Sportscene
Encyclopedia
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. Previous Sportscene presenters include Archie Macpherson
, who also commentated, Gordon Hewitt, Hazel Irvine
, Jill Douglas
, Mark Souster and Jim Craig.
Recent notable events covered by Sportscene include Celtic
's run to the UEFA Cup
Final in the 2002-03 season, Scotland's 2006 Six Nations
triumph over England and the finale to the 2002-03 Scottish Premier League
season.
plus a 10pm show with highlights from one English and one Scottish league or cup match was established. Sportscene also covered European and international matches, which usually involved highlights but occasionally live coverage. The show was presented by Archie MacPherson
with commentary by MacPherson, Alastair Alexander or Peter Thomson.
, from the 2007/08 season onwards they have broadcast highlights only, with live rights having been bought by Setanta Sports and then Sky Sports
and ESPN after Setanta went into administration.
Also broadcast are highlights and selected live games of Scotland
international away matches (Sky Sports showing the home matches), including qualifiers for the World Cup
and the European Championship
, and exclusive live matches in the Scottish League Cup
. Sportscene also shares rights to the Scottish Cup
with Sky Sports
and shows some games from European
competitions that involve Scottish clubs. Sportscene Live has also covered Scotland's 2006 Kirin Cup
win and the final of the 2006 Under 19 European Championships
, also involving Scotland.
, Paul Mitchell
, John Barnes, Scott Davie
, Kheredine Idessane
, Alasdair Lamont, Rhona McLeod
, Chris McLaughlin, Jim Spence
, Alison Walker
and Chick Young
.
Previous lead commentators have been Archie MacPherson
(1969–1990), Jock Brown
(1990–1997), Rob MacLean
(1997–2004) and
Paul Mitchell
(2004-2010). Mitchell remains as a commentator, while MacLean is now the main presenter of the Sunday night highlights programme, after returning from Setanta Sports in 2010.
There are a number of shows that come under the Sportscene brand.
, Dougie Donnelly
and Dougie Vipond
. The show normally gives football experts like Pat Nevin
and Tony Higgins
an opportunity to give their views on the days results and the past week of football.
was one of the first to feature online. Most programmes now feature on the BBC iPlayer
service, depending on rights restrictions.
Sportscenes title song is called I Can Feel It by The Silencers
.
show Only an Excuse?
. Munchtime Sportscene is a name often used by the programme's makers, presumably a play on the currently rested Lunchtime Sportscene programme.
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...
. Its main anchors are Dougie Donnelly
Dougie Donnelly
Douglas "Dougie" Donnelly is a Scottish television broadcaster best known for presenting sports coverage for BBC Scotland....
, David Currie, 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...
and Dougie Vipond
Dougie Vipond
Dougie Vipond is a Scottish musician and television personality. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 1985. He was one of the founding members of Scottish soft rock / pop band, Deacon Blue.Dougie Vipond is one of the busiest and most versatile broadcasters in...
, with Alison Walker
Alison Walker
Alison Walker in Glasgow, Scotland is a Scottish broadcaster.Born into a football-mad family with three brothers, Alison always wanted to work in the media and/or in sport and, to that end, took a degree in media and communication studies at the University of Sunderland.On graduating her first job...
and Richard Gordon
Richard Gordon (broadcaster)
Richard Gordon is a Scottish radio and television presenter.Gordon, an ex-banker, was educated in Aberdeen at Skene Square Primary, Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen College of Commerce....
acting as relief presenters. Previous Sportscene presenters include 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 :...
, who also commentated, Gordon Hewitt, Hazel Irvine
Hazel Irvine
Hazel 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...
, Jill Douglas
Jill Douglas
Jill Douglas is a Scottish sports presenter, currently working for the BBC. She grew up in Hawick in the Scottish Borders and worked as a journalist for the Southern Reporter before studying for an NCTJ in print journalism at Napier College in Edinburgh....
, Mark Souster and Jim Craig.
Recent notable events covered by Sportscene include Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
's run to the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
Final in the 2002-03 season, Scotland's 2006 Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
triumph over England and the finale to the 2002-03 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...
season.
