The BBC has unveiled its line-up of football programming for the 2016/17 season featuring a new midweek Premier League magazine show on BBC Two fronted by Gabby Logan.
Starting on Thursday, August 25, The Premier League Show will be presented every week from the National Football Museum in Manchester and feature in-depth interviews with the biggest stars from England’s top flight, as well as a regular standalone feature with Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker discussing football’s hottest topics, with Logan joined for the first show by former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, while Lineker meets Liverpool’s charismatic German manager Jürgen Klopp.
BBC TV’s offering will consist of six programmes stripped across the weekend, with Match of the Day continuing to lead the corporation’s output every Saturday with all the highlights from the Premier League, along with expert analysis on all the day’s action alongside enhanced graphics and technological insight.
In addition to MOTD, the weekend’s action will include Match of the Day 2 and MOTD2 Extra presented by Mark Chapman, an extended hour-long Football Focus with Dan Walker, which will have a new start time of midday from September 10, while Final Score also returns with Jason Mohammad providing the latest news and goal flashes from Saturday’s action.
Expert analysis across all programmes will come from Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Jermaine Jenas, Danny Murphy, Kevin Kilbane, Trevor Sinclair, Ruud Gullit, Robbie Savage, Martin Keown, Jason Roberts, Mark Lawrenson, John Hartson, Dion Dublin, Garth Crooks, Danny Mills, plus special guests throughout the season.
Additional presenters include Manish Bhasin, Jacqui Oatley and Eilidh Barbour, while an experienced line-up of MOTD commentators includes BBC regulars Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce, Simon Brotherton, Steve Bower and John Motson.
Live FA Cup coverage returns to the BBC in November with 16 matches across BBC One and BBC Two, as well as highlights of every round across all platforms.
The BBC will also continue its commitment to women’s football throughout the 2016/17 season, including coverage from both domestic game and internationals.
England women face Estonia in a live Euro 2017 qualifier on BBC Two on September 15, with the Lionesses having already qualified for next year’s tournament in Holland but will want to top their group.
The Women’s Football Show returns to BBC Two on Bank Holiday Monday, August 29, when Manchester City will continue their bid to be crowned FA Women’s Super League champions and Women’s Super League 2 Yeovil look to promotion, while there will again be live coverage on BBC One of the FA Women’s Cup final next May, followed by the UEFA Women’s European Championship.
Alongside its TV and radio offering, BBC Sport’s digital service will include breaking news and analysis and popular features such as Sportsday Live, Lawro’s Predictions, the Gossip Column and MotD2 analysis along with innovative use of video.
The BBC Sport website and app will deliver a live page for every Premier League match with integrated 5 live commentaries. While our FA Cup coverage will feature live video streaming of the BBC’s 16 televised games, alongside video highlights.
There will also be live text commentary for Home Nation internationals, including 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Champions League, FA Cup, Scottish Premiership, Championship and women’s football matches.
Commenting on the BBC’s football coverage ahead of the new season, Steve Rudge, who takes over from Mark Coles as the BBC’s lead executive for football coverage, said: “As excitement builds towards the new football season, we are delighted to announce our extensive offering which now includes the new mid-week magazine programme.
“Last season, 64 percent of fans followed the Premier League on the BBC only, highlighting our ability to unite the nation via our dedicated football service.
“This season will see the BBC deliver an unrivalled multiplatform offering which allows audiences to have the latest news and insight 24/7 wherever and whenever they wish.
“Fans will be led by a stellar cast of presenters, pundits and commentators who will bring them unique analysis and closer to the action than ever before across BBC TV, radio and enhanced digital platforms.”
Last season, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker famously promised to present the first show of this season in his underwear if Leicester City won the Premier League title.
With the Foxes going on to claim a shock triumph, will Gary be true to his word? Tune in this Saturday at 10.30pm on BBC One to find out.
Are you ready for the return of #MOTD on Saturday night on @BBCOne at 10.30pm? pic.twitter.com/Ued48XVPjl
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 11, 2016
