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INTRODUCING: Sky Sports’ new dedicated channels

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INTRODUCING: Sky Sports’ new dedicated channels

In an exciting new revamp, Sky Sports has replaced numbered channels with themed offerings focussing on dedicated sports content. Viewers will be able to enjoy the best live action with award-winning commentary and analysis, as well as a range of brand new shows and documentaries.

Starting from July 18, Sky is bringing you the best live sport with ten specialised channels, including dedicated channels for the Premier League, Football, Cricket, Golf and F1. Check out what each channel has to offer below:

Sky Sports Premier League

One of the most exciting new additions is the UK’s first ever dedicated Premier League channel. Sky Sports Premier League will be the new home of the top-flight and its heroes, broadcasting 126 live Premier League games as the likes of Paul Pogba, Philippe Coutinho and Harry Kane renew rivalries. Experts, including Gary Neville, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp, will continue to deliver cutting-edge analysis and the hottest topics will be discussed in a new week nightly Premier League debate show. You’ll be able to watch live games in Ultra HD with Sky Q – starting with Arsenal’s Friday Night Football opener against Leicester – and follow the action on the move with in-game clips, highlights and key moments in the new-look Sky Sports app.

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Sky Sports Football

This channel will be the home of over 900 live matches per season and will be the only place to watch live coverage from the English Football League with 127 games in the 2017/18 season. There will be a wide range of live domestic football rights including Carabao Cup, SPFL, La Liga, MLS, Eredivisie and Chinese Super League and live coverage of all Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales International Qualifiers. Sky Sports Football will bring you a new weekly EFL Review and Goals show from August, while live and exclusive coverage of the UEFA Nations League begins in 2018 and will include all England’s matches.

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Sky Sports Cricket

Here you can watch exclusive live coverage of every home England international Test, ODI and T20 match. It will also be the only place to see the ICC tournaments. Sky Sports Cricket will also welcome a range of brand new documentaries. In the coming months don’t miss Cricket and the Rainbow Nation – a look at South African cricket from the days of their sporting ban during the Apartheid era to the present day – and Whispering Death: The Michael Holding, an in-depth look at the life and achievements of a cricket legend.

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Sky Sports Golf

Sky Sports Golf is the only place to see every day of The Open Championship, and US Open live. The channel will also be the exclusive home of the European, PGA, Ladies European and Ladies PGA Tour with a live event at least 48 weeks a year, and will air exclusive live coverage of the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. As well as a comprehensive weekly live coverage from the European and PGA Tour, the Sky Sports Golf channel will offer exclusive interviews with players and caddies to get you closer to the game, with Sky’s top golf talent on-hand to improve your play.

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Sky Sports Formula 1

From 2019 Sky Sports will be the only place to see Formula 1 live coverage and highlights and on this dedicated channel viewers can watch every practice session, qualifying hour and race live. Fans can also catch exclusive live coverage of the FIA Formula 2 Championship, GP3, Porsche Supercup and Goodwood Festival of Speed. And for those of you who don’t want to miss a single moment, coverage of every live F1 session (including practice and qualifying) will also be available in Ultra High Definition with Sky Q.

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Sky Sports Action and Arena

Enjoy the best International and European Rugby Union, Rugby League, Tennis, Boxing, NFL, GAA, Darts and WWE on the new Sky Sports Action and Arena channels. Get closer with great programming including NFL Red Zone and The Gloves Are Off.

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And that’s not all…

As well as Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Mix, there will also be a Sky Sports Main Event channel to showcase the biggest live events – available to customers with the full range of Sky Sports channels. Whether it’s a huge Premier League head to head, the opening day of an England Test match or a Formula One Grand Prix, Sky Sports Main Event is the new destination for the biggest live events simulcast from across the new Sky Sports channels.

[The F1 Logo, F1, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved.]

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Sky Sports to replace numbered channels and revamp brand following falling viewer ratings

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Sky Sports to replace numbered channels and revamp brand following falling viewer ratings

Sky will replace numbered channels and introduce a cheaper sports package for consumers in an attempt to win back viewers.

