Jeff Shrives is leaving Sky Sports after being forced to reapply for his old job. Credit: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
A constant presence on Sky Sports since the launch of the Premier League in 1992, Jeff Shrives joined the extraordinary celebrity exodus following the departures of Jeff Stelling, Martin Tyler and Graeme Souness this summer.
Shrives was asked to reapply for his job as a football reporter following a major restructuring at the broadcasting giant, and after being offered a new contract at a greatly reduced pay, he decided to leave instead.His departure was announced. on Tuesday at Sky Sports, and despite warm words from both sides, it came as a big shock this year when it was revealed that a reporter with Shrives experience had been asked to go through a new recruitment process.
The joint departure of four of the iconic and well-paid individuals will raise new questions about Sky's strategy, which has evolved to focus much more on its digital content, and the savings it has made ahead of the next one. Premier League broadcast rights auction.
Tunnel reporter Geoff Shrives is leaving Sky Sports. He has been an integral part of the Sky Sports football team for over 30 years. Jeff leaves with our sincere thanks and best wishes for the future. 👏 pic.twitter.com/acpij5qCVL
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) July 4, 2023
Sky Sports reported that «Shrieves' presence on the pitch and post-match interviews with players and managers on matchdays are a major element lighting», but emphasized that it was his decision to leave.
«There's an old saying that you always have to know the best time to leave even the biggest party,» said Shrives.
«And that's what my 32 years at Sky has been — the most fantastic party I've ever had I could ever imagine. I was lucky to work for a pioneering company. But it's time to move on. Now I have the opportunity for new experiences, which I look forward to in the very near future.”
Shrives, 58, started his career as a real estate agent but, by a quirk of Fate, ended up working for the World Cup in 1990.
Two years later, he was a Premier League sideline reporter at the day Sky Sports first broadcast the competition, when Nottingham Forest beat Liverpool.
In his book last year, Cheers, Geoff! Stories from the touchline, Shrives revealed behind-the-scenes stories of his encounters with some of football's biggest figures, notably the fiery former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The departure of Sky Sports' most famous host, commentator and reporter in one summer followed the closure of a number of shows, notably Soccer AM, Goals on Sunday, The Debate and the Sunday Supplement, which Shrives had also previously represented. . It also follows Soccer Saturday's controversial 2020 rebuild, with pundits Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas all losing their jobs.
However, different decisions have been made in recent months for different reasons. Tyler is 77 years old, and although his contract is not being renewed and he has no plans to retire, he left on good terms at a time in his life when many commentators have already hung up the microphone.
Martin Tyler was an employee of Sky Sports' leading commentator for decades. Photo: Getty Images/Matthew Ashton
Despite a social media storm over his «man game» remark last August, Souness also left amicably after a mutual agreement was reached not to renew his rolling one-year contract. Stelling seriously considered his future at Sky for several years before deciding to make this season his last. His own personal frustration over the departure of close friends Nicholas, Le Tissier and Thompson in 2020 was no secret and he is now on gardening leave and in talks with both BBC Radio 5 Live and Amazon.
Football Saturday will continue next season with a new host and a revamped studio, but the broader direction is a constant selection of football programming outside of the often extended live broadcasts. This summer, the team of 13 football reporters will be reduced by five people, with new salary ranges and other responsibilities, as well as four new “content creator” roles.
Some of the previous 13 reporters did not re-apply for these positions and while Bianca Westwood and Lynsey Hooper are not on the initial new list of reporters, discussions continue about possible future roles.
Recent Premier League rights cycles cost Sky over £3.5bn and with Disney/Discovery-backed TNT taking over BT Sport and the specter of competing streaming channels like Amazon and Apple TV, Sky is already gearing up for the next bid. for matches from 2024-5 to 2027-8.
The number of viewers in the Premier League, the League Cup final, Formula 1 and Ashes cricket enthusiastic coverage have set all-time records in recent months.
On Shrives' departure, Sky Sports Director of Football Gary Hughes said: «Jeff has been an integral part of the Sky Sports football team and the best tunnel reporter in the business, interviewing the biggest names in the biggest games in over 30 years. Jeff leaves with our sincere thanks and best wishes for the future. As Sir Alex always said, «Well done, Jeff.»
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