BT Sport has renewed its deal to broadcast exclusive coverage of the Vanarama National League for a further three years until the end of the 2023/24 season.
The new contract will see more live National League matches broadcast on BT Sport than ever before, with the pick of the matches to be continue being shown in its regular Saturday slot.
Alongside the weekly live match coverage, the BT Sport football team will continue to bring fans every goal from every National League match in the weekly highlights show.
The show is created through an innovative link between BT and students associated with selected National League clubs who receive broadcast training from BT to go on and help create the show.
English football’s fifth tier has been broadcast by the pay-TV broadcaster since its inception in 2013.
Commenting on the new deal, Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said:
“Over the past few years we’ve developed an innovative relationship with the league, including world-first 5G-enabled remote broadcasts and training local students who help create BT Sport’s National League highlights shows.
“The National League remain a valued partner to BT, particularly during the pandemic, in staging last season’s playoff matches and the 2020-21 season.”
Led by presenter Matt Smith, BT Sport’s coverage follows the regular season championship race, plus the exciting end-of-season playoffs as 23 teams battle it out for two precious spots in the English Football League.
Alongside Smith are commentators Adam Summerton and Adam Virgo, plus a cast of expert pundits including former Norwich City and Barrow striker Grant Holt, former Torquay United manager Chris Hargreaves and former Southport manager Kevin Davies, while the channel’s regular roving reporters are Natalie Quirk and Becky Ives.
Brian Barwick, chairman of the National League, added:
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with BT Sport. Their coverage of the Vanarama National League has been simply outstanding.
“Informed and comprehensive, our League has been broadcast in a highly polished and professional fashion. A lot of hard work over the last past seven years has produced some exceptional television.
“The new three-year contract will take us into over a decade of coverage by BT Sport. This speaks volumes for the confidence we have in how our matches have been brought to an established and growing audience.”
For a full list of all forthcoming major football matches on the box, visit SOTB’s dedicated football TV listings page.
