Rebecca Lowe, a reporter and presenter for ESPN UK, has been hired by NBC as the lead host for the network’s coverage of the English Premier League.
American audiences will remember the West London-born Lowe as one of ESPN’s studio team hosts for the stateside coverage of UEFA Euro 2012 and the critically acclaimed and Sports Emmy-nominated presentation of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011.
Lowe began her career in England in 2002 by working at talkSPORT, a football-heavy, 24 hour sports radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom. She broke into sports television by winning the 2002 BBC Talent Search for a football reporter, outlasting a field of 650 candidates. She thereafter spent the next five years at the BBC where she was a critical contributor to the network’s key football programs. Between reporting for Final Score and Football Focus, she presented a “Football in the Community” feature every Sunday morning on Match of the Day and served as a regular contributor for Match of the Day 2. Lowe also served as a reporter for BBC Two’s coverage of the 2004 African Cup of Nations and as the England team reporter for BBC One’s coverage of the 2005 Women’s European Championship.
In 2007 Lowe moved to Setanta Sport where she served for two years as a presenter and reporter, in addition to her duties co-hosting Football Matters, Setanta’s Premier League studio program. She joined ESPN in 2009 as co-host of ESPN UK’s live coverage of the Premier League, working alongside Ray Stubbs, with whom she also co-anchored Between the Lines, ESPN UK’s weekly debate and opinion program on all aspects of football.
A pioneer of female television broadcasters in world football, Lowe became the first woman to host the FA Cup Final in the 2012 contest between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. The highly-rated Lowe is believed to have had more than one offer from a number of networks, with both ESPN and BT Sport eager to retain her services.
After confirming the deal, Lowe was asked what she wanted stateside Premier League fans to know about her. “Just that I’m excited to bring them the best possible coverage, all the storylines and EPL sagas with a committed team who love the game,” Lowe said. “We hope to be authentic but fresh. I should probably also admit now to my allegiance to Crystal Palace FC. We have a good chance of promotion to the Premier League this season but I promise to be totally neutral if I do end up presenting the Eagles!”
In addition to her promise of balanced coverage, Lowe pledged to maintain her English vernacular. “I will still call it football, I’ll still say a penalty not a PK, and a fullback and not an outside back,” Lowe said. “If I start trying to translate in my head, it could get messy. Having said that, living in America will no doubt rub off on me and I’m sure a few Americanisms may creep into my vocabulary over time. I certainly don’t want to use words or phrases that the U.S. fans don’t understand but I’m sure I’ll be told if no one knows what I’m meaning!”
Lowe’s deal with NBC runs for three years, covering the length of the network’s rights agreement. She will be based at NBC’s new headquarters in Stamford, Conn. where she will anchor five live games over a Premier League weekend.
With the hiring of Lowe, NBC has answered the first question regarding the talent it will utilize to cover the Premier League. From all accounts, it looks to be an incredibly saavy hire. Not only will Lowe’s hiring please old school Premier League fans who prefer Anglo-influenced coverage but it will also bring a young, vibrant, enthusiastic feel to the broadcast that reflects the nation’s insatiable hunger to grow both the men’s and women’s game.
