The Sport Thread

Yes, he's not a robot who powers down at 11.59 on Saturday, he sees Sunday as when he wakes up until when he goes to bed, much like how many people who have a religion see the day as being from sunrise to sunset.

I don't see the problem, Dan presents The NFL Show but that doesn't mean he has to present all the coverage. Given how he took over that show mid-season with little notice it looks very much like a short-term, ad hoc arrangement which probably has a bit to do with Mark Chapman's recent bereavement and increased family commitments. But he can still do the Super Bowl.

Well said, as you say during London 2012 he presented the Live Olympics Tonight show from 11.30pm-1am or something similar and he presented the late Saturday night show into Sunday morning but didn't do the late Sunday into Monday morning. He said he sees Sunday as when he wakes up to when he goes to bed. The only Sunday work he has done is pre-recorded programmes or features such as when the BBC showed the Open or when he has presented Songs of Praise. It is his choice and no one elses and fair play to him for sticking by his principles during his career and it certainly hasn't harmed his career in news/sports broadcasting.

It certainly hasn't, he does absolutely loads on the other days of the week. Far better to have someone as versatile as Dan, who may only work six days a week but does loads of things, across news and various sports, than someone who can work seven days a week but only talk about one thing.

Colin Murray on 5Live had an interesting show on TV and Radio commentators last night. It featured many current and former commentators and some great arcive clips. I haven't heard all of it yet but at one point Barry Davies said his most difficult commentary was on the World Stare Out Championships -it left Colin dumbstuck for a few seconds until someone prompted him it was from Big Train!

Rights ....

FIFA Club World Cup retained by BBC (Digital Platforms)

Which team will dethrone the current holders Liverpool?

Watch every game from the Fifa Club World Cup in Qatar live on the BBC.

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 2, 2021

Some more rights news.

The heat, the scenery, the atmosphere 😍

We’re excited to announce exclusive coverage of domestic and international cricket from the West Indies and New Zealand 🙌

Come on tour with BT Sport 🏏 pic.twitter.com/jv8R2yGZJs

— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 5, 2021

The New Zealand deal has actually been in place since December, with the series against Pakistan already aired and the T20 Super Smash in progress.

West Indies is a coup though, a considerable quantity of airtime to be filled in the coming months if this includes the myriad of competitions played. Useful in the evenings too.

On the night of 13th they'll be showing the final of the NZ Super Smash and the West Indies Super50 simultaneously, and I still can't quite get my head round the time zones there.

Yet still 24 hours apart....

Any England series within those rights?

Yes, England tour the West Indies next year and there's an England Women's tour of NZ this year.

Good rights for BT Sport - although have they gone for West Indies & New Zealand rights at the expense of the renwal of the deal with Cricket Australia?

Suspect getting the WI rights can be considered as the 'cushion' to soften the blow if they lost the Australian home tests and T20 Bash rights.