The Sport Thread

[Jon]

The BT Sport commentary for the CL final made me nearly bang my head against the wall - So much misinformation about the goings on pre match (basically just regurgitating the same nonsense UEFA was saying about the delay) and they were so biased towards Liverpool, with Michael Owen after the game uttering the words "Liverpool are still the best team in Europe" - well why did they lose a European final then?!?!

Couldn't be happier to see Liverpool lose.

I think out of all the big European players in English football, Liverpool are the ones I most like see win things. Although I guess if you’re a Man City or United fan, you might have a different view. 

You could probably still make an argument for saying a club are the best team in Europe, even if they haven’t won the biggest prize(s), when it’s that close a bit of luck is the only difference between winning and losing. Don’t think many would have said Italy are the best national team in Europe despite them winning the Euros and the fact they didn’t qualify for the following World Cup kind of backs that up.

But I would expect pundits to be a little bit biased when a British club is playing an overseas club, especially when they’re former players. As long as they’re being fair on how they see the actual play in the match, which I think they usually are.

[dvboy]

BBC Sport andAmazon Prime Video to show all the British grass season tennis from next week. First time I can remember Surbiton being broadcasted on TV, might have been on an online stream before?

It's always been streamed by the LTA and/or the ATP Challenger and ITF's own streaming but being BBC is a first. It will be on the red button from Monday on days that don't clash.

The LTA's article says it's the first time WTA Nottingham and Birmingham have been on the BBC but actually they were on the BBC's online platforms last year. Sharing the tournament with Prime Video means all courts will be available to watch in the UK for the first time, not just centre court matches which presumably will be the only ones on the BBC's platforms. It'll be interesting to see if they incorporate any of Birmingham into their Queen's coverage or if it'll be entirely separate.

The only grass season coverage not on the BBC will be the ATP matches at Eastbourne, where Prime Video have had exclusivity since 2018.

[TIGHazard]

Thanks to Forest's promotion... looks like Sky 0001 will be getting another outing.

https://www.tvguide.co.uk/detail/3649208...3/pl-retro

[RhysJR]

[Brekkie]

Always suspicious when there is a report of a "multi year" renewal but no details of how long it actually is. Usually means it's more likely to be two years than ten years.

[fusionlad]

Eurosport 4K (and HDR) just fell off the air at 11pm.

Guess there was no provision to extend the late running tennis match with Sky. I believe they use streams usually allocated to Sky Sports.

[dvboy]

BBC Sport using LiveU to cover the tennis from Surbiton, which has not been perfect.
The end of the LTA's YouTube stream this morning includes the BBC's test video of aerial night-time shots of MediaCity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4hKrad6...hannel=LTA

[RhysJR]

Channel 4 have announced their on-air team for their England coverage.
Jules Breach will present, Steve Bower will commentate and Kelly Somers will be the reporter. Michael Owen seems to be the lead pundit, with Graeame Le Saux and Rob Green as co-commentators.

https://www.channel4.com/press/news/chan...ue-matches

[Brekkie]

That's a very dull, and has to be said very white, punditry and co-commentary team, although it looks like they'll change the pundits from match to match.

In other news golf's breakaway Saudi back super league, beginning with an invitational event in Herts, will be free on YouTube. TV rights were offered for free but it seems there were no takers - doubt the established broadcasters want to upset the PGA and various established authorities.

https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/liv-gol...on-youtube

[Brekkie]

The Championship Play Off Final was the highest rated EFL game in history, with 1.75m viewers, peaking at 2.24m.

https://twitter.com/callumcasteln/status...7542477827

That average is about half the figure of the average for the Champions League Final, so pretty good going really.

[Steve Williams]

That's a very dull, and has to be said very white, punditry and co-commentary team, although it looks like they'll change the pundits from match to match. 

Pretty sure Jules Breach isn't white.

[Rdd]

Studio presentation from Dublin for Poland v Wales on Premier Sports, no idea who the presenter or sole pundit are.

Edit: Owain Gwynedd and Neil Taylor apparently.

[Rdd]

Nice graphics package for the Finalissima too, a lot of effort for a one off game (including a title sequence and all, which you won’t have seen if you’re watching on Premier Sports for some odd reason).

[Brekkie]

Did the Nations League have the same graphics as last time?

[Rdd]

No changes from what I could see.