The BBC has announced the cancellation of its long-running television program "Ski Sunday," which had been a fixture in winter sports coverage for nearly five decades. The final broadcast of the show, which debuted in 1978, brings to a close a significant chapter in the BBC's sports programming.
The cancellation comes just over four months after the BBC also axed "Football Focus," another staple of its sports coverage. Both decisions have been attributed by BBC Sport to shifts in audience viewing habits and a need to adapt content delivery to reach fans across various platforms.
Philip Bernie, Head of BBC Sport Events, acknowledged "Ski Sunday's" iconic status, stating, "Generations of viewers have enjoyed its coverage of the best in winter sports." He added that the BBC is "enormously proud of the role it has played in bringing these moments to audiences across the UK." Bernie emphasized that while such decisions are difficult, "as audience viewing habits evolve and we work to deliver value for licence fee payers, we have to make tough choices." He reassured audiences that the BBC remains committed to covering winter sports, particularly the Winter Olympics, across its platforms.
Similarly, when "Football Focus" was canceled, BBC Sport chief Alex Kay-Jelski cited "the continued shift in how audiences engage with football and our commitment to evolving how we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are."
"Ski Sunday" had become a recognizable part of the winter sports calendar, providing viewers with news and coverage of events ranging from the Winter Olympics to other major skiing competitions. The program featured presenters such as David Vine, ex-skier Graham Bell, former snowboarder Ed Leigh, and four-time Olympian Chemmy Alcott in recent years.
The BBC confirmed that it will continue to broadcast other major sporting events, including the men's and women's World Cups, the Olympic Games, and "Match of the Day."