ITV And BSkyB Favourites For Champions League Coverage

Staff – MediaTel NewsLine

ITV and BSkyB are reportedly the favourites to retain their shared coverage of the European Champions League football matches, with bids for the UK TV rights for the next three years due today.

According to a report in today’s Guardian, the BBC is believed to be considering a rival bid for the high profile sports events. Channel 4 is also rumoured to be interested, with the broadcaster thought to have met with the representatives of the Champions League, UEFA.

However, the BBC’s rules on sponsorship mean it would have to offer UEFA a higher bid in order to compensate for any loss of sponsorship. TV industry insiders believe that this would cause pressure on the corporation who is currently cost cutting in the run up to the charter renewal.

Recently, culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, unveiled radical plans for change at the BBC, with proposals that the corporation’s government be replaced with a new “BBC Trust” (see Governors Axed As BBC Charter Renewed For 10 Years).

There are three packages on offer of the live games, which will run from 2006 to 2009. One package offers the pick of matches played on a Tuesday, another first pick of Wednesday games, and a third the remainder of the games not chosen by the main broadcasters.

Three years ago, satellite giant, BSkyB, broke ITV’s traditional monopoly of the Champions League, securing the rights to show the Wednesday matches, with both broadcasters allowed to screen the final game (see ITV Retains Champions League Rights).

Last year saw ITV add to its portfolio of sports coverage with the UK rights to the UEFA Cup Finals in 2005 and 2006, as well as the UEFA Super Cup next year. The broadcaster’s deal brings the largest football club competition to ITV viewers, featuring 341 matches played over 20 weeks and culminating in a sport spectacular not to be missed on 18 May at Stadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal (see ITV Boosts Football Coverage With UEFA Deal).

BskyB: 0207 705 3000 www.sky.com

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com

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