CHANNEL 5 has taken the reigns in a major refresh in snooker broadcasting – and will have stars in the commentary box.
TV rights to some of the sport’s biggest events have been bought by the channel, where John Higgins and Matthew Stevens will make their debuts in punditry.
The broadcasting rights for the Players Championship have changed hands as Channel 5 has snapped up the tournament held in Telford.
The competition – which is worth £500k and runs from February 17-22 – is set to be Channel 5’s first professional snooker event.
Four-time world champion John Higgins is set to star on 5’s coverage despite competing in the tournament.
After Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew from this year’s Players Championship, it was agreed that Higgins would replace the Rocket, who he overcame in the final of the 2021 event.
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Two-time Triple Crown major winner Matthew Stevens will work alongside Higgins as a pundit on Channel 5.
The players will be joined by lead presenter Katie Shanahan and a number of other former and current players.
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, former Masters champion Alan McManus, two-time ranking event winner Joe Perry and current professional Steven Hallworth are all part of the punditry team.
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All active players involved with Channel 5 will work subject to playing commitments.
The afternoon sessions for all six days will be shown live on 5’s main channel, with the show starting at 12.30pm.
Channel 5 have also secured the rights to the Tour Championship and the British Open – giving them three World Ranking Events – in a new era of snooker broadcasting.