History
Sportscenes predecessor was Sportsreel, which was broadcast every Saturday at around 5pm (results and reports) and 10pm (highlights) in the 1960s. By the 1970s a Sportscene format of a 5pm programme called Scoreboard as a regional opt-out from GrandstandGrandstand (BBC)
Grandstand was a British television sport programme. Broadcast between 1958 and 2007, it was one of the BBC's longest running sports shows, alongside BBC Sports Personality of the Year.Its first presenter was Peter Dimmock...
plus a 10pm show with highlights from one English and one Scottish league or cup match was established. Sportscene also covered European and international matches, which usually involved highlights but occasionally live coverage. The show was presented 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 :...
with commentary by MacPherson, Alastair Alexander or Peter Thomson.
Present coverage
Although in previous seasons Sportscene provided live coverage of the Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, from the 2007/08 season onwards they have broadcast highlights only, with live rights having been bought by Setanta Sports and then 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...
and ESPN after Setanta went into administration.
Also broadcast are highlights and selected live games of Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international away matches (Sky Sports showing the home matches), including qualifiers for the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and the European Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
, and exclusive live matches in the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
. Sportscene also shares rights to the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
with 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...
and shows some games from European
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competitions that involve Scottish clubs. Sportscene Live has also covered Scotland's 2006 Kirin Cup
Kirin Cup
The Kirin Cup is an annual association football tournament sponsored in Japan by the Kirin Brewery Company. The host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. The tournament was founded in 1978 as an international club competition. From 1992 onwards the format was changed to a round robin national...
win and the final of the 2006 Under 19 European Championships
2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The UEFA U-19 Championship 2006 Final Tournament was held in Poland between 18 July and 29 July 2006. The top three teams in each group qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Players born after 1 January 1987 were allowed to participate in this competition.-Qualifications:There were two...
, also involving Scotland.
Commentators & reporters
The programme's main commentary and reporting team consists of; lead commentator Liam McLeodLiam McLeod
Liam McLeod is a football commentator and sports journalist for BBC Scotland. He is currently a radio commentator for Sportsound and is the main commentator for Sportscene....
, Paul Mitchell
Paul Mitchell (broadcaster)
Paul Mitchell is a Scottish football commentator for BBC Scotland and has been their main commentator since Rob MacLean left for Setanta Sports in 2004....
, John Barnes, Scott Davie
Scott Davie
Scott Davie is a British football commentator for BBC Scotland and can frequently be heard on Sportsound, providing live radio commentary of Scottish Premier League football matches...
, Kheredine Idessane
Kheredine Idessane
Kheredine Idessane is a Scottish football commentator for BBC Scotland. and a former athlete. He is commonly heard on Sportsound, providing live commentary of Scottish Premier League matches, but he can also be heard commentating on highlights of Scottish Cup matches for Sportscene...
, Alasdair Lamont, Rhona McLeod
Rhona McLeod
Rhona McLeod is a Scottish broadcaster.McLeod is a former international athlete and was a member of the Scotland team for seven years, but now works for BBC Scotland....
, Chris McLaughlin, Jim Spence
Jim Spence
Jim Spence is a Scottish Sports broadcaster from Dundee who works for BBC Scotland.Spence presented the nightly football magazine 90 Minutes on BBC Radio Scotland from 2004 until it was axed in 2006 to make way for more comprehensive sports coverage. Spence now hosts the station's weeknight...
, Alison Walker
Alison Walker
Alison Walker in Glasgow, Scotland is a Scottish broadcaster.Born into a football-mad family with three brothers, Alison always wanted to work in the media and/or in sport and, to that end, took a degree in media and communication studies at the University of Sunderland.On graduating her first job...
and Chick Young
Chick Young
Charles "Chick" Young is a professional association football pundit, who regularly appears for BBC Scotland on Sportscene and Sportsound...
.
Previous lead commentators have been 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 :...
(1969–1990), 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:...
(1990–1997), 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...
(1997–2004) and
Paul Mitchell
Paul Mitchell (broadcaster)
Paul Mitchell is a Scottish football commentator for BBC Scotland and has been their main commentator since Rob MacLean left for Setanta Sports in 2004....