Following a decline in viewer numbers, Sky has opted to drop Sky Sports 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and instead offer themed channels focussed on football, golf, cricket etc. The decision to rebrand, alongside the introduction of cheaper packages, is expected to excite a turnaround for the company.

The new channels will replicate the likes of Sky’s existing Formula One channel, the entire content of which is dedicated to one sport in particular. As well as the football, golf and cricket channels, Sky will also introduce Sky Sports Arena to cover content such as rugby and tennis.

Additionally, pay-TV subscribers will now be able to select cheaper package options, as Sky are set to decrease the least expensive offering to just £18. This will attract customers who were hesitant to pay the current £49.50 for the cheapest sports package available.

The strategy aims to boost viewing figures back up and attract more consumers, which may have dropped to the rising popularity of cheaper streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon, as well as the widespread availability of On Demand services.

Director at Ampere Analysis, Richard Broughton, explained: “There are a range of reasons why Sky would be looking at such a big structural change to its pay-TV service.

“In part it could be a response to the ongoing question of viewing numbers to traditional pay-TV sport. There is also a demographic shift where people, especially younger groups, are reluctant to spend so much. Get reluctant to spend groups, such as millennials, in on cheap packages and look to up-sell at a later date.”

ITV Racing: Here’s all there is to know about this year’s horse racing coverage

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ITV Racing: Here’s all there is to know about this year’s horse racing coverage

Where can I watch live horse racing?

Live racing is available on ITV and ITV4. For a full list of televised race days and what channel to watch, see below.

Who are the presenters?

Former Sky Sports News presenter Ed Chamberlin is ITV’s main host. Formerly a journalist and bookmaker with a passion for horseracing, Chamberlin is perfectly placed at the forefront of ITV’s coverage.

Joining Chamberlin for the Flat season is Francesca Cumani, who was formerly lead racing analyst for Australia’s Seven Network.

Racing journalist Matt Chapman is betting presenter and reporter.

Former Racing UK presenter Oli Bell presents the Saturday morning magazine show on ITV4.

Who are the commentators?

Veteran commentator Richard Hoiles is lead commentator, alongside Mark Johnson.

Who are the reporters?

Besides the aforementioned Chapman, Rishi Persad, Sally-Ann Grassick and Alice Plunkett will also provide reports.

Lucy Verasamy is also on board as weather reporter.

Who else can we expect to feature?

Confirmed experts include legendary jockey AP McCoy, plus Hayley Turner, Mick Fitzgerald, Jason Weaver, Luke Harvey, Brian Gleeson and Brough Scott.

Frankie Dettori and Victoria Pendleton will also appear.

Which races can I watch on ITV?

Here’s the full list, with the channel in brackets.

February

25th: Kempton, Lingfield & Newcastle (ITV4)

March

4th: Doncaster & Newbury (ITV)

11th: Sandown & Wolverhampton (ITV4)

14th-17th: Cheltenham Festival (ITV)

18th: Uttoxeter & Kempton (ITV4)

25th: Newbury & Kelso (ITV4)

April

1st: Doncaster & Kempton (ITV4)

6th-8th: Aintree Grand National Meeting (ITV)

14th: Lingfield & Newcastle (ITV4)

15th: Musselburgh & Kempton (ITV4)

19th-20th: Newmarket & Cheltenham (ITV4)

22nd: Ayr & Newbury (ITV)

28th: Sandown (ITV3)

29th: Sandown and Haydock (jumps finale) (ITV)

May

6th: Newmarket and Goodwood (2,000 Guineas) (ITV)

7th: Newmarket and Hamilton (1,000 Guineas) (ITV)

10th-12th: Chester May Festival (ITV4)

13th: Ascot, Lingfield & Haydock (ITV4)

17th-19th: York Dante Meeting (ITV4)

20th: Newbury and Newmarket (ITV)

27th: Haydock, Goodwood & York (ITV4)

June

2nd-3rd: Epsom Derby Meeting (ITV)

