The Sport Thread

The idea of a 30-minute format is appealing, but I'm not sure whether a continuous 8-hour event does it many favours . . . maybe its just me, but a two-day event spread over a Saturday/Sunday would seem to be more appealing for TV audiences.

It'll be interesting how the new 'World Open' works out for the BBC in September. It's the replacement for the old 'Grand Prix' which the BBC wanted to stop showing from next year. The new format is build as the 'FA Cup' for snooker, with amateurs allowed to enter and the big guns entering in the later stages, a random draw throughout, a relaxed dress code, and - most importantly - shorter matches, all best-of-five-frames with the exception of the final which is best-of-nine. It needs to work for snooker because otherwise the BBC's 'big four' may next year become its 'big three'.

Sad news about Alex Higgins tonight as well . . .

The latter day Pot Black trophy, which ran from 2006-2009, wasa one day tournament, over one frame. But there were just eight players involved. Be interesting to see what happens though.

They have shot themselves in the foot there - four two hour sessions, either over two or four days, would surely be best.

Anyone else remember ITV's last attempt to do something different with snooker - Tenball? http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Tenball

Looks like Richard Keyes might finally have a bit of competition at Sky Sports for the big games,

Jeff Stelling is the back-up presenter isn't he ?

That said, I'm sure they have enough matches to go round for all the presenters, what with the extra Premier League matches this season.

He is but I don't think he is ever going to replace Keyes on, for example, Super Sunday due to a variety of factors ranging from his age, which is similar to Keyes, his commitment to Soccer Saturday which he says he prefers to hosting live games and his commitment to Countdown. I think he is clearly one of the faces of Sky Sports but I think if all goes well for Ben then I think he is more likely to become the no.1 presenter as far as live games are concerned in the long term.

Either way a very good move for both Ben and Sky Sports I think. It has been suggested by a reliable poster on DS that Ben was due to join ESPN.

I think he was actually being lined up for rugby on ESPN. Unusual decision . . . AFAIK Shepherd doesn't have any experience in sports broadcasting. But then again, never did Colin Murray before he started doing the football on Five. It'll be interesting to see his approach.

I wouldn't be surprised if Richard Keys is perfectly happy to share the workload, considering the massive number of live games Sky will broadcast next season.

Incidentally the BBC are using their new graphics set - as seen at the World Cup - for the European Athletics Championships coverage starting this morning.

Any sign of THAT music being used in the titles?

Not in the titles but was used in the opening montage. Sends shivers down my spine - Barcelona 1992 is the first big sporting event I really remember. They also had a retrospective at 10.45am. Graphics used are yellow/gold like the World Cup so don't know if that's now standard or just for "events". The title card though seems to be in the old style.

Two years today until London 2012 begins - a special on BBC1 at 2.15pm, but a BBC News production so probably plastered in their usual graphics.

As for Ben Shepherd at Sky - well they've got 23 extra Premier League games, plus all the home nations away qualifiers for Euro 2012 - so that's an extra 40 or so matches compared to last season.

I can see Keys hosting Ford Super Sunday, and Monday Night Football (which Sky won back from ESPN/Setanta) and Ben being given the 12.45 Saturday lunchtime Prem game to host.
I also think, he may be given the live Sky Sports 4 2nd Champions League game on a Wednesday to host and link.

Dave Jones will probably left to shout at Peter Beagrie/Dion Dublin over an overaggressivly loud PA at various Championship grounds this season.