ITV’s shock axing of Adrian Chiles allows the network to introduce Mark Pougatch as their new lead football presenter ahead of a fiercely fought TV auction for Premier League highlights. ITV Sport will bid strongly against BBC’s Match of the Day for TV rights to be awarded in around a week’s time and the commercial channel wanted to complete their reshuffle of on-screen football talent before then. It is expected that the price of the highlights package, for which the BBC paid £183million for their current three-year deal, could rise to as much as £300m and ITV have the deeper pockets. Adrian Chiles, who has been replaced as ITV's lead football host, pictured in west London on Friday . Chiles appeared in good spirits despite the news, as he walked near his home in west London . THIS SEASON . ITV - England internationals, Champions League, Europa League . Sky Sports - Premier League, Champions League, other home nations internationals . BBC - Premier League highlights, FA Cup . BT Sport - Premier League, FA Cup, Europa League . 2015-16 SEASON . ITV - England international games, Champions League and Europa League highlights . Sky Sports - Premier League, other home nations internationals . BBC - Premier League highlights, FA Cup . BT Sport - Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League . But this is one flagship contract that the BBC — faced with losing golf’s Open Championship to Sky — are desperate to keep more than any other apart from Wimbledon. Unpopular with viewers, Chiles was the subject of a Facebook campaign — attracting more than 37,000 ‘likes’ — to have him removed from hosting ITV football after the last World Cup. He was told this week his contract was being terminated. Chiles signed a £500,000 one-year renewal last April that expires at the end of the season. At the time he took a whopping £1m salary cut because the extension just covered his dwindling football presenting duties. He joined ITV from the BBC on a £6m four-year contract in 2010 which included hosting breakfast show Daybreak. Since the demise of that programme and ITV losing live rights to the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League, Chiles was increasingly seen as a luxury who did little for the ratings. The 47-year-old Brummie was trying to negotiate new terms when ITV started their football revamp by announcing earlier this month that second-choice presenter Matt Smith’s contract would not be renewed at the end of the season and pundit Andy Townsend would be leaving by mutual consent. Chiles has been replaced by Pougatch as ITV's lead football host with immediate effect . Chiles and pundits Lee Dixon, Ian Wright and Glenn Hoddle (L-R) get soaked by a spinkler in Switzerland . Chiles (left) has been replaced by Mark Pougatch (right), pictured working for BBC Radio 5 Live . Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane (centre) left ITV prior to last summer's World Cup in Brazil . Chiles presented ITV's Champions League coverage but the channel will not show live games next season . Instead of a new agreement, Chiles has been shown the door. He leaves immediately with ITV’s unusual ‘no comment’ about anything to do with his exit suggesting there is a legal fight brewing over the size of his pay-off. Pougatch will be in the hot seat for ITV’s next live match on February 17, the first leg of Chelsea’s Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain but will continue to work for BBC Radio 5 Live. He will reduce his football involvement on 5 Live to avoid conflict with his ITV role. Highly regarded at the BBC, Pougatch would not have moved if not for the potential promise of a lot more football work than Champions League highlights and England matches after this season — if ITV win rights to Premier League highlights . Pougatch (left), pictured presenting boxing for Channel 5, will take over from Chiles immediately . Chiles sports shorts and flip flops while presenting ITV's live World Cup coverage in Brazil last summer . Chiles speaks with Hull City boss Steve Bruce before the FA Cup final at Wembley last year . Pundit and co-commentator Andy Townsend (right) left ITV by mutual consent earlier this month . Chiles’s departure brought a hugely positive reaction on social media. So it is ironic that it was Chiles who won the presenter shootout against Pougatch when the BBC launched their Sunday Premier League highlights show, Match of the Day 2 in 2004. Pougatch was strong favourite before a late change of mind by the Beeb executive who felt Chiles’s Brummie vowels would go down better than Pougatch’s public school accent honed at Malvern College. Eleven years on it is posh ‘Poogs’ who finally has the upper hand. Pougatch said: ‘I am delighted to be given this great opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with ITV’s talented pool of commentators and pundits.’ Niall Sloane, ITV director of sport, said: ‘Mark is a highly respected sports journalist and outstanding broadcaster. We’re delighted to welcome him.’ Chiles chats with England boss Roy Hodgson before the Three Lions' game against Switzerland in September . Pougatch and Chiles both work for BBC Radio 5 Live, with Chiles being handed an expanded role last summer . Chiles poses with ITV's World Cup squad of pundits at Wembley prior to the start of the tournament in Brazil . Mark Pougatch has joined ITV Sport as a presenter for the channel's football coverage. Mark joins the ITV Sport team as the Champions League and Europa League enter their knockout rounds and England's Euro 16 qualifying stages are set to resume. He will appear alongside ITV's panel of pundits, commentary and reporting team for the live England international and European football programmes from February. He brings with him a wealth of experience in sports broadcasting over 20 years, including presenting major events such as World Cups, European Championships and the Olympics. Mark said: 'I am absolutely delighted to be joining ITV and to be given this great opportunity. I'm looking forward to working with ITV's talented pool of commentators and pundits on some of the very best football there is.' ITV Director of Sport, Niall Sloane, said: 'Mark is a highly-respected sports journalist and an outstanding broadcaster. We're delighted to welcome Mark to the ITV Sport team.' ITV will show exclusive live coverage of all England's European Championship and World Cup qualifying matches and friendlies, both home and away fixtures, until 2018. ITV also holds the rights to show Champions League and Europa League matches and highlights until the end of the 2014/2015 season, after which it will show Champions League and Europa League highlights. Mark will continue to present sports programmes for BBC Radio 5 Live and PLTV while in his ITV role.
Adrian Chiles is replaced by Mark Pougatch,  a broadcaster for BBC .
Chiles signed a two-year deal worth around £500,000 a year last summer .
Pougatch will present Chelsea's clash with Paris Saint-Germain in February .
ITV do not have the rights to live Champions League games next season .
READ: Chiles should have quit after the World Cup .
Adrian Chiles virals: Twitter reacts to the ITV host being replaced .
Click here for ten things you need to know about Pougatch .
ITV’s shock axing of Adrian Chiles allows the network to introduce Mark Pougatch as their new lead football presenter ahead of a fiercely fought TV auction for Premier League highlights. ITV Sport will bid strongly against BBC’s Match of the Day for TV rights to be awarded in around a week’s time and the commercial channel wanted to complete their reshuffle of on-screen football talent before then. It is expected that the price of the highlights package, for which the BBC paid £183million for their current three-year deal, could rise to as much as £300m and ITV have the deeper pockets. Adrian Chiles, who has been replaced as ITV's lead football host, pictured in west London on Friday . Chiles appeared in good spirits despite the news, as he walked near his home in west London . THIS SEASON . ITV - England internationals, Champions League, Europa League . Sky Sports - Premier League, Champions League, other home nations internationals . BBC - Premier League highlights, FA Cup . BT Sport - Premier League, FA Cup, Europa League . 2015-16 SEASON . ITV - England international games, Champions League and Europa League highlights . Sky Sports - Premier League, other home nations internationals . BBC - Premier League highlights, FA Cup . BT Sport - Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League . But this is one flagship contract that the BBC — faced with losing golf’s Open Championship to Sky — are desperate to keep more than any other apart from Wimbledon. Unpopular with viewers, Chiles was the subject of a Facebook campaign — attracting more than 37,000 ‘likes’ — to have him removed from hosting ITV football after the last World Cup. He was told this week his contract was being terminated. Chiles signed a £500,000 one-year renewal last April that expires at the end of the season. At the time he took a whopping £1m salary cut because the extension just covered his dwindling football presenting duties. He joined ITV from the BBC on a £6m four-year contract in 2010 which included hosting breakfast show Daybreak. Since the demise of that programme and ITV losing live rights to the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League, Chiles was increasingly seen as a luxury who did little for the ratings. The 47-year-old Brummie was trying to negotiate new terms when ITV started their football revamp by announcing earlier this month that second-choice presenter Matt Smith’s contract would not be renewed at the end of the season and pundit Andy Townsend would be leaving by mutual consent. Chiles has been replaced by Pougatch as ITV's lead football host with immediate effect . Chiles and pundits Lee Dixon, Ian Wright and Glenn Hoddle (L-R) get soaked by a spinkler in Switzerland . Chiles (left) has been replaced by Mark Pougatch (right), pictured working for BBC Radio 5 Live . Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane (centre) left ITV prior to last summer's World Cup in Brazil . Chiles presented ITV's Champions League coverage but the channel will not show live games next season . Instead of a new agreement, Chiles has been shown the door. He leaves immediately with ITV’s unusual ‘no comment’ about anything to do with his exit suggesting there is a legal fight brewing over the size of his pay-off. Pougatch will be in the hot seat for ITV’s next live match on February 17, the first leg of Chelsea’s Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain but will continue to work for BBC Radio 5 Live. He will reduce his football involvement on 5 Live to avoid conflict with his ITV role. Highly regarded at the BBC, Pougatch would not have moved if not for the potential promise of a lot more football work than Champions League highlights and England matches after this season — if ITV win rights to Premier League highlights . Pougatch (left), pictured presenting boxing for Channel 5, will take over from Chiles immediately . Chiles sports shorts and flip flops while presenting ITV's live World Cup coverage in Brazil last summer . Chiles speaks with Hull City boss Steve Bruce before the FA Cup final at Wembley last year . Pundit and co-commentator Andy Townsend (right) left ITV by mutual consent earlier this month . Chiles’s departure brought a hugely positive reaction on social media. So it is ironic that it was Chiles who won the presenter shootout against Pougatch when the BBC launched their Sunday Premier League highlights show, Match of the Day 2 in 2004. Pougatch was strong favourite before a late change of mind by the Beeb executive who felt Chiles’s Brummie vowels would go down better than Pougatch’s public school accent honed at Malvern College. Eleven years on it is posh ‘Poogs’ who finally has the upper hand. Pougatch said: ‘I am delighted to be given this great opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with ITV’s talented pool of commentators and pundits.’ Niall Sloane, ITV director of sport, said: ‘Mark is a highly respected sports journalist and outstanding broadcaster. We’re delighted to welcome him.’ Chiles chats with England boss Roy Hodgson before the Three Lions' game against Switzerland in September . Pougatch and Chiles both work for BBC Radio 5 Live, with Chiles being handed an expanded role last summer . Chiles poses with ITV's World Cup squad of pundits at Wembley prior to the start of the tournament in Brazil . Mark Pougatch has joined ITV Sport as a presenter for the channel's football coverage. Mark joins the ITV Sport team as the Champions League and Europa League enter their knockout rounds and England's Euro 16 qualifying stages are set to resume. He will appear alongside ITV's panel of pundits, commentary and reporting team for the live England international and European football programmes from February. He brings with him a wealth of experience in sports broadcasting over 20 years, including presenting major events such as World Cups, European Championships and the Olympics. Mark said: 'I am absolutely delighted to be joining ITV and to be given this great opportunity. I'm looking forward to working with ITV's talented pool of commentators and pundits on some of the very best football there is.' ITV Director of Sport, Niall Sloane, said: 'Mark is a highly-respected sports journalist and an outstanding broadcaster. We're delighted to welcome Mark to the ITV Sport team.' ITV will show exclusive live coverage of all England's European Championship and World Cup qualifying matches and friendlies, both home and away fixtures, until 2018. ITV also holds the rights to show Champions League and Europa League matches and highlights until the end of the 2014/2015 season, after which it will show Champions League and Europa League highlights. Mark will continue to present sports programmes for BBC Radio 5 Live and PLTV while in his ITV role.
deeper pockets. Adrian Chiles, who has been hosting ITV football after the last World Cup. He terminated. Chiles signed a £500,000 one-year ITV losing live rights to the FA Cup, Champions Switzerland . Chiles (left) has been replaced by Mark Pougatch (right), pictured working for BBC channel will not show live games next season . Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain but World Cup coverage in Brazil last summer . Chiles