Podcast: Channel 4’s Pete Andrews on sports strategy and innovation

This episode of the Broadcast Sport podcast is a conversation with Pete Andrews, head of sport at Channel 4, recorded at the Broadcast Sport Summit 2025 at The Emirates Stadium late last year.

Andrews talks to sports presenter Gavin Ramjaun about the challenges and opportunities facing free-to-air broadcasters in competing with pay-TV and streaming services; Channel 4’s recent sports rights acquisitions; and the benefits of partnering with other broadcasters on rights deals.

He also talks about Channel 4’s relationship with the independent sports production community, live versus highlights and the enviable status traditional linear TV still enjoys in sports broadcasting.

In a crowded and extremely competitive marketplace for sport rights, Channel 4 has had to innovate in its sport strategy. This has seen it pick up and develop rights such as the Paralympic Games, partner with pay-TV broadcasters to provide a free-to-air window for the likes of Formula 1, and react to last-minute opportunities in the market such as showing England in Cricket World Cup finals.

The broadcaster’s most recent rights acquisitions include the Boat Race and the Women’s FA Cup.