The past week proved to be an exhilarating one for sports aficionados, as Amazon Prime Video made a significant foray into the sporting arena by assembling a team of seasoned broadcasters to cover their Premier League fixtures. Notable faces, including familiar presenters from other channels, as well as BBC and ITV personalities, were brought together for what turned out to be a star-studded event.
Prime spared no expense in this venture, bringing in presenters, commentators, pundits, and the esteemed Jeff Stelling as the Master of Ceremonies. Additionally, international names such as Thierry Henry, Patrice Evra, and Portugal boss Roberto Martinez were also recruited to infuse an international flavour into the coverage. Matches commenced at 7.30 or 8.15, thereby allowing an hour for pre-match anticipation.
The pre-match discussions were of the highest calibre, offering viewers insights and analysis that kept them thoroughly engaged. While there were ample opportunities for advertising, the quality of the discussions was undeniable. This demonstrates the remarkable progress made from the time when extracting a meaningful comment from a player was akin to pulling teeth. Currently, players are willing to share their in-depth knowledge of the game willingly.
The fixtures covered by Prime were nothing short of spectacular, ranging from Arsenal’s near-defeat by Luton Town to Manchester United’s clash with Chelsea, offering no shortage of thrilling moments. Shocking defeats for both Spurs and Manchester City, in addition to Newcastle’s loss to Everton, further added to the excitement.
Amidst this fervour, a lingering question arises in my mind: why did Dan Walker relinquish sports broadcasting as his primary occupation? It is indeed a pity, as he demonstrated exceptional talent in this field.
I conclude by whimsically envisioning all the contributors and experts of the week boarding a coach to a distinguished country house, where they will be sequestered until Amazon Prime Video makes its return to the airwaves around the Christmas season. While this remains a pleasant fantasy, let us, for now, revel in the excitement of the phenomenal coverage provided last week.