Sport

Five remains the home of live UEFA Cup football with round by round action involving British sides.

Manchester City, Everton, Aston Villa, Spurs and FA Cup holders Portsmouth are the English sides in this year’s competition and Glasgow Rangers will now also be involved north of the border having not qualified for the Champions League group stages. Colin Murray will once again host the action.

David Beckham’s exploits for LA Galaxy in the MLS - Major League Soccer - are featured in Five's late night offering which also takes in live action and highlights from all the top sports across the Atlantic.

NFL American football, Major League Baseball, NHL Ice Hockey, including the Stanley Cup and the NBA provide the most comprehensive coverage from the United States.

And in Cricket, Five's peak-time coverage of Englands' home Test Match and One Day Internationals have just been extended by another four years by the ECB.

Mark Nicholas and the team present the new season of international cricket as England continue their three-match Test series against New Zealand. Geoffrey Boycott, Barry Richards and Simon Hughes join Mark in the commentary box for highlights of the third Test from Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

England have only recently returned from New Zealand after completing a morale-boosting Test series victory. Now the fixture has been reversed as the Kiwis arrive for a three-match Test series and five ODIs. England will start as clear favourites as the Black Caps find themselves in a downward spiral, thanks to a few retirements and defections to the rogue Indian Cricket League. New Zealand’s hopes for the summer rest with their shrewd new captain Daniel Vettori, who ranks as one of the best off-spinners in the world; bludgeoning allrounder Jacob Oram; and wicket keeper Brendon McCullum, whose dazzling 158 not out lit up the start of the Indian Premier League in April.

The quarter- and semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League take place in April, with just eight of the best teams in Europeam football left to battle it out for a place in the final on Wednesday 21 May — which takes place at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

A British team has played in the final for the past three years, with Liverpool narrowly missing out on repeating their 2005 victory against AC Milan – with Rafael Benitez’s side eventually losing 2-1 thanks to two Filippo Inzaghi strikes.

Once again, five British teams were present in the first knockout round at the start of the year, and hopes will be high that at least one of them can make it through to the final and be in with a chance of becoming champions of Europe.

Steve Rider hosts live coverage of the games on ITV1 and is joined by a range of special guest analysts, while game commentary is provided by Clive Tyldesley and Peter Drury.

http://www.itv.com/football

After a hugely exciting 2007 season, which saw Britain’s new sports superstar Lewis Hamilton narrowly finish as runner-up in the World Championship, Formula 1 returns with high hopes for British success.

Although finishing one point behind world champion Kimi Raikkonen, Hamilton had an immediate impact on Formula 1 in his debut season, finishing on the podium at the first grand prix in Australia, then taking second place at the following four races.

He went on to take the chequered flag in only his sixth grand prix in Canada – winning a further three grand prix over the season.

Lewis Hamilton’s success helped viewing figures across the 2007 season reach their best average for six years, with the final race in Brazil being watched by an amazing 10.6 million viewers on ITV1.

For three weeks in June, the eyes of sports fans around the world will be focused firmly on Austria and Switzerland as some of the world’s best footballers compete for the chance to be crowned champions of Europe and to lift one of the greatest prizes in the game — the Henri DeLaunay Trophy.

The list of talent on show over the 31 games reads like a Who’s Who of the very best footballers in the English premier league and beyond. From Anelka, Ballack and Babel, through Gallas, Henry and Ljungberg, to Ronaldo, Torres and Van Persie – viewers should be guaranteed football of the highest calibre and with flair and excitement aplenty.

Germany, as usual, are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the tournament, but are closely followed by World Cup finalists Italy and France, with Spain, Portugal, Holland and Croatia also highly fancied.

However, as Greece showed by winning Euro 2004, the tournament is anyone’s for the taking.

The UEFA Cup reaches the quarter-final stage in April and from that stage onwards every fame will be shown libe on ITV1, ITV4 or itv.com — through to the fina at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday 14 May.

Liverpool were the last British club to lift the prestigious trophy, back in 2001, when they beat Deportivo Alavés 5-4 in a dramatic golden-goal final.

In recent years, a number of British clubs have come close to winning the trophy, with Middlesbrough losing out to Sevilla in the 2006 final, and Celtic failing to get past Porto in 2003.

Matt Smith hosts UEFA Cup live coverage and is joined by ITV Sport’s award-winning team of match commentators and analysts.

http://www.itv.com/football

ITV has followed British boxing sensation Amir Khan exclusively since he rutned professional in 2005 and cotinues to showcase the Bolton-based start this spring.

Khan’s career took a great step forward in 2007 with his first major title win after he defeated Scotland’s Willie Limond to take the Commonwealth lightweight title. Despite being knocked to the canvas in the sixth round of the fight, Khan recovered in magnificent style to win by stoppage.

He has since successfully defended the title against the experienced Scott Lawton and Graham Earl – and comprehensively beat Australia’s Gairy St Clair on points over twelve rounds in February.

Jim Rosenthal presents the live ringside action, where he is joined by former world featherweight champion Barry Mcguigan for analysis.

