Scotsport
Encyclopedia
Scotsport was a Scottish
sports television programme, broadcast on STV in northern and central Scotland, as well as on Border Television
in southern Scotland. It was recognised as the world's longest-running sport
s television
magazine.
The show began on 18 September 1957, originally known as Sports Desk. The programme changed to the Scotsport title a short time later and the vast majority of its coverage was of football
, rather than sport in general, as the name might imply. The football coverage was, in turn, most of the Scottish Premier League
. The show also followed Scottish
clubs in the UEFA Champions League
via live matches and highlights programmes, though was simply branded as Champions League Live
. Scotsports main rival was the long-running BBC Scotland
strand Sportscene
, fronted by Archie Macpherson
and then Dougie Donnelly
.
Prior to season 2007/08, Scotsport faced competition for viewers of its SPL coverage. On 18 July 2007, it was announced that the SPL had signed a similar deal with BBC Scotland
for non-exclusive television coverage of the league. This didn't affect Scotsport's production, though the programme experienced a reduction in viewer numbers considering its terrestrial coverage of the SPL was no longer exclusive. Scotsport continued in its 10.40pm-11.40pm Monday night slot for the remainder of the 2007/08 season, with Sportscene's SPL offering being shown later in the week on Wednesdays at 10pm on BBC Two Scotland.
On Hogmanay 2007, STV broadcast 50 Years of Scotsport, a programme taking a look back at the shows best moments over the 50 years it had been on air. Featuring colleagues from past and present, one of the show's most recent presenters, Grant Stott presented the Hogmanay special. STV decided to axe the main programme in November 2007, after BBC Scotland won a five-year deal to show SPL highlights. The programme aired for the last time on Thursday 22 May 2008.
A smaller-scale sports magazine show, STV Sports Centre
was launched on Friday 5 March 2010.
Despite being one of the world's longest-running sport
s television programmes, there had only been five main anchors in 51 years on air, largely due to the 32-year tenure of its first presenter Arthur Montford
who departed in 1989. Subsequent main anchors of Scotsport were Jim White
, who joined Sky Sports
in 1998, Jim Delahunt
who later worked for Setanta Sports
and finally Grant Stott
and Andy Walker. Walker also anchored STV's Champions League
coverage.
Scotsport's featured match highlights were commentated on during the final series by Archie Macpherson
, Jock Brown
, Ian Crocker
, Rob MacLean
, Ken McRobb and David McKinney.
in Scotland. Richie Gray
presented the series, featuring news and highlights, including coverage of Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors
, lower league club rugby and women's games.
STV Rugby
, an hour-long Magners League highlights show was launched in September 2009, for the 2009/10 season. Sports Centre: Magners League Rugby
took over in September 2010.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
sports television programme, broadcast on STV in northern and central Scotland, as well as on Border Television
Border Television
Border Television is the ITV franchise holder for the Border region, spanning the England/Scotland border and covering Dumfries & Galloway region, a small part of the south-west area of Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, parts of north and west Northumberland and the majority of Cumbria...
in southern Scotland. It was recognised as the world's longest-running sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
magazine.
The show began on 18 September 1957, originally known as Sports Desk. The programme changed to the Scotsport title a short time later and the vast majority of its coverage was of football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, rather than sport in general, as the name might imply. The football coverage was, in turn, most of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
. The show also followed Scottish
Football in Scotland
Association football is the national sport in Scotland and highly popular throughout the country. There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite...
clubs in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
via live matches and highlights programmes, though was simply branded as Champions League Live
Champions League Live
Champions League Live is a football programme currently shown on both ITV and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, broadcasting live UEFA Champions League football....
. Scotsports main rival was the long-running BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
strand Sportscene
Sportscene
Sportscene is the name of a range of Scottish sports television programmes produced by BBC Scotland. Its main anchors are Dougie Donnelly, David Currie, Rob MacLean and Dougie Vipond, with Alison Walker and Richard Gordon acting as relief presenters...
, fronted by Archie Macpherson
Archie Macpherson
Archibald "Archie" Macpherson is a Scottish football commentator and author.He has been commentating on Scottish football, via both radio and television, for over four decades.- Early life :...
and then Dougie Donnelly
Dougie Donnelly
Douglas "Dougie" Donnelly is a Scottish television broadcaster best known for presenting sports coverage for BBC Scotland....
.
Prior to season 2007/08, Scotsport faced competition for viewers of its SPL coverage. On 18 July 2007, it was announced that the SPL had signed a similar deal with BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
for non-exclusive television coverage of the league. This didn't affect Scotsport's production, though the programme experienced a reduction in viewer numbers considering its terrestrial coverage of the SPL was no longer exclusive. Scotsport continued in its 10.40pm-11.40pm Monday night slot for the remainder of the 2007/08 season, with Sportscene's SPL offering being shown later in the week on Wednesdays at 10pm on BBC Two Scotland.
On Hogmanay 2007, STV broadcast 50 Years of Scotsport, a programme taking a look back at the shows best moments over the 50 years it had been on air. Featuring colleagues from past and present, one of the show's most recent presenters, Grant Stott presented the Hogmanay special. STV decided to axe the main programme in November 2007, after BBC Scotland won a five-year deal to show SPL highlights. The programme aired for the last time on Thursday 22 May 2008.
A smaller-scale sports magazine show, STV Sports Centre
STV Sports Centre
STV Sports Centre was a Scottish regional sports stand, covering the two STV franchise areas of Northern and Central Scotland. The strand was produced the STV News department in Glasgow , with contributions from STV North's news team in Aberdeen.Until May 2011, Sports Centre aired two different...
was launched on Friday 5 March 2010.