10th: Haydock, Newmarket & Chester (ITV4)

17th: York, Musselburgh & Sandown (ITV4)

20th-24th: Royal Ascot (ITV)

July

1st: Newcastle and Newmarket (Northumberland Plate) (ITV)

8th: Sandown and Haydock (Eclipse) (ITV)

13th-14th: Newmarket July meeting (ITV3)

15th: ‘Super Saturday’ (Newmarket, Ascot, York) (ITV)

22nd: Newbury, Newmarket & Market Rasen (ITV3)

29th: Ascot and York (King George) (ITV)

AUGUST

1st-5th: Glorious Goodwood (ITV)

5th: Newmarket (ITV)

12th: Ascot, Haydock & Newmarket (ITV4)

19th: Newbury, Newmarket & Ripon (ITV4)

23rd-26th: York Ebor (ITV)

26th: Goodwood (ITV)

September

2nd: Sandown, Chester & Beverley – ITV4

9th: Haydock, Ascot and Kempton (Sprint Cup) – ITV

15th-16th: Doncaster St Leger meeting (ITV4)

16th: Doncaster and Chester (St Leger) (ITV)

23rd: Ayr & Newbury (ITV4)

29th-30th: Newmarket (ITV4)

30th: Haydock (ITV4)

October

7th: Ascot, Newmarket & Redcar (ITV4)

13th: Newmarket & York (ITV4)

14th: Newmarket and York (Dewhurst) (ITV)

21st: Ascot (British Champions Day) (ITV)

28th: Cheltenham, Doncaster & Newbury (ITV4)

November

4th: Ascot & Wetherby (ITV4)

11th: Wincanton & Doncaster (ITV4)

17th: Cheltenham (Open meeting) (ITV4)

18th: Cheltenham and Lingfield (Open Meeting, Middle Day) (ITV)

19th: Cheltenham & Fontwell (ITV4)

25th: Haydock and Ascot (Betfair Chase) (ITV)

December

1st: Hennessy meeting (ITV4)

2nd: Newbury & Newcastle (Hennessy/Fighting Fifth) (ITV)

9th: – Sandown & Aintree (ITV4)

15th-16th: Cheltenham (International Meeting) (ITV4)

16th: Doncaster (ITV4)

23rd: Ascot & Haydock (ITV4)

26th: Kempton and Wetherby (King George) (ITV)

27th: Kempton & Chepstow (ITV4)

30th: Newbury, Haydock & Taunton (ITV4)

NOW TV to show The Open for free

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NOW TV to show The Open for free

NOW TV has announced that it will show the first day of The Open Championship for free on its platform.

On Thursday July 14, NOW TV will offer sports fans a free ‘NOW TV Sports Day Pass’, which they can use to watch all of the day’s action from the new channel Sky Sports The Open (channel 401). They will also have access to all of Sky Sports’ six other channels.

Sky Sports The Open has replaced Sky Sports 1 from today (July 11) ahead of the Championship start on Thursday. It will provide live coverage of the entire championship across four days. Fans can buy an additional day pass (£6.99) or a week pass (£10.99) to watch the rest of the tournament.

NOW TV is available to watch on over 60 devices, including smart TVs, computers, tablets, mobiles and consoles.

To claim the free Sports Day Pass, all fans have to do is visit nowtv.com/freepass from midnight on Thursday 14 July.

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray fanboys over Benedict Cumberbatch

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Wimbledon champion Andy Murray fanboys over Benedict Cumberbatch

Andy Murray stormed through three straight sets against Milos Raonic to become Wimbledon champion for the second time on Sunday 10th July 2016.

After lifting the trophy on court and celebrating with a few emotional sobs, Murray made his way through the clubhouse to meet with the ritzy spectators who had seen him win.

Andy first spoke to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a.k.a. Kate and Wills telling them he “really appreciated” them coming to watch.

