Introducing the All-Star Lineup: TNT Sports Unveils New Presentation Team

New Branding Replaces BT Sport in Joint Venture with Warner Bros. Discovery

TNT Sports Launches in the UK

From today, 18 July, BT Sport branding will be replaced by TNT Sports in the UK. This rebranding is the result of a joint venture formed by BT Sport and Warner Bros. Discovery last year. The new name and style aims to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery owned Eurosport in the coming years.

Continuation of Rights and Pricing

Despite the rebranding, TNT Sports will continue to hold the same rights as BT Sport. This includes broadcasting major sporting events such as the Champions League, Premier League, Premiership Rugby, UFC, MotoGP, and more. In addition, both TNT Sports and Eurosport will be included in the £29.99-a-month price point for the sports offering. This offering is available through discovery+, as well as BT TV, Sky, and Virgin Media. Eurosport holds rights to the Olympics, cycling’s Grand Tours, tennis’ Australian Open and Roland-Garros, and more.

BT Sport App and Discovery+ App

As part of the transition, the BT Sport app will be shut down later this year and replaced with the discovery+ app. The new app will include some of the same features found on the BT Sport app, such as timeline highlights. Customers will need to complete an authentication process in order to seamlessly move between the two apps.

Changes in the Presentation Team

Football Coverage

There have been some major changes in the presentation team for TNT Sports. Jake Humphrey, who left the broadcaster at the end of the last football season, has been replaced by Laura Woods as the host of TNT Sports‘ Champions League coverage and major boxing bouts. Carl Frampton will take on the lead analyst role for boxing. Reshmin Chowdhury will now present some Champions League games in addition to her previous role fronting Europa League and Europa League Conference fixtures. Lynsey Hipgrave will continue to host live coverage of the Premier League, a role she began at the start of the 2022/23 season. Jules Breach will have a broader role, presenting the Europa League, reporting on key matches across the Premier League and Champions League, and fronting a new-look show for Saturday’s Premier League coverage on TNT Sports.

Football Punditry and Commentary

TNT Sports will feature football punditry from a lineup of esteemed experts including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, Joe Cole, Rachel Brown-Finnis, Owen Hargreaves, Steve McManaman, Joleon Lescott, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, and Robbie Savage. Commentating duties will be handled by Darren Fletcher, Adam Summerton, and Lucy Ward, with Ally McCoist joining as a co-commentator and pundit for Premier League and Champions League matches.

Rugby Coverage

TNT Sports will also see changes in its rugby coverage. Orla Chennaoui will now present Premiership games in addition to her role as the lead cycling presenter. Craig Doyle will host live match coverage, and Ugo Monye will have an extended role encompassing presenting and punditry. Alastair Eykyn and Nick Mullins will continue to provide commentary. Stuart Hogg and Emily Scarratt join the rugby punditry team, along with Martin Bayfield, Lawrence Dallaglio, Brian O’Driscoll, Sarra Elgan, Austin Healey, Ben Kay, and Sam Warburton.

MotoGP Coverage

Suzi Perry will continue to front MotoGP coverage, and she will be joined by 2003 Superbike World Champion Neil Hodgson, who will provide expert analysis throughout the season. Gavin Emmett, Michael Laverty, and Natalie Quirk complete the presentation lineup.

Multi-Sport Coverage

Radzi Chinyanganya, known for his work on the Olympics with Eurosport, will work across various sports and serve as the lead presenter for snooker coverage.

Editorial and Advice

The rebranding of BT Sport to TNT Sports marks an exciting development in the world of sports broadcasting in the UK. The joint venture between BT Sport and Warner Bros. Discovery opens up a new chapter for sports fans, offering a comprehensive range of sports programming under a fresh and vibrant brand.

This partnership brings together two powerful entities in the sports and entertainment industry, combining the extensive broadcasting rights of BT Sport with the global reach and expertise of Warner Bros. Discovery. The inclusion of Eurosport in the offering further expands the array of sporting events available to subscribers, including the Olympics, Grand Tours, and tennis Grand Slam tournaments.

As customers transition from the BT Sport app to the discovery+ app, it is important to ensure a smooth and efficient authentication process. BT TV, Sky, and Virgin Media customers can enjoy TNT Sports immediately without any further actions. The integration of similar features, such as timeline highlights, in the discovery+ app will help maintain a seamless viewing experience for sports enthusiasts.

In terms of the presentation team, the addition of new hosts, analysts, and commentators brings fresh perspectives and expertise to TNT Sports. Football fans can expect knowledgeable and engaging analysis from an all-star lineup, while rugby enthusiasts can look forward to in-depth coverage and insights from a team of respected experts. The continuity of familiar faces, such as Suzi Perry in MotoGP, ensures a sense of continuity and familiarity for long-time viewers.

With the launch of TNT Sports, the landscape of sports broadcasting in the UK is evolving. This new venture presents an exciting opportunity for sports fans to access a wide range of sports content through a single platform. As streaming platforms continue to reshape the media industry, it is important for subscribers to adapt and embrace these changes in order to fully enjoy the wealth of sports programming available to them.

Overall, the launch of TNT Sports represents a positive step forward in the world of sports broadcasting and offers a promising future for sports fans in the UK. The combination of high-quality programming, expert analysis, and a seamless viewing experience sets the stage for an immersive and enjoyable sports-watching experience.