BBC sports presenter Jake Humphrey has announced he is to leave the corporation at the end of the year to become the main anchor of BT’s Premier League coverage.
Humphrey, who fronted some of the BBC’s Euro 2012 coverage from Poland and Ukraine this summer, will start work with BT’s forthcoming new sports channel in January 2013 after signing a four-year deal.
During ten years with the BBC, he has been best known for fronting the broadcaster’s Formula 1 coverage, as well as a high profile stint covering the London 2012 Olympics and co-hosting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.
He will continue to present the BBC’s F1 coverage for the remainder of the 2012 season.
After starting his television career with CBBC, Humphrey went on to become the youngest ever presenter of the BBC’s flagship football programmes – Football Focus, Final Score and Match of the Day – having risen sharply through the ranks of the corporation after making his BBC Sport debut as a reporter on Final Score in 2005.
After four years of fronting the BBC’s critically acclaimed Formula 1 coverage, Humphrey will become the face of BT Vision’s Barclays Premier League programming from the start of the 2013/14 season.
BT won the rights to show 38 live games a season for three seasons, including 18 of the best quality ‘first pick’ games, which is the first time anyone but Sky has won any of the prime live Premier League matches.
As well as hosting live coverage of the 38 games, Humphrey will also be involved with the new channel’s other football programming.
He will be working with BT’s creative teams and production partners to help to mould the style of the new football programme, in the months running up to the kick-off in August 2013.
Humphrey said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining the team at BT not just because I get to fulfil a lifelong dream of presenting the Barclays Premier League but because of the fresh perspective that BT will bring to both sport and broadcasting in this country.
“To be a part of this young, vibrant team who are as passionate about sport, as I am, is a privilege.
“I’ve grown up at the BBC, and whilst I hope to work with them in the future, I’d also like to place on record my thanks to them.
“I am incredibly grateful to all colleagues, and of course the viewers, for their incredible support from CBBC all the way to Formula 1.
“My focus from the start of 2013 is on making BT’s coverage of football the best this country has ever seen.”
Marc Watson, chief executive of BT Vision, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Jake has chosen to join our new sports channel to anchor our Premier League programming.
“Jake is a tremendously experienced and popular sports broadcaster and a fresh, young and innovative talent.
“He impressed us with his willingness to get deeply involved in the development of our live football programming and we took into account his track record of excellent presenting across many sports.
“He fits our plans for the new channel perfectly and we are very excited to be working with him.”
A BBC statement said: “We’d like to wish Jake all the best for the future, and thank him for his contribution to the BBC over the last 10 years.”
Alongside Premier League football, the new BT sports channel will also screen Aviva Premiership rugby union after the company signed an exclusive four-year rights deal to broadcast up to 69 games per season.
Pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie is favourite to take over as the BBC’s Formula 1 presenter from next season, having deputised for Humphrey on several occasions over the past three seasons.
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