Stubbs leaves BBC for ESPN

The Phantom · 07-17-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC Sport

BBC sports presenter Ray Stubbs is to leave the corporation to be the frontman of ESPN's live Premier League coverage, it has been announced.
Stubbs, who was on the books for Tranmere Rovers for five years, presented football, snooker and darts in his 25 years with the BBC.

"This was always going to be a difficult decision," he said. "But a chance to join one of the world's top broadcasters on day one of a new channel was too good to reject."

Head of BBC TV Sport Philip Bernie said: "Ray has been a fantastic member of the BBC Sport team for many years and we wish him all the best for the future."

ESPN acquired the live rights for 46 Premier League matches next season following the collapse of Irish broadcaster Setanta.

Stubbs's first match fronting their coverage will be Everton v Arsenal at Goodison Park on 15 August.

Not exactly earth shattering news, but at least ESPN seem to be going for some good presenters. Anyone besides Angus Scott would have been an improvement on Setantas coverage.

I expect John Champion and Ian Crocker to be their commentators, since they’re freelance and can work for anyone. I just hope they don’t sign up Craig Burley – not only was he trying to impersonate Andy Gray badly, he was bloody awful at his analysis as well.

acailler · 07-17-2009, 09:00 PM

I dislike ray stubbs...this just annoyed me even more about him -.-

Tommy Platinum · 07-17-2009, 10:19 PM

James Richardson was available...

Fail.

The Phantom · 07-18-2009, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy Platinum
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James Richardson was available...

Fail.

He's better on magazine type shows like the one he did on Setanta football matters. So maybe he'll do a similar preview/review show for EPSN.

Also he coveres Italian football for the Guardian news paper and other print media, so he may not have wanted the live English action if he's traveling back and forth from Italy.

Crest Fall · 07-18-2009, 06:49 PM

I didn't know ESPN got the rights to EPL games for next season. Will they be showing them over here or just on their stations in England? Cuuuuuz it'd be a hell of a lot easier for Americans to follow soccer if we were actually able to watch it. Just sayin'.

(If we do get 'em, I've never heard of this announcer but if it means I won't have to listen to John Harkes all the time then I'll be happy)

The Phantom · 07-19-2009, 10:30 AM

It's ESPN Europe who have the deal, so I'm not sure if that means that the games will be shown on ESPN in North America. I presume they'd still be on the channel you guys currently get our soccer from.

Crest Fall · 07-19-2009, 02:02 PM

We don't get any of the soccer you guys get (none on the channels I have, anyway. UEFA Champions League and that's it when it comes to EPL clubs). That's a huge shame. I know they want to expand their presence around the world, but come on, buying rights to soccer games only to air them in Europe is like buying sand and trying to sell it in the desert. They should air these on ESPN2 or something, it'd beat repeats of World Poker Tour. >_>

Be prepared for loads of fail. ESPN's coverage is absolutely agony.

Mikk · 07-19-2009, 02:08 PM

I know americans get i think its Fox Sports which has a few premier league games on every week as that was the channel i used to watch when i would watch the streams online.

As for Stubbs, he's a bit bland and i would of prefered someone else as Stubbs is only really good on certain things like the Darts and a couple of others.