BT Sport has agreed a new four-year deal with Jake Humphrey that will see the presenter continue to anchor the broadcaster’s Premier League and FA Cup coverage and extend his role to include presenting exclusively live UEFA Champions League and Europa League games.
Humphrey, 36, has hosted BT Sport’s live Barclays Premier League football coverage for the past two seasons and will continue to be the channel’s main host under the new contract.
The former BBC Formula 1 presenter, who joined BT in January 2013 and became one of the founding faces of BT Sport, along with Clare Balding, Lawrence Dallaglio and Rio Ferdinand, will also play a key role in the channel’s upcoming UEFA Champions League and Europa League coverage.
He is expected to share presenting duties on European games alongside Gary Lineker, who according to the Daily Telegraph has been cleared to head up BT Sport’s Champions League coverage after agreeing a new non-exclusive contract with the BBC, which will allow him to combine his Match of the Day commitments with roles on other channels.
Humphrey was keen to enlarge his role during the next phase of BT Sport’s development as the new home of exclusively live UEFA Champions League and Europa League for three seasons from the start of the 2015/16 season.
For the first time, a single UK broadcaster has the rights to all the 350 live matches from both tournaments, with BT Sport, who take over the rights from Sky Sports and ITV, being the only place to watch the very best European teams compete in the leading tournaments.
Grant Best, executive director of programming and creative, said: “It is going to be a hugely exciting time for BT Sport as we become the only place to watch exclusively live UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches.
“Jake has been a big hit with our viewers for his assured and confident style in presenting our Barclays Premier League matches.
“His role is expanding and I know he’ll bring the same quality and professionalism to our coverage of the best club competition in the world.”
Commenting on his presenting role with BT Sport, Jake Humphrey said: “I have loved being involved at BT Sport from the very beginning.
“The last two years have been some of the most enjoyable of my career and on the way we’ve had some cracking games, part of the reason we’ve taken the channels from zero to over five million subscribers in the process.
“The next stage is even more exciting as we become the only place to watch live UEFA Champions League.
“Fulfilling a childhood dream to present the Barclays Premier League has been an incredible adventure, and to be able to present big European matches from the world’s most iconic stadiums will be another challenge I can’t wait to take on.”
Jake, who also presented European Championship football from Poland and Ukraine in 2012 during his time with the BBC, will be free to double up on presenting duties for BT Sport, as the channels’ Barclays Premier League matches will remain mainly on Saturdays for the next four seasons, while European matches are played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Adding on his personal website, Humphrey said: “I’m over the moon to commit my future to BT Sport for the next four years, and become part of the their team hosting the Champions League next season.
“It’s been quite a journey from London Road to the Nou Camp, via kids TV, the world’s F1 circuits and Premier League grounds. And I feel incredibly blessed to have enjoyed such adventure.
“Next season, as well as hosting Champions League matches, I will continue to present our Premier League games, and the FA Cup, and I really hope you’ll join us for the ride – if you haven’t already.”
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