The Football Conference, the highest level of the English non-league football pyramid, has announced a "major rebrand, and will be known from next season as the National League," according to Niall McVeigh of the London GUARDIAN. The change, which will also affect the regional second tiers currently known as Conference North and South, "was announced live on BT Sport," which has confirmed a new three-year TV deal to show live matches and highlights. A statement from the Football Conference said, "The new league will officially take its place in the football family on June 6th and the changes will include a new look logo. ... a new broadcasting company, NLTV, which will be the first fully dedicated broadcasting channel focusing solely on the 68 member clubs ... and lastly, in yet another first, the competition will create the all new NLTV Broadcasting Academy." The rebranding was announced in tandem with a new TV deal with BT Sport, which will extend its live coverage of matches and "also host a weekly highlights show." The NLTV online broadcast platform has also been launched "with the aim of offering a subscription service in the future." BT Sport and competition sponsor Vanarama will also provide financial support to the NLTV Broadcasting Academy, "an initiative which will provide media students with training, equipment and work experience" (GUARDIAN, 4/6). The LONDON TIMES reported it has been known as the Gola League and the Vauxhall Conference "in its time, but now the Football Conference is poised to be renamed yet again." The Conference Premier is to become the Vanarama National League, while the Conference North and South, which make up the sixth tier, will be the Vanarama National League North and South (LONDON TIMES, 4/6).
