TNT Sports rope in Gareth Bale for Premier League and UEFA Champions League broadcast to replace Rio Ferdinand.
This season, Gareth Bale has been one of TNT Sports’ primary commentators. The former Wales and Real Madrid forward has agreed to work on the team’s coverage of the Premier League and Champions League for the 2025–2026 season.
On Saturday lunchtimes, Bale will join Peter Crouch and Joe Cole as commentators on TNT’s live coverage of the Premier League. Other commentators include Owen Hargreaves, Steve McManaman, Ally McCoist, and Karen Carney.
According to reports, Bale’s appraisal of Tottenham’s victory over Manchester United in the May Europa League final in Bilbao delighted TNT officials. It has previously featured the 36-year-old in its coverage of Liverpool’s Champions League group matchup with Real Madrid.
After 12 years at TNT, which was formerly known as BT Sport until last year, Rio Ferdinand decided not to sign a new deal at the end of the previous season. Bale is a well-known alternative for him. Ferdinand departed in order to spend more time with his family and to pursue other business ventures.
This season, TNT is the exclusive broadcaster of 52 Premier League games, including two full midweek rounds and 32 Saturday games with 12.30pm kickoffs. In an effort to boost attendance, the midweek games will be spaced out from Tuesday through Thursday, with kickoff times of 7.30 and 8.15 p.m.
With the exception of one Tuesday night Champions League match that Amazon Prime will stream, TNT also owns the exclusive rights to all Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League matches.
This season, TNT also begins a new four-year FA Cup partnership that includes Sunday’s Community Shield match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Wembley. The BBC will broadcast 14 games, including two quarterfinals, one semifinal, and the championship game, even though TNT purchased the sole rights to the sport.