Matt Smith
The ITV Sport Channel has signed up Matt Smith from the BBC to present the new digital channel when it launches next month.
Smith, who as well as presenting BBC news sports bulletins also fronted the Sunday Football Fever show, will be one of the main presenters when the channel launches on 11 August.
He began his career as sports news presenter on Chris Evans’ Radio 1 breakfast show and worked for Radio Five Live before moving to BBC Choice.
Nick Atkins, director of programming at ONdigital, said Smith "reflects perfectly the fresh, innovative and intelligent approach we are taking".
He will join a line-up that includes presenters from the main ITV channel such as Des Lynam, Gabby Yorath and Ally McCoist.
Other appointments include Mark McKenna, who has been appointed live football programme editor after working for five years on Channel Five’s European club and inter-
national football coverage.
Chris Terry from Sky Sports and Isabella Clarke from Anglia TV have joined as reporters.
Chris Wragg, who has spent four years on Sky’s Nationwide Football coverage, will work as a producer.
The new channel, a Carlton and Granada joint venture, will be available through ONdigital, soon to be renamed ITV Digital, and is the first new pay-TV sports channel to launch in the UK for 10 years.
By Julie Tomlin
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