Commentary comes from RTS Commentator of the year, John Rawling and former world champion Duke Mckenzie.

http://www.itv.com/boxing

Sunday 23 March 2008 6:15am - 9:00am

Steve Rider introduces coverage of round two of the 2008 Formula One World Championship - the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The season continues in Malaysia at the fast and flowing Sepang circuit. Fernando Alonso will be looking for a repeat after being victorious in 2007, while Britain’s Lewis Hamilton will be aiming to go one better than his second place finish at the same venue last year. World champion Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari will also be a threat as they look to retain their driver and constructor titles.

Steve is joined by Mark Blundell, with commentary from James Allen and Martin Brundle - while Ted Kravitz and Louise Goodman report from around the circuit.

Please note: the Grand Prix will be re-run at 2.45pm Sunday 23 March.

6 March 2008

The integrated partnership, negotiated between ITV Customer Relations and OMD UK, will include broadcast sponsorship of races and qualifying programmes on ITV1 and highlights on ITV1 and ITV4 as well as interactive coverage. The deal also includes sponsorship of ITV.com/f1 – the UK’s most popular F1 website.

Coverage begins on the weekend of March 15th with live coverage of the Australian Grand Prix. The eighteen race championship includes two new races for 2008 – with a new street circuit in Valencia for the European Grand Prix and the first ever night-time race at the Singapore Grand Prix.

ITV is the exclusive UK broadcaster of Formula 1 in the United Kingdom, with live coverage of each and every race on ITV1 as well as live coverage of qualifying and comprehensive highlights. Steve Rider presents coverage alongside Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell, with commentary from James Allen.

Steve Rider introduces coverage of round one of the 2008 Formula One World Championship - the Australian Grand Prix.

The season starts with 58 laps of the spectacular Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. After a winter of speculation, which team and driver will emerge with the early season pace? New driver pairings and changes to the technical regulations promise to add extra excitement.

After a sensational debut last year, Lewis Hamilton heads the McLaren team’s charge against Ferrari’s reigning champion, Kimi Raikkonen. Narrowly missing out on clinching the world title, the young Brit's success drove ITV's viewing figures to their highest level since 2001, with almost 11 million watching the final race in Brazil.

Steve is joined by Mark Blundell, with commentary from James Allen and Martin Brundle, while Ted Kravitz and Louise Goodman report from around the circuit.

Sunday 16 March 2008 3:30am - 6:30am on ITV1.

Steve Rider introduces qualifying for the opening race of the season in Melbourne.

As the cars hit the track for today’s session, the truth will be revealed about which team and driver combination is the quickest after the winter break. Can McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton start his title campaign with pole position or will the powerful combination of champion Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari gain the upper hand?

Coverage includes an introduction to what’s new for 2008 with driver and regulation changes, plus Martin Brundle gives his unique guide to the Albert Park Circuit.

Steve is joined by Mark Blundell, with commentary from James Allen and Martin Brundle, while Ted Kravitz and Louise Goodman report from around the circuit.

Saturday 15 March 2008 2:15am - 4:30am on ITV1.
Qualifying will be repeated on Saturday 15 March at 1.20pm on ITV1

Craig Doyle introduces live coverage from Florence in Italy of Everton’s UEFA Cup round of 16 first leg game against Fiorentina.

David Moyes’ men have won their last seven UEFA Cup games in a row and they have won all four of their UEFA Cup games away from Goodison Park this season. The Toffees will be hoping to reach their first European quarter-final since they won the Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1985.

Commentary comes from Clive Tyldesley and Jim Beglin with pitchside reports from Gabriel Clarke.

Thursday 6 March 2008 7:00pm - 8:00pm on ITV4.

In this hour long special, ITV4 follows Lieutenant Orlando Rogers and Captain Ben Gaffney of the Royal Marines as they partake in the toughest ocean rowing race in the world.

On the 2nd of December 2007 Rogers and Gaffney set off from the Canary Islands and embark on the 3,000 mile rowing race across the Atlantic Ocean. They are both determined to do something extraordinary before their deployment to Afghanistan.

With no rowing experience the pair are relying on their tough commando training to get them through the challenge. The marines battle through gale force winds, driving rain and the scorching sun, using a relentless routine of rowing alternatively, one hour on one hour off, and all the while they are naked! The men have sacrificed any form of clothing in a bid to avoid painful and debilitating chaffing.

Steve Rider and Martin Brundle look ahead to the F1 season which gets underway in Australia next weekend.

Lewis Hamilton talks exclusively about his hopes for the year ahead, as does rival and reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen. Plus a look at what's new for 2008 including regulation changes and the addition of two new street circuits in Valencia and Singapore.

Steve and Martin are joined by ITV's F1 reporters Ted Kravitz and Louise Goodman.

Sunday 9 March 2008 11:10am - 12:10pm on ITV1.

Matt Smith introduces live coverage from White Hart Lane of Tottenham’s UEFA Cup round of 16 first leg game against PSV Eindhoven.

Spurs come into the match on a high having won their first silverware in nine years, beating Chelsea for the League Cup. Their new manager, Juande Ramos, won the UEFA Cup twice with his previous club Sevilla and he will be keen to make it three in a row by winning it with the north London side.

They will face a tough test from Dutch champions, PSV, who entered the UEFA Cup after finishing third in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Commentary comes from Peter Drury and David Pleat with pitchside reports from Ned Boulting and studio analysis from Andy Townsend and Robbie Earle.

Thursday 6 March 2008 8:00pm - 10:00pm on ITV1.