Steve Rider set for move to ITV ?

From the Guardian :

Steve Rider is expected to become the most high-profile defection from BBC Sport to ITV since Des Lynam swapped sides in 1999. Rider, who fronts the BBC's golf and rugby coverage and has hosted more than 700 editions of Grandstand, is on the verge of joining ITV to present its live coverage of formula one.

Rider is also a key component of the BBC's winter and summer Olympics coverage and anchors the Sports Personality of the Year show, but he is understood to be keen to return to the network where he began his broadcasting career.

He has been at the BBC for 20 years, taking over from Lynam as the main presenter of Grandstand in 1992, but ITV is believed to have offered him a significant increase on his BBC salary. John Inverdale is among those tipped to take his place should he defect to ITV.
Rider spent five years at ITV, presenting its coverage of the Moscow Olympics in 1980 before hosting Grandstand's rival World of Sport and Midweek Sports Special. He was poached by the BBC in 1985.

After failing to lure Jeff Stelling from Sky, ITV moved Jim Rosenthal to football and recently revived boxing coverage, leaving a gap in formula one. "We've been looking to strengthen our presenting team," said ITV's controller of sport Mark Sharman, but he refused to comment on Rider's position.

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,10488,1577381,00.html

He can't be that high profile. At least, not high profile enough for them to know how to spell his name.

I thought it was 'Ryder', but I'm not so sure

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/grandstand/811837.stm

Hmmmm. It seems (despite me checking more than once before I posted) that it may well be Rider. His profile on the Grandstand site does say Rider but it is Ryder on some other pages. Oh well.

Checking this is not made easier by the fact he presents coverage of the Ryder Cup. Or is it the Rider Cup?

Isn't he a bit of a has been? I mean the BBC are hardly going to worry too much about him going. Des Lynam left the BBC and was probably the worst thing he did in career moves context. Steve "Rider Ryder" always comes acrosss, in my opinion, as boring.

It actually be quite controversial for ITV to sideline Gabby Logan in favour of a male presenter - I can imagine women burning their bras at football grounds up and down the country as we speak!

It be a shame for Steve Rider to move purely for money, as with the BBC though he doesn't host football (I've never seen him do football!), he does cover high profile events such as golf and the Six Nations - plus things such as the Commonwealth Games and Olympics - and I'm sure anyone at BBC Sport would love to be hosting the live coverage of London 2012 in seven years time!

If he does go though, John Inverdale is the natural replacement. He is the best presenter BBC Sport have, though criminally under used (on TV at least!)

If I remember correctly when he left ITV he went to C4 to present their golf coverage. For a few years they covered the majors from the US.

He was doing golf on Channel 4 at the same time as he was at ITV - in the days when they co-ordinating schedules.

They really should be looking for good young presenters. I'd try and get Manish Bashin (sp) from Football Focus. He could be the next Matt Smith I reckon.

I think Steve will be good for ITV F1 coverage. He was really enthusiastic about F1 when he did it for the BBC, and was quite knowledgeable. I remember Des Lynam didn't have a clue in comparison.

Manish is appalling.

On the Rider thing - sounds like his agent is putting about these rumours. Maybe his contract's up for review at the Beeb - and he wants to threaten them with leaving.

They'd never bin Gabby Logan - she's too ideal for the ITV image.

it looks they tried to get Stelling to replace her though.

agree with you about Manish Bhasin - an autocue reader and not much else. I'm surprised the BBC didn't go for Mark Bolton when he was at Central