Sky Sports has reportedly decided to cancel its popular programme, The Football Show. This decision has left both staff members and fans, including former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, shocked and dismayed.
The Football Show was a long-standing programme that aired every Monday. It was hosted by presenter Rob Wotton who was joined by co-hosts Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith. Together they discussed the events from the Premier League weekend.
A segment of the show called 'Ref Watch' saw Dermot Gallagher join the studio to dissect some of the most controversial refereeing decisions from the weekend. This feature will remain in place in some capacity with Gallagher continuing his role but presented in a new format.
Impact on fans and staff
Jurgen Klopp, when he was manager of Liverpool, became a regular viewer of The Football Show which indicates its popularity among football enthusiasts. However, according to reports, Sky Sports chiefs have decided to axe this beloved show with an aim towards attracting younger viewership.
This decision has left many staff members "bewildered" as it follows several other changes made by Sky over recent years including axing fan-favourite presenters on their Soccer Saturday panel show and scrapping long-running Soccer AM in 2023.
New direction for Sky Sports
Sky is reportedly planning on attracting more YouTube influencers and fans with large social media followings as part of their new strategy for programming content. This move is expected to make the channel "more agile" while focusing more intensely on breaking news stories related to sports.
However, this shift towards digital influencers may not sit well with traditional sports fans who enjoyed tuning into The Football Show every Monday for insightful discussions about Premier League games over the weekend.
While change is inevitable in any industry including broadcasting networks like Sky Sports; the decision to axe The Football Show has left many fans and staff members shocked. As Sky moves towards a new direction, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact their viewership and overall popularity among sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts.
