BT pinches Jake Humphrey from BBC to front Premier League coverage

BT Vision has achieved a coup in persuading Jake Humphrey to quit the BBC and front the telecoms giant's Premier League football coverage.

Humphrey, who currently presents the BBC's Formula One (F1) programming and also helmed some of the broadcaster's Euro 2012 coverage, will take up his four-year post at BT's new sports channel in January.

The presenter expressed excitement at fulfilling his lifelong dream of fronting Premier League football and the chance to work with the "young, vibrant team" at BT.

"My focus from the start of 2013 is on making BT's coverage of football the best this country has ever seen," he commented.

Humphrey will be the face of BT Vision's live Premier League broadcasting from the start of the 2013-14 season, with his role also giving him input into the style of the new football programme.

In June, BT secured the exclusive rights to air 38 live games per campaign for three seasons, including 18 so-called 'first picks' - the best-quality matches on the fixture list.

BT is the first broadcaster other than Sky to win the rights to these premium games.