Sky to axe Soccer AM after nearly 30 years on air
22.03.2023 - 14:43
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Cult football programme Soccer AM is being cancelled by Sky after almost 30 years on air. The broadcaster has made the decision due to failing ratings.
The show will run until the end of the season with just a few episodes remaining. Staff were told on Tuesday that the 90-minute comedy talk show would be getting axed, The Mirror reports, along with a round of redundancies taking place.
Sky will replace Soccer AM with the programme Saturday Social, which was previously broadcast at 9:30am but will now go out an hour later. A spokesperson for Sky said: “Soccer AM has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers.
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"We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people. We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”
It’s believed the decision has not gone down particularly well with figures at the channel. Current hosts John Fendley and Jimmy Bullard are reported to be "fuming" at the announcement.
A source talking to The Sun said: "It was a complete bombshell. Morale is at an all-time low, they are raging. It's going to be an interesting watch over the next few weeks."
Soccer AM was originally launched back in 1995 with Russ Williams and Helen Chamberlain appointed as the original hosts. Tim Lovejoy replaced the former just two years into the show's run.
Since then Andy Goldstein, Max Rushden and Lloyd Griffiths have all stepped into a presenting role - with Chamberlain herself hosting until 2017. The current team accompanies Fendley and former Premier League midfielder Bullard.
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