Major champions set to make punditry debuts as new Channel 5 TV snooker coverage details emerge

It was announced several months ago that the terrestrial channel had bought the rights for the Players Championship, Tour Championship, and British Open - three established world ranking events that had previously been televised by ITV4.

Despite the channel switch, though, many of those who worked on the popular ITV4 snooker production over the past several years will be part of the new coverage set-up on 5.

The £500,000 Players Championship - held at the Telford International Centre between February 17-22 - will be Channel 5’s first professional snooker event, although the station has very recent experience of showing the sport via the world seniors circuit.

5 has covered the last two world seniors championships from the Crucible Theatre, and the British Seniors Open that was played in Derby only a few weeks ago over the festive period.

There have been some significant announcements and changes to the way UK snooker fans watch the sport over the past 12 months or so.

Long-term supporter BBC signed a contract extension to cover the three ‘Triple Crown’ events until at least 2032, while Eurosport ceased to be across the nation, with its large portfolio of tournaments moving to TNT Sports - a decision that has upset many fans due to big price increases which essentially help finance the rights for other sports on TNT.

However, this deal with Channel 5 - a terrestrial channel that is easy to find and stumble across - to showcase top tier snooker could represent an exciting relationship; the top flight sport’s first ‘free-to-air’ UK partner for 20 years.

Higgins and Stevens set for new roles as part of Channel 5 snooker coverage

There is set to be an eclectic mix of familiar faces and newer voices as part of the Channel 5 snooker product.

Katie Shanahan - who has been an award-winning presenter for several major international football tournaments, and works across a plethora of big channels and platforms - will assume the lead presenting role.

She will be joined by current and former professionals, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, former Masters champion Alan McManus, two-time ranking event winner Joe Perry, and main tour player Steven Hallworth, who will all be part of the punditry and commentary arrangements.

Journalists and broadcasters David Hendon and Abigail Davies will also be integral features of the team.

Two new figures to sports broadcasting are set to help form the Channel 5 snooker fabric moving forwards, too, with four-time world champion John Higgins, and UK Championship and Masters winner Matthew Stevens ready to make their commentary and punditry debuts, subject to playing commitments.

In terms of the TV schedule for the upcoming Players Championship, the afternoon sessions for all six days will be shown live on 5’s main channel, with the show starting at 12.30pm.

For the first few days of the world ranking event, coverage of the evening sessions from Telford will again be on the main terrestrial channel, although at 8pm play switches over to the 5Action channel. However, for the latter stages of the competition, everything will be on 5’s flagship channel.

For the first two days as round one is completed, two tables will be in operation at the International Centre, and supporters won’t miss a shot with coverage of the second table on the 5 app.