BT Sport names preferred lead production partner

BT Sport has named award-winning production company Sunset+Vine as its preferred lead production partner, following a competitive tender. Sunset+Vine will produce BT’s 38 live football games in the Barclays Premier League from the start of the 2013/14 season, along with 69 live Aviva Premiership rugby union matches and other sports programming.

Sunset+Vine’s current production credits include ESPN’s Aviva Premiership rugby union coverage and horse racing for the BBC, including the Grand National. In the past, their cricket coverage for Channel 4 gained multiple awards. They have also produced Channel 4’s Paralympics programming, as well as Europa League football for Channel 5.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, comments: “We have chosen Sunset+Vine as our lead preferred partner on the basis of its creative approach and the quality of the team they have lined up to work on the programming.”

Jeff Foulser, chairman, Sunset+Vine, adds:  “We are delighted to have been awarded this very significant contract by BT Sport. Live football and rugby coverage have been a major part of our recent output and we can now put our creative talents into delivering top class and innovative coverage for BT Sports major rights acquisitions.”

BT Sport intends to work with other production partners across a wide range of sports programming, with agreements reached before the channel launches in summer next year.