ITV Sport Production has been selected by UK broadcaster 5 to produce coverage of World Snooker Tour (WST) events, beginning with the Players Championship and Tour Championship in early 2026.
The coverage marks the first free-to-air UK broadcast deal for WST in over two decades and will see 5 will provide live coverage of both events and the British Open. The tournaments will be televised live on 5 for the first time in 2026.
The appointment is also the first time ITV Sport Production has secured the production of a broadcast not carried on an ITV platform since becoming part of the production and distribution division ITV Studios in 2024.
ITV Sport Production’s credits include Rugby Union, UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, Tour De France, and horse racing.
The 2026 Players Championship will run from 17-22 February 2026. Katie Shanahan will present live coverage of Snooker on 5 and will be joined by seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
ITV Sport Production is led by Managing Director Mark Demuth and Head of Production Katie Reed.
Demuth said: “We are thrilled to partner with 5 on their snooker coverage, an exciting new venture bringing prestigious WST events live to mainstream TV. This marks a pivotal moment for ITV Sport Production, as we strategically expand beyond the ITV network and leverage our production expertise to produce diverse sporting content for all broadcast platforms, starting with 5.”
Raphael Pendergast, Acting Head of Sport at 5, commented: “The partnership brings together ITV Sport Production’s world-class expertise with our ambition to deliver high-quality, free-to-air sport to the widest and most accessible audience possible.”
ITV and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) recently agreed a new three-year deal until 2028, expanding ITV’s live darts coverage. Discover more here.
.jpg)
Expanded Future Tech to showcase the very best in innovation, technology and talent
After a successful debut in 2025, Future Tech returns to Hall 14 of the RAI this year, with more features, more innovation and more of the technologies shaping the next era of media and entertainment.
Netflix uses GenAI on 300 titles in 2026
Netflix has revealed that nearly 300 titles on its platform have used generative AI, from early concept stages and pre-visualisation through to post-production and release.
Poppy Dixon appointed BBC Head of Documentaries
The BBC has appointed former Sky executive Poppy Dixon as its Head of Documentaries.
Virgin Media launches AI robots to monitor TV network in real-time
Virgin Media has created its own AI robots to monitor its television network quality in real-time in a bid to quickly identify and resolve any issues when they occur.
US government seizes over 1,000 websites streaming FIFA World Cup
Global anti-piracy coalition the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has applauded the US government’s seizure of over 1000 illegal websites streaming the FIFA World Cup over the past month.
