SBS launches ursday FC LIVE

SBS launches Thursday FC LIVE

19 September 2013

News Release

In what will be the first of its kind for football on Australian TV, SBS will launch a new weekly entertainment program, Thursday FC, in October as part of the channel's coverage of the Hyundai A-League.

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, Thursday FC will showcase the Hyundai A-League like never before, combining the latest football news and views with entertainment, interviews and live performances.

Thursday FC will be hosted by comedian and presenter Matt Okine, named Best Newcomer at the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and recently returning from the Edinburgh Fringe where he was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award. Matt will be joined by SBS Football Presenters Lucy Zelic and David Zdrilic, with music provided by the show's house band, newcomers Cartoon.

Each week Thursday FC will include a look at each of the upcoming

A-League games for the round as well as special guests from football, music and film; celebrity tipping; and live music acts.

Head of Sport Ken Shipp said: Thursday FC is unlike anything SBS has ever done before and a first for football in Australia. Targeted towards A-League fans as well as a broader audience demographic, the program will capture the human and entertaining side of the game and build anticipation for the live Hyundai A-League matches on SBS 2 on Friday nights.

Thursday FC will premiere live on Thursday 10 October at 8:30pm on SBS 2 ahead of the first Hyundai A-League game of the season between Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets on Friday 11 October at 7:00pm on SBS 2.

Online:

www.sbs.com.au/sbs2

www.sbs.com.au/theworldgame

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/SBS2Australia

www.facebook.com/SBSTheWorldGame

Twitter:

@SBS2

@TheWorldGame

#tfclive

ENDS

About Matt Okine

Following a year of sold out shows in London, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, winning Best Newcomer at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the release of his first live DVD, playing national support for Aziz Ansari and an invitation to the prestigious Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, you can expect Matt Okine to be awesome. He is.

Matt was a Raw National Finalist in 2004 at the age of 18 and later that year Matt was a Comedy God finalist on national radio station, 2Day FM. In 2005 he took out the Brisbane New Comic of the Year competition. 2007 saw Matt perform on Rove Live . He followed this by collaborating on a sell-out show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival (2008) and was flown to Miami as a solo performer to be part of NBC's hit show, Last Comic Standing .

Matt was also a co-writer/producer/performer on the short film, Bird Therapy, which made the Final 16 for Tropfest 2011 - the biggest short film festival in the world. His 2011 Sydney Comedy Festival show, Being Black N Chicken N Shit, was nominated for Time Out's Local Comedy Show of the Year, and Matt was also nominated for Time Out's 2011 Sydney Comedian of the Year. Matt is also appearing in SBS's upcoming comedy show Legally Brown.

About Lucy Zelic

A passionate football journalist and lifelong sports fan, Lucy Zelic is the newest member of the SBS football team and the face of the Hyundai A-League LIVE on SBS 2. Lucy will be reporting from the pitch every Friday night during SBS's live Hyundai A-League matches, bringing fans all the action direct from the ground.

Prior to joining SBS Lucy was well known amongst football fans from her work on the official podcast of the Hyundai A-League, which she hosted for the 2012-13 season. A seasoned radio host and presenter, Lucy was the commentator for all Canberra United home games in the Westfield W-League on 2XXFM and was a regular guest on the popular Balls n' All show on 106.3FM. She has also hosted the nationally streamed football podcast Nearpost and holds a Bachelor in Journalism and Sports Business from the University of Canberra.

With a strong football background, Lucy is the sister of former Socceroo and SBS Football Analyst Ned Zelic. She was also a Miss Universe Australia Finalist in 2007.

About David Zdrilic

Former Socceroo David Zdrilic brings a wealth of football knowledge and playing experience to the SBS football team. David will host the live Hyundai A-League game every Friday night and has also appeared on SBS's coverage of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

David's professional playing career began at age 19 with Sydney United. He has played in some of the best football leagues in the world, including Germany's Bundesliga, and has played professionally in England, Switzerland and Scotland.

He earned his first call up to the Socceroos in 1997 and was a member of the Australian team that beat Brazil in the 2001 Confederations Cup. That same year, he scored eight goals for the Socceroos in an Oceania World Cup Qualifier match, the second highest number of goals by an Australian in a single international game. More recently, Zdrilic played for Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League and was part of their inaugural championship winning team

About Cartoon

Pop-rock band Cartoon literally started on the streets as buskers. The vision of lead vocalist Satsuki Minoda and guitarist arranger Luke Gerber, Cartoon also features Kristen Fletcher on keyboard, Andy Hovarth on drums and Tim Samson on bass. A combination of energy, rock, youth and brains mixed up in one, Cartoon are currently recording its first studio album due for release in December.

LINK:	http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/775/h/SBS-la...
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