Sky News sports operation to be streamlined

BSkyB is streamlining its Sky News sports operation in a move to share more output with Sky Sports News. The change is understood to affect the presenting duties of Sky News veterans including Chris Skudder, who has covered the Olympics and last four World Cups, Nick Powell, and cricket specialist Charlie Thomas. The restructure is also understood to affect the position of Sky News sports editor Lee Wellings. BSkyB would not provide details about who was affected by the restructure. But a Sky spokesman said that all employees affected would be offered new roles. The restructure of the Sky News sports team follows the decision earlier this month to drop its own sports bulletins in favour of taking a feed from Sky Sports News. As a result BSkyB has decided to "introduce greater editorial co-operation" between its two sports news operations in a move that will see four roles made redundant. "To deliver an even better service for viewers, who recognise Sky Sports as a leader in sports broadcasting, Sky News has introduced greater editorial co-operation with Sky Sports News, including on-screen presence," said a spokesman for BSkyB. "As part of this change four new roles have been created, which will be offered to those whose current positions will become redundant. No changes to overall levels of headcount are expected across the sports team." According to industry sources the restructure is understood to have affected the role of Skudder, who has worked at Sky for 17 years and voiced the original commercial trail for the pre-cursor to Sky Sports while freelancing for the then British Satellite Broadcasting . It has also affected 20-year Sky veteran Thomas, who has covered tennis, skiing and rugby, and was chief reporter at the 1999 cricket World Cup and anchored Sky News' live coverage of England's 2005 Ashes win . Powell, who joined Sky News in 1996 , has covered rugby league and was the Sky News sports presenter for Channel Five news in 2004 and 2005. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".