The Goal Rush

Infobox Television
show_name = The Goal Rush


caption =
format = Football coverage
camera =
picture_format =
audio_format =
runtime = 35-120 minutes
creator =
executive_producer =
starring = Angus Scott
narrated =
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
network = ITV
first_aired = 2001
last_aired = 2003
num_episodes =
website = http://www.itv-football.co.uk/Football_on_ITV/Goal_Rush/index.shtml
imdb_id = 0302112
tv_com_id =

"The Goal Rush" was a live ITV television programme that aired from 2001 to 2003 produced by Granada Television. [cite web | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010803/ai_n14403217 | title=ITV puts football firmly back into the prime time | publisher=The Independent | author=Harris, Nick | date=2001-08-03 | accessdate=2008-01-12] The programme was broadcast on Saturdays and provided live football scores from the English Premier League and the Football League. ITV ran the programme during the two of the three seasons that it held the rights to show Premier League highlights. After the rights were lost, "The Goal Rush" was axed. Coverage began on ITV2 and then continued on ITV from 4pm. The programme was presented by Angus Scott.cite web | url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/779524 | title=BFI Film & Television database entry | publisher=British Film Institute | accessdate=2008-01-12]

Details

The Goal Rush was announced in 2000 by Brian Barwick, ITV Controller of Sport. The programme was a replacement for Football First which had aired exclusively on ITV2 since that channel had launched in late 1998. It was described as having the style and feel of the Bloomberg News channel. [cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a1584/rolling-football-service-for-itv2.html | title= Rolling football service for ITV2 | date=2000-12-16 | accessdate=2008-01-12 | author=Wilkes, Neil | publisher=Digital Spy] It first aired on 18 August 2001 after ITV won the rights to Premiership highlights. [cite web | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1115176.ece | title=Stelling avoids snarl-ups directing the goal traffic | author= Rudd, Alyson | publisher=timesonline.co.uk | date=2003-03-03 | accessdate=2008-01-12] The format is similar to that which is used by the BBC's "Score" and Sky's "Soccer Saturday"; with live match reports, on screen scores and a ticker. [cite web | url=http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/worldofsport/premier.php | title=Into the premier league | author=O'Rouke, Colm | publisher=Transdiffusion.org | accessdate=2008-01-12] Each episode started at 2:30pm on Saturdays on ITV's digital channel, ITV2. At varying times after 4pm the coverage would switch to ITV1. The service was hosted by presenter Angus Scott, and former footballer and football manager Ron Atkinson provided expert analysis. [cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/08/03/nsocc03.xml | title=Des will kick off at 7pm on Saturdays | author=Leonard,Tom and Wallace, Sam | date=2001-08-03 | accessdate=2008-01-12 | publisher=The Daily Telegraph] Other analysts included Clive Allen who still provides analysis for ITV and John Barnes who has since moved on to work on football programmes for Five

Reception

The look of the service resembled the BBC's service quite closely and commentators criticised ITV for this. [cite web | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-91879432.html | title=No Rush to tune into ITV rip-off. | publisher=The Daily Mirror | author=McKinlay, Alan | date=2002-09-21 | accessdate=2008-01-12] The programme never achieved a high number of viewers and on 6 April 2002 the show won ITV's lowest ever audience share with 3% during the broadcast of the 2002 Grand National on BBC One. [cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/04/09/nbul5.xml | title=ITV figures at all-time low | date=2002-04-09 | accessdate=2008-01-12]

References