Whisper North, the Manchester-based Northern arm of the sports specialist broadcaster founded by former BBC Sport and Sky Sports producer Sunil Patel, broadcaster Jake Humphrey and former Formula One driver David Coulthard has won the contract to produce BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
The tender was launched in January and from the field of shortlisted tenderers, Whisper North’s bid scored highest against the published criteria. Whisper North will begin producing Sports Personality of the Year from this year’s, 2024, event and will work closely with BBC Sport to ensure the effective and successful delivery of the programme.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year was previously put out to tender in 2019 as part of the BBC’s contestability obligations, and was awarded to BBC Sport’s in-house production team (Sport Productions). Sport Productions did not compete this time, thereby supporting the BBC’s wider commitment to the UK’s independent creative production sector.
Mark Cole, managing director, Whisper, commented: “BBC Sports Personality of the Year brings together many of the elements Whisper loves to produce and celebrate: live events, awards shows, sporting moments, superstars and entertainment.
“We celebrate sport and athletes across many productions throughout the year, so to be working with the BBC on this prestigious end-of-year show feels a fitting way to conclude what will be an incredible year of sporting achievement and endeavour. With the BBC, we will be seeking to deliver a bold and ambitious show that will appeal to a wide audience, driven by compelling and entertaining story-telling.”
SPoTY is currently hosted at MediaCityUK’s dock10 Studios, although no immediate details on whether this arrangement will continue under the show’s new Manchester-based producer have been given.
The BBC said further details of this year’s show will be announced “in due course.”
