EEDA - East of England Development Agency

BBC unveils new football show produced at the EEDA-funded EPIC studios

11 January 2010

The Former Ipswich Town and Republic of Ireland soccer international Matt Holland will front a new Monday night football league show that will give fans across the East unparalleled access to their teams.

It’s produced at EPIC, The East of England Production Innovation Centre, in Norwich, by Kevin Piper Media, a new company operating out of the Centre.

‘Late Kick Off ‘ will feature in depth coverage from behind-the-scenes, the teams, players, managers and backroom stories, for six of the league clubs based in this region including Norwich City, Ipswich Town, MK Dons, Colchester United, Peterborough United and Southend United.

The show, which starts on January 18th on BBC One at 11:35pm intends to get right to the heart of local football with a mix of discussion, opinion, interviews and match analysis. More than just a highlights programme, it promises to get to grips with the issues fans want to talk about as well as giving some insightful reports both on and off the pitch.

Matt, who has played for Ipswich Town during his career and who is a well known face to most football fans, will bring his own sporting expertise to the programme.

Matt will be joined each week by different guests and pundits from the world of football to talk about the weekend’s biggest games and talking points. There will also be regular features, such as player profiles, a regular dip into the archives, and an opportunity for supporters to share their views on what’s happening at their clubs and the game in general.
 
Matt says: “I’m very much looking forward to presenting Late Kick Off in the East. I’m hoping as an ex-player to provide fans with in depth match analysis but also to go behind the scenes at their clubs and give an insight to life outside the ninety minutes!”

Late Kick Off for the East will be produced and recorded at the East of England Production Innovation Centre (EPIC), in Norwich, which is one of the most advanced studio production centres in Europe. Based in the refurbished and upgraded Anglia TV studios in the City’s Magdalen Street, it is run by Norfolk County Council, and was set up to maintain Norwich and Norfolk's credentials as a centre for the creative media, following the regional shake-up of ITV.

Development of the Centre was funded by the East of England Development Agency. EPIC is also the UK broadband and media centre of the EU Interreg project, E-CLIC.

“One of the objects of setting up EPIC was to develop production and broadcasting activity in the East of England – so we’re delighted with this new partnership between ourselves, the BBC and Kevin Piper Media,” says EPIC Director, Mark Wells.

The Centre's aim is to act as a hub for production and communications excellence and innovation in the county, offering support to start-up and established businesses, training opportunities, the chance to share best practice and access to the latest technology.

Late Kick Off complements coverage of the Football League, which returned to the BBC in August for the first time since 1988, building on the success of the network highlights programme, The Football League Show, along with live coverage of two Carling Cup semi finals and the League final. Along with action from the Premier League on Match Of The Day and BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC provides sports fans with access to all the goals and all the action, the length and breadth of the country. 

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