BT has confirmed that Jake Humphrey will anchor Barclays Premier League football coverage.
Earlier this summer the communications giant won the rights to show 38 live games a season for three seasons, including 18 of the best quality ‘first pick’ games.
The deal marked the first time a broadcaster other than Sky has won rights to any of the prime live matches. The satellite company won the rights to all other matches.
BT has said it will look to distribute its coverage across as many platforms as possible but is expected to offer some exclusive content to customers of its BT Vision service, including those accessing the BT Vision Player via YouView.
As well as hosting live coverage of the 38 games, BT says Humphrey will also be involved with the new channel’s other football programming and will be “working with BT’s creative teams and production partners to help to mould the style of the new football programme”.
Humphrey has spent etn years working at the BBC, fronting the broadcaster’s Formula 1 coverage, as well as a high profile stint covering the London 2012 Olympics for BBC1 and BBC3 and co-hosting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
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.”
Humphrey added:: “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.”