ITV moves Premiership time

ITV is to move its flagship football show The Premiership to a late-night Saturday slot, it has confirmed.

The show will now be at the later time of 10.30pm from 17 November, and repeated on Sunday mornings at 9.30am.

David Liddiment, ITV director of channels, said: "In its own right the programme is performing well, attracting an average of half a million more viewers each week than it's predecessor.

"I had hoped to give the programme more time to consolidate in the 7pm slot, but pressure on the overall performance of the schedule and advertising revenues means that we simply cannot sustain the current position. "

The show's presenter, Desmond Lynam, said: ''I am disappointed that ITV are moving The Premiership's start time as I feel confident that it would have achieved higher audiences in due course.

"However I am assured that the move is for economic and not editorial reasons."

The last 7pm edition of The Premiership will be on 3 November.

The programme will return in its new slot on 7 November after a week's break in the Premier League calendar on 10 November due to international fixtures.