Bt’s Broadcasting Arm Grabs BBC Talent
Jake Humphrey is set to leave the BBC after being announced as the face of BT Vision’s Barclays Premier League football and will start work with the new sports channel in January 2013, on a four-year deal.
Currently working as the host of BBC’s Formula One coverage, the 33-year-old was the youngest ever presenter to work on Football Focus, Match of the Day and Final Score, after rising through the ranks from CBBC.
In June, BT won the rights to 38 live games a season for three years, including 18 of the ‘first pick’ games – the first time anyone but Sky Sports has won any of the prime live Premier League matches.
As well as hosting live coverage of the matches, Jake will also be involved with the new channel’s other football programming. He will work with BT’s creative teams and production partners to help mould the style of the new football programme, in the months running up to the kick-off in August 2013.
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, who also fronted some of BBC’s European Championship coverage and the cycling at London 2012, 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.’
