Sky Sports News Set to Make Well-Known Reporters Redundant as Part of ‘Transformation’ Plan
Sky Sports News is set to make a number of well-known faces redundant as part of a transformation of the channel, according to a report. The broadcaster broke the news to shocked staff on Tuesday afternoon at their London headquarters.
The Daily Mail understands that a number of well-established reporters and presenters are to go as part of the restructuring from the US-owned company. Insiders have insisted that the move is not a cost-cutting measure, while a spokesperson said it was aimed at ‘making us more agile and better equipped to serve audiences’.
The priority, among bosses, is to ensure that the department adapts to meet the changing behaviours of audiences and is ‘faster, more flexible and more creative’. The redundancies are limited to presenters and reporters, and it is thought that the output will not be significantly altered.
A Sky Sports News spokesperson said: ‘We’ve shared proposals with the Sky Sports News team to change how we’re structured, aimed at making us more agile and better equipped to serve audiences across TV, digital and social. A small number of roles are impacted, and we are now entering a period of consultation with those colleagues.’
The move comes after a number of high-profile departures from Sky Sports in 2023, including Geoff Shreeves, Martin Tyler, and Bianca Westwood. Shreeves had given 30 years of service to Sky Sports as a touchline reporter, while Tyler had been commentating for the channel for 33 years.
Experienced and well-respected journalists including Guy Havord, Dickie Davis, Greg Whelan, Lynsey Hooper, and Jaydee Dyer were also affected by the cuts. The long-running Sky panel show A League Of Their Own will also be coming to an end after 15 years on air.
The popular sports comedy series will have one final season before bowing out in August. Romesh Ranganathan, 47, took over as host from James Corden, 46, in 2019, and the show features Jamie Redknapp and Jill Scott as team captains.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, 51, has been ever-present since the show’s launch in 2010, when Freddie Flintoff, 47, was the opposing captain. The show helped the Ashes hero launch his media career before he was replaced by former footballer Jill in 2023.
The redundancies at Sky Sports News have come as a shock to staff, with many well-known faces set to leave the company. The Daily Mail understands that the company is looking to adapt to the changing media landscape and make the channel more agile and responsive to audience needs.
In a statement, a Sky Sports News spokesperson said that the company is committed to providing high-quality sports coverage and that the changes will help to achieve this goal. The spokesperson added that the company will be entering a period of consultation with those colleagues who are impacted by the changes.
The news of the redundancies at Sky Sports News has sparked widespread interest in the media, with many industry experts commenting on the challenges faced by traditional broadcasters in the digital age.
According to the Daily Mail, the changes at Sky Sports News are part of a wider transformation of the channel, which is aimed at making it more competitive in a rapidly changing media landscape.
The Daily Mail understands that the company is looking to focus on breaking news stories and providing high-quality sports coverage, and that the redundancies will not affect the channel’s output.
In conclusion, the redundancies at Sky Sports News are part of a wider transformation of the channel, which is aimed at making it more agile and responsive to audience needs. While the move has come as a shock to staff, it is clear that the company is looking to adapt to the changing media landscape and provide high-quality sports coverage.
