The fallout from the shift in football rights on TV across the water continues
Only yesterday we were talking about Andy Townsend’s departure from ITV after the station lost Champions League rights to BT Sport and now it seems the new kid on the block fancies adding a big name host to their ranks.
According to the Mail, BT have set their sights on the BBC’s main man Gary Lineker. BT have long coveted the former England international but they may finally make a serious move for Lineker if the BBC lose the rights to Premier League highlights.
Those will be awarded to the winning bidder next month, and the BBC deal for Match of the Day runs until the end of next season, but if the BBC do lose out then Lineker may be allowed to work for both networks next season, as Clare Balding does.
ITV, who will be without virtually all football from next year, are expected to make a strong bid for the Premier League highlights package, further increasing the liklihood that Match of the Day may be about to end and that Lineker may be allowed to go elsewhere.
We can only hope that Michael Owen is part of a swap deal the other way.
