Symbolising the shift in the geographical balance of power in British broadcasting, BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2011 will be broadcast live from the studios of MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, the new home of BBC Sport on Thursday 22 December.
 
The show will presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey and will be live on BBC One and BBC One HD. It will be the culmination of Celebrate Sport, two weeks of sporting events taking place at Salford Quays, throughout December. Live shows, exhibitions, tours and interactive experiences will give people the chance to immerse themselves in the world of sport.

Barbara Slater, BBC Director of Sport, said: “MediaCityUK in Salford will be a fitting venue for the 2011 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The facilities at the site are fantastic and the area has such a top-class sporting heritage, boasting top flight teams across many sports. This is a great opportunity to celebrate that. It’;s wonderful to be able to also offer so many people the chance to get involved through Celebrate Sport which will throw open the doors to many exciting sport experiences.”

In 2010 12.6 million people tuned in to the show to watch leading jockey Tony McCoy take the award.