The SJA awards for the Sports Broadcaster and Sports Programme of the Year are chosen by the SJA membership. You need to act now – the voting deadline is this week.
After a year in which the Tour de France started in London, the Rugby World Cup had matches played in Cardiff and Edinburgh, and the Premier League continued to provide top-level sport on our airwaves week-in, week-out, members are spoiled for choice when looking at sports broadcasting excellence.
The usual suspects will be in the frame again and there will be newcomers.
SportsWeek, on BBC Radio 5 every Sunday, last year’s SJA Programme of the Year, will again be favoured, as will its presenter, Garry Richardson.
These awards have been going for two years and your choice of Sports Broadcaster of the Year was the same man both times, Sky Soccer Saturday’s Jeff Stelling.
Chief among the newcomers is Inside Sport on BBC1, hosted by Gabby Logan. Members will no doubt cast votes for the programme and the presenter.
The programme broke many stories, among them David Beckham revealing that he wanted to play in the 2010 World Cup for England.
Of course, there might be programmes and presenters we have not thought of. This list is just a prompt, if you have other suggestions, then please vote for them.
Broadcasters
Brian Alexander: his BBC Radio 5 reports included interviews with Joey Barton and specials on Manchester City’s controversial owner Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mihir Bose: the BBC’s first sports editor, delivering headline-making stories and analysing sport on the news every week.
Adrian Chiles: the West Bromwich Albion-supporting, half-Croatian presenter of MOTD2. Sometiimes he’s more entertaining than the programme.
Mike Costello: BBC Radio’s excellent boxing commentator and athletics correspondent.
Peter Drury: commentator on The Boat Race and European football on ITV.
Andy Gray: ex-footballer whose analysis always makes great sense. Tek a bow, son.
Miles Harrison: Sky’s regular rugby commentator, was on loan to ITV for the Rugby World Cup and, with analyst Stuart Barnes, was fluent and accurate throughout.
Gary Imlach: demonstrated his suave ability fronting Tour de France coverage, as well as American football.
John Inverdale: clocked up mileage covering the Rugby World Cup for BBC Radio 5. Although rugby is his first love, the Open golf also got the Inverdale treatment.
Gary Lineker: a maturing, and calm, front man for much of the BBC’s sport output, including the US Masters golf, as well as football.
Gabby Logan: fronted up BBC1’s Inside Sport and also proved a lively host of the Saturday morning radio slot in the summer.
Jacqui Oatley: did a great job with the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Garry Richardson: continues to host the vital radio programme SportsWeek on Radio 5 every Sunday, which often sets the news agenda for the rest of the sports media.
Jeff Stelling: the pocket dynamo who fronts Sky’s Soccer Saturday, and who launches into “I feel good!†whenever James Brown scores for Hartlepool.
Martin Tyler: Sky’s football commentator, and arguably the best in the business.
Programmes
Alan Brazil Breakfast Show (TalkSport)
Champions League coverage (ITV)
Champions League coverage (Sky Sports)
Formula One coverage (ITV)
Inside Sport (BBC1)
London Marathon (BBC Sport)
Match of the Day (BBC)
Open golf (BBC Sport)
Rugby World Cup (ITV)
Setanta Sports News (ITN production)
Soccer AM (Sky Sports)
Soccer Saturday (Sky Sports)
Sports Report (BBC Radio)
SportsWeek (Radio 5Live)
Test match coverage (Sky Sports)
Test Match Special (BBC Radio)
Tour de France: the Grand Depart (ITV)
Undefeated: Hatton v Mayweather (Sky Sports)
Only fully paid-up SJA members may vote for the broadcasting awards.
The 2007 SJA Sports Broadcasting Awards will be presented at the Brewery, Chiswell Street in London, at a special gala dinner on March 17.
Click here to cast your SJA Broadcast votes online NOW
First posted on Jan 14
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