Football Focus to end after 52 years

Football Focus to end after 52 yearsImage source, BBC SportImage caption, Football Focus launched as part of Grandstand in 1974ByDale JohnsonFootball issues correspondentPublished2 minutes agoFootball Focus is to end after 52 years, BBC Sport has announced.Launched in 1974, the Saturday lunchtime television programme provided fans with interviews, analysis and stories from across the game before the weekend's fixtures.Changing audience habits have meant a growth in the use of digital platforms and on-demand to get the same pre-match content.As a result, linear television viewing figures have gradually decline since 2018.Football Focus will run until the end of the season.Alex Kay-Jelski - director of BBC Sport - said: "Football Focus has been a hugely important programme in the history of BBC Sport and has played a key role in telling the stories of the game for generations of viewers."This decision was made before last week's wider BBC savings announcement, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences engage with football and our commitment to evolving how we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are."From next season, Kelly Somers' The Football Interview will move to Saturday at 12:45 on BBC One. Final Score with Jason Mohammad will start earlier than it has this season - at 15:45.Bukayo Saka, Emma Hayes, Bernardo Silva, Hugo Ekitike and Michael Carrick are among the players and coaches to have featured on The Football Interview this season.BBC Sport says will expand its digital output across BBC platforms, including exclusive shows on YouTube. The intention is to deliver more high-quality, accessible and engaging football coverage at scale.Football Focus started out as part of Grandstand, with Sam Leitch presenting a pre-cursor called Football Preview.It was renamed Football Focus, with Bob Wilson becoming an iconic figure. After first taking on presenting duties in 1974, the former Arsenal goalkeeper stayed in the role for...