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Murray then fanboy-ed his way over to Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter. Both boys stumbled over their words, telling each other they were a “huge fan” of the other. Murray smiled politely as Benedict praised his tennis skills before getting down to business and asking about Sherlock. Watch for yourself below:

 

GoT’s Natalie Dormer trumps Chris Evans and other celebrities in London Marathon

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GoT’s Natalie Dormer trumps Chris Evans and other celebrities in London Marathon

As usual the celebs turned out in full force for yesterday’s London Marathon, hoping to beat their personal bests and raise some money for good causes.

Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer marked the return of the show’s new season by finishing the race in 03:51:21 for the benefit of children’s charities NSPCC/ChildLine.

“I’m here today because 3,000 children get in contact with ChildLine every day. And we don’t have enough money to talk to every single one of them”, she told reporters. She said she had personally raised over £5,000 for the cause with her run.

The 34-year-old actress, who plays Margaery Tyrell on the hit fantasy series, was almost unrecognisable in her streamlined shades and pulled back hair.

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Meanwhile former Made In Chelsea cast member Ashley James, 28, was close behind with 04:10:27. The reality star sported a yellow vest baring the logo for Marie Curie Cancer Care, paired with purple nails and a makeup free face.

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New Top Gear host Chris Evans ran alongside his golfer wife Natasha Shishmanian, achieving a very respectable time of 04:39:53.

gallery-1461495331-gettyimages-523707086Other stars taking on the 26.2 mile stretch included sprinter and Strictly star Iwan Thomas, broadcaster Sophie Raworth, Call the Midwife‘s Jack Ashton, former EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, Emmerdale‘s Chris Chittell, Dame Kelly Holmes, and TV judge Robert Rinder (pictured below).

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Even Gogglebox‘s Baasit Siddiqui​ got off the sofa to take part, telling the BBC: “I spend most of my time watching TV these days so I’m not as fit as I used to be”.

Perhaps most impressively, British astronaut Tim Peake became the first man to complete a marathon in space, achieving a time of 03:35:21 while strapped to a treadmill to counter the lack of gravity at the International Space Station.

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A hearty congratulations to all who took part this year!

Rooney To Reveal All About Manager Bust Ups And THAT Transfer Request In Documentary

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Rooney To Reveal All About Manager Bust Ups And THAT Transfer Request In Documentary

Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has teased the truth in the headlines ahead of in the upcoming BBC One documentary about his life.

The footballer, who first rose to national awareness after his breathtaking performances in Euro 2004, spoke about his favourite managers, his reasons for leaving beloved boyhood team Everton to join Manchester United and the truth behind THAT transfer request two years ago.

One topic Rooney devotes time to is that of managers both for the England national team, Everton and Manchester United.

Speaking about the many England managers and national disappointments, Rooney said: “The time I enjoyed playing for England most was under Sven and now Roy Hodgson. The time in between, I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I should. The one I was most excited about was Fabio Capello, with his record when he came in. It was a disappointment. I expected more.”

He also admitted that he was not fit enough to perform in the 2006 World Cup after returning from injury, and bemoaned England’s failure to perform in global tournaments.

“I go into tournaments and I am always confident. For some reason it hasn’t happened. I don’t know whether I put too much pressure on myself. The last tournament [in Brazil] as disappointing as it was, in terms of my own fitness I felt as good as I have ever felt. It is just a shame as a team we didn’t go further.”

Speaking about the very public bust up with legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson prior to his departure from the club two years ago, Rooney said: “I went in to see him and just said if you are not going to play me then it might be better for me to move on.”

“Then, all of a sudden, it was all over the press that I had put a transfer request in which I never did. I don’t know what happened, why that came out that way.”

Nevertheless, Rooney still values Fergie as a class act despite their disagreements, admitting that the fiery Scot was the reason he joined United in 2004.

“He was the reason why I wanted to join Manchester United, to work with him. For him to be interested in me and want me to come and play under him, there was nowhere else I was going to go.”

He also describes Ferguson as “the best manager of all time”.

The new documentary is timed to celebrate Rooney’s fiftieth goal for his national team, which makes his England’s top scorer of all time.

Wayne Rooney – The Man Behind The Goals will air next Monday at 9pm on BBC One.

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