Match of the Day ready to return for new season but Premier League fans can catch highlights on BBC much earlier
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BBC viewers will be able to watch Premier League highlights this season more than two hours before Match of the Day.
The iconic Beeb highlights programme is set to return to screens this Saturday.
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Match of the Day is set to begin a new era this weekend
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Mark Chapman will host the first show of the post-Gary Lineker era.
In addition to Lineker's departure following 26 years in the hotseat, the BBC will be making other changes to its Premier League output.
Match of the Day will continue to provide fans with all the match action plus high-profile punditry.
But fans will be able to watch just the highlights on BBC iPlayer from 8pm.
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Despite all the goals and major incidents being available earlier, Beeb chiefs believe that MOTD will still be able to pull in a major viewership.
A BBC press release confirmed: "Published live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, match highlights from every fixture will drop at 8pm, putting all the biggest moments at fans' fingertips ahead of the expert analysis and in-depth discussion on the main show.
"It's a game-changing way to stay connected and fully immersed in the action."
Chapman, 51, is set to be the first of Match of the Day's new three rotating presenters to sit in the hotseat.
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The experienced broadcaster will rotate with Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan throughout the season.
Cates, 49, is set to continue her prominent role with Sky Sports alongside her new MOTD duties.
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Per the Telegraph, Match of the Day has managed to pull in a 3.5 million average audience over recent seasons.
That is despite plenty of live TV games, streaming and goals being available on social media.
Despite Lineker's exit, his right-hand men Alan Shearer and Micah Richards will continue as pundit regulars on Match of the Day.
While, as SunSport revealed last month, Wayne Rooney will join the team on a regular basis.
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