-to-wall coverage of Transfer Deadline Day, the event most associated with the channel.
The rebranding to Sky Sports News HQ will be the second time the channel has changed it name, after previously adopting Sky Sports.com TV from 2000 to 2001, to tie with the launch of the SkySports.com website.
After launching in high-definition in 2010, the channel relocated to the multi-million pound Sky Studios complex in west London back in the spring of 2011, becoming the first Sky channel to broadcast live from the new building.
Whilst the new set is under construction, Sky Sports News has been broadcasting from the channel’s secondary studio, used mainly for Gillette Soccer Saturday, over the past few months.
Sky Sports News HQ executive editor Andy Cairns, said: “Sky Sports News has always been authoritative, innovative, fun and relevant.
“These changes reflect how we’re staying ahead of the curve and anticipating the needs of our viewers.
“Sports fans want to get even further into the heart of sports news, and we’ll take them there with the best resources: 11 presentation points in a fantastic new studio, new ways of reflecting stories under investigation and those driving social conversations, and revamped apps and digital services.
“Two million viewers a day come to Sky Sports News, plus many more on digital and social media, and this evolution shows our commitment to delivering them an even better service.”
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis added: “Sky Sports News is the number one sports news service in the UK & Ireland and we aim to make it even better.
“The launch of Sky Sports News HQ will extend and enhance the experience across TV, mobile and online. It’s just the latest innovation from a channel that’s pioneered sports news broadcasting for over 15 years.
“And by launching on channel 401, we want Sky Sports News HQ be the first port of call for sports fans, transforming the way they follow sport in a multiplatform era.”
The first face to appear on Sky Sports News when it launched back in 1998 was Mike Wedderburn and he still forms a key part of the presenting team 16 years on, hosting the channel’s breakfast show Good Morning Sports Fans.
Speaking to Sky Views about the channel’s upcoming revamp, Wedderburn said: “The changes to the studio will also be matched by all sorts of upgrades and technical wizardry on the apps and website too, all of which is going to mean that we’re delivering sports fans an even better service.
“I’ve been presenting Good Morning Sports Fans on Sky Sports News since day one of the channel almost 16 years ago now, but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s still as exciting as if it were my first day!
“If you love sport there is no better place to be in the world. I arrive at 4am and I never really know what to expect. Every day is an adventure.
“It was a very small operation when we started, but we’ve always been known for our great investigations and breaking news, and it’s a reputation that’s still solid today.
“Now it is a massive operation. We have news feeds and reporters all over the world, including a crew who travel the F1 circuit. If it’s worth covering – we are there.
“We’re reaching 2 million people a day on TV alone – and many more online on skysports.com, via apps and of course not forgetting our 2.9m Twitter followers. It’s a huge audience.
“As for the future, it is so exciting. The new studio is sensational. It’s the sort of thing that presenters dream of. But more importantly, it’s going to allow us to bring you the news in a totally different way.
“With 11 presentation positions, including a social media desk to update the viewer as we chase news stories and investigate twitter conversations, we’re taking the viewer into the heart of the sports newsroom. Breaking News, but not as you know it!”
Sport On The Box columnist Vernon Grant was part of the launch team for Sky Sports News.
In a special piece written for this website last autumn when the channel marked its 15th birthday, Grant said: “In those days you arrived for work not knowing if there would be a Sky, let alone a Sky Sports News.
“The company was losing money on a mind boggling scale. But the powers that reside outside of the UK decided, rightly as it turned out, to invest big in the installation of satellite dishes, support Sky Sports News and make cuts in other programming.
“Once viewers had the apparatus on their roof, and were offered enticing new packages, Sky went from strength to strength. As a consequence the then free Sky Sports News flourished.
“I see it rarely these days, but the improved location and studio set is a world away from 1998.
“I am proud I was in at the start of something. And those who work there today should be equally proud of the service they deliver.”
The revamped Sky Sports News goes live at 6.00am on Tuesday, August 12, coinciding with the launch of Sky Sports 5, BSkyB’s new sports channel dedicated to European football, on the same day.
From August 12 when the Sky Sports channels realign to their new slots, Sky Sports 5, which is being made available by Sky to its Sky Sports customers at no extra cost as part of their sports packages, will be found on channel 406.
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The new Sky Sports channel portfolio will move to the following numbers on the Sky satellite platform:
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Sky Sports News HQ – 401
Sky Sports 1 – 402
Sky Sports 2 – 403
Sky Sports 3 – 404
Sky Sports 4 – 405
Sky Sports 5 – 406
Sky Sports F1 – 407
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