The Team
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s television programmes, there had only been five main anchors in 51 years on air, largely due to the 32-year tenure of its first presenter Arthur Montford
Arthur Montford
Arthur Montford is a former Scottish television sports journalist, best known for his 32 year tenure as the presenter of Scotsport. Although he was most associated with football, he covered a number of other sports for ITV, notably Golf.Montford was raised in Greenock...
who departed in 1989. Subsequent main anchors of Scotsport were Jim White
Jim White (presenter)
Jim White is a Scottish sports broadcaster and Glasgow Rangers and Scotland supporter best known for hosting Scotsport on STV from 1989 until 1997/98, and now anchors Sky Sports' Scottish football coverage as well as being a regular presenter on Sky Sports News. He has become known for his...
, who joined Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
in 1998, Jim Delahunt
Jim Delahunt
Jim Delahunt is a Scottish sports television presenter.-Broadcasting career:Delahunt joined Setanta Sports in August 2006 after more than eight years as anchorman of STV's Scotsport, the longest running sports programme in the world...
who later worked for Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
and finally Grant Stott
Grant Stott
Grant Stott is a Scottish broadcaster from Edinburgh, and currently works as DJ on Edinburgh radio station 97.3 Forth One. Grant is the brother of former television presenter John Leslie.-Television career:...
and Andy Walker. Walker also anchored STV's Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
coverage.
Scotsport's featured match highlights were commentated on during the final series by Archie Macpherson
Archie Macpherson
Archibald "Archie" Macpherson is a Scottish football commentator and author.He has been commentating on Scottish football, via both radio and television, for over four decades.- Early life :...
, Jock Brown
Jock Brown
Jock James Brown is a football commentator for STV, previously for BBC Scotland and Setanta Sports.-Professional career:Brown is a solicitor by profession and is currently a partner with Brodies.-Broadcasting:...
, Ian Crocker
Ian Crocker (commentator)
Ian Crocker is a football commentator who works for Sky Sports.Crocker originally joined BSkyB in 1997. Prior to his television career, Crocker commentated for Capital Gold in London, alongside Jonathan Pearce and Steve Wilson...
, Rob MacLean
Rob MacLean
Robin Maclean is a freelance Scottish television presenter, football commentator and sports writer.MacLean began his career with the Highland News Group in Inverness before working for an Aberdeen news agency between 1979 and 1981...
, Ken McRobb and David McKinney.
Spin-Offs
- Between the 1988/89 and 1999/2000 seasons, There was a preview programme called Scotsport Extra Time (later renamed simply Extra Time) shown on Friday nights featuring the weekend football fixtures, interviews from football and other sports including ice hockey, rugby, snooker and golf. Originally Jim WhiteJim White (presenter)Jim White is a Scottish sports broadcaster and Glasgow Rangers and Scotland supporter best known for hosting Scotsport on STV from 1989 until 1997/98, and now anchors Sky Sports' Scottish football coverage as well as being a regular presenter on Sky Sports News. He has become known for his...
and Hazel IrvineHazel IrvineHazel Irvine , is a television presenter from the United Kingdom.- Life and career :Educated at Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh, she achieved an M.A. in History of Art at the University of St. Andrews, and competed in golf, netball and athletics at university level. In her final year she was...
presented it before Hazel moved to BBC ScotlandBBC ScotlandBBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
in 1990. Jim White then presented it on his own until moving to Sky in 1998. Jim DelahuntJim DelahuntJim Delahunt is a Scottish sports television presenter.-Broadcasting career:Delahunt joined Setanta Sports in August 2006 after more than eight years as anchorman of STV's Scotsport, the longest running sports programme in the world...
presented it 'til the end. It was a Friday night show for many years. In the final season, It was moved to Saturday lunchtimes.
- During the seasons when Scotsport owned the rights to Scotland's premier RugbyRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
league, live matches and highlights were shown under the Scotsport Rugby Roundup banner.
- For the years where STV had the highlights rights for both the Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
and the First Division, Scotsport was divided into Scotsport First, which went out on Sunday mornings and retained a traditional programme format, and Scotsport SPL, which was known for trying out ideas that hadn't been widely used for sports television programmes before, including multiple presenters and a live studio audienceStudio audienceA studio audience is an audience present for the taping of all or part of a television program. The primary purpose of the studio audience is to provide applause and/or laughter to the program's soundtrack . A studio audience can also provide volunteers, a visual backdrop and discussion participants...
.
Scotsport Fanzone
Scotsport Fanzone was broadcast in the latter half of the 2005/06 season on Thursday nights. This forum-based show encouraged Scottish football fans to have their say on the week's news. Despite not having re-appeared for the 2006/07 season, several sections from the show had been incorporated into the new live Monday night Scotsport.Scotsport Rugby
Scotsport Rugby Sunday was a short-lived spin-off, specifically focussed on rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Scotland. Richie Gray
Richie Gray
Richie Gray is a former Scottish rugby player, and television presenter.Gray fronted STV's coverage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and also presented STV's weekly programme, Scotsport Rugby Sunday, with all the latest news and highlights, including footage of Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, club...
presented the series, featuring news and highlights, including coverage of Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
, lower league club rugby and women's games.
STV Rugby
STV Rugby
STV Rugby is a Scottish regional television programme featuring highlights of RaboDirect Pro12 rugby matches involving Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors...
, an hour-long Magners League highlights show was launched in September 2009, for the 2009/10 season. Sports Centre: Magners League Rugby
STV Sports Centre
STV Sports Centre was a Scottish regional sports stand, covering the two STV franchise areas of Northern and Central Scotland. The strand was produced the STV News department in Glasgow , with contributions from STV North's news team in Aberdeen.Until May 2011, Sports Centre aired two different...
took over in September 2010.