Broadcast Sport spoke to presenter Alex Payne and commentator Miles Harrison about the broadcaster’s plans
Sky Sports will be using its Monday Night Football studio to cover the British & Irish Lions’ tour of Australia this summer.
Kitted out in a new look developed in collaboration with First Nations artist Konstantina, the studio will be home to pundit Sam Warburton, who will be providing analysis of the tour. Meanwhile, presenter Alex Payne, reporter Eleanor Roper, and pundits including new addition Dan Biggar will be out in Australia.
Across the Osterley studio and Down Under will be Ronan O’Gara, Will Greenwood, Kyle Sinckler, John Barclay, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Nolli Waterman, and iconic coaching masterminds, Warren Gatland and Sir Ian McGeechan.
Speaking to Broadcast Sport, Payne talked up the importance of being onsite, revealing how ahead of the Lions’ tour clinching victory in the final test of the 2013 Australia tour, McGeechan had predicted that coach Warren Gatland was about to make some changes as Gatland was wearing a tracksuit. Gatland went on to reveal six changes to the side and the Lions scored a record-breaking 41-16 victory.
Biggar agrees, and said: “A Lions tour is the pinnacle of any player’s career, so to now be part of it with Sky Sports is incredibly exciting. Being on the ground, feeling the atmosphere, and sharing that passion with fans, combined with Sky’s top-tier analysis, lets us bring the game to life in a way that’s insightful, but still accessible for everyone watching at home.”
Payne will also be presenting his The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast from Australia, along with fellow podcasters James Haskell and Mike Tindall. Combining both roles is akin to, “Playing the role of parent and child in the same day,” he said. “The content might make Sky cough and splutter, but it brings people in.”
Across the studio and onsite, real-time augmented reality graphics will allow pundits to break down key player stats and match insights live on air, offering deep dives into player analysis and selection dynamics. The entire tour will also be broadcast in 4K Ultra HD on Sky Sports The Lions - a rebrand of Sky Sports Action for the match weekends that will also show documentaries and behind-the-scenes content.
Miles Harrison will be commentating once again, having covered every tour since Sky acquired the rights - noting to Broadcast Sport that the tech innovations have, “all felt modern at the time - even 1997!”
Harrison will be aiming to appeal to keen rugby fans as well as more casual viewers, saying that for some, “It might be the only rugby they watch.” However, that won’t stop him from using using the language of rugby, likening the situation to events such as the Winter Olympics: “I know nothing about winter sports, but I love it and want the commentators to use the sport’s language in an open way.”
Fans will be able to tune into this from 20 June, with the Lions’ inaugural match in Ireland against Argentina, and the tour runs until 2 August, when the Lions face the Wallabies in the third and final Test match in Sydney.
Jonathan Licht, managing director, Sky Sports, said: “The British & Irish Lions is one of the marquee events of the sporting calendar, and for this tour we’re raising the bar with an exceptional on-screen team. From legendary Lions to recently retired greats, we’ve assembled a line-up of world-class talent who will bring fans closer to the action, sharing unique insights, expert analysis, and unforgettable moments. We can’t wait for the action to begin.”
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