(2004-2010). Mitchell remains as a commentator, while MacLean is now the main presenter of the Sunday night highlights programme, after returning from Setanta Sports in 2010.
Shows
- Sportscene Results is broadcast on Saturday afternoons on BBC One Scotland and is presented by David Currie and Jonathan SutherlandJonathan SutherlandJonathan Sutherland is a Scottish television and radio presenter currently presenting on BBC Scotland's 'Sportscene Results' on BBC One Scotland on Saturday afternoons....
. The show rounds up all of the day's main football scores, whilst debating the major Scottish sports stories of the week. From 1989-2001, it was known as
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...
, Dougie Donnelly
Dougie Donnelly
Douglas "Dougie" Donnelly is a Scottish television broadcaster best known for presenting sports coverage for BBC Scotland....
and Dougie Vipond
Dougie Vipond
Dougie Vipond is a Scottish musician and television personality. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 1985. He was one of the founding members of Scottish soft rock / pop band, Deacon Blue.Dougie Vipond is one of the busiest and most versatile broadcasters in...
. The show normally gives football experts like Pat Nevin
Pat Nevin
Patrick Kevin Francis Michael "Pat" Nevin is a retired Scottish footballer. In a 20-year career, he played for Clyde, Chelsea, Everton, Tranmere Rovers, Kilmarnock and Motherwell as a winger. Nevin was a fans' favourite at Chelsea during the 1980s...
and Tony Higgins
Tony Higgins
Anthony Higgins is a Scottish former professional association football player.-Club career:During his career Higgins played for Hibernian, Partick Thistle, Greenock Morton and Stranraer...
an opportunity to give their views on the days results and the past week of football.
- Sportscene Live is the name used for all live football matches broadcast by 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...
. Coverage includes both Scottish cup competitions (the Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
and the Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
), and EuropeanUEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
matches involving Scottish clubs.
- Sportscene Rugby Special was the title of 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...
's domestic rugby unionRugby 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...
programming when it held the rights to the Scottish leagues.
- Friday Sportscene was the name of the football preview programme that went out on BBC One Scotland on Friday nights from 1989 - 2001. The programme's format was later moved to Saturday lunchtimes in place of Football FocusFootball FocusFootball Focus is a BBC television show, broadcast on BBC One on Saturday lunchtimes, covering football, presented from the 2009/2010 season by Dan Walker...
but has been absent from the schedules since 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...
lost the live rights to 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...
in 2004.
- All other football related programming is simply branded as Sportscene. This includes highlights packages and other one-off specials.
Online
Sportscene has begun simulcasting certain live matches via the 'BBC Scotland Player' on the internet. The UEFA Cup tie between Molde and RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
was one of the first to feature online. Most programmes now feature on the BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer, commonly shortened to iPlayer, is an internet television and radio service, developed by the BBC to extend its former RealPlayer-based and other streamed video clip content to include whole TV shows....
service, depending on rights restrictions.
Presentation
The graphics used on Sportscene, and other BBC Sport Scotland programming, whilst of a style similar to the UK-wide BBC Sport package, differ in appearance with a silver/blue diagonal style which is unique to Scottish coverage.Sportscenes title song is called I Can Feel It by The Silencers
The Silencers (band)
The Silencers are a Scottish rock band formed in London in 1986 by two ex-members of the post-punk outfit Fingerprintz. Their music is characterized by a melodic blend of pop, folk and traditional Celtic influences...
.
In popular culture
The programme is regularly parodied in the Scottish football impressionistImpressionist (entertainment)
An impressionist or a mimic is a performer whose act consists of imitating the voice and mannerisms of others. The word usually refers to a professional comedian/entertainer who specializes in such performances and has developed a wide repertoire of impressions, including adding to them, often to...
show Only an Excuse?
Only an Excuse?
Only An Excuse? is an annual Scottish football comedy sketch show that airs each Hogmanay.Starring actor and comedian Jonathan Watson, the show features impressions of some of Scottish football's great characters such as Denis Law, Tommy Burns, Barry Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Frank McAvennie,...
. Munchtime Sportscene is a name often used by the programme's makers, presumably a play on the currently rested Lunchtime Sportscene programme.