TNT Sports took a cheeky dig at the BBC during their coverage of Arsenal vs Newcastle.
The kick-off was moved from TNT’s usual 12:30pm slot to a primetime 8pm Saturday showing to maximise the number of TV viewers.
Welcoming viewers to the game, lead commentator Darren Fletcher said: “Forget Gladiators, the battle is here.”
The comment was in reference to Gladiators on BBC One, which is showing at the same time and has recently been relaunched.
The much-loved 1990s show has been revamped with Bradley Walsh presenting alongside his son, Barney.
Former Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg also oversees the action as the referee on the show.
Clattenburg recently dipped his toe back into the refereeing game after taking a job at Nottingham Forest.
The former whistler will be a ‘referee’s analyst’ for the club, the first of its kind.
The football feeling does not end on the hit TV show, with Guy Mowbray providing the commentator.
Mowbray is well known for his commentating on Match of the Day, week to week.
The show was recently hit by “fix” claims after a former gladiator claimed there were certain events that contestants would find “impossible” to win against burly gladiators.
Arsenal entered the game against Newcastle looking to close the gap at the top of the table.
The title-chasers will be just two points off Liverpool if they can beat Newcastle tonight.
Manchester City took a major step in their hunt to reel in Liverpool earlier as they triumphed over Bournemouth 1-0.
