BBC And ITV Agree World Cup Coverage Share

ITV and the BBC have confirmed their plans for shared coverage of the World Cup Finals in Germany later this year, an event guaranteed to score highly in each broadcaster’s schedules as football fever grips the nation.

The arrangements will see the BBC provide live coverage of England v Paraguay on 10 June, followed by ITV airing England v Trinidad & Tobago and England v Sweden on 15 and 20 June respectively.

Following these matches, the BBC will take first pick of games from the ’round of 16′ knockout stage, with ITV taking the second and third picks. The remaining games will be split between the two broadcasters on a one-by-one basis.

The BBC will take first and fourth pick of quarter final games, with ITV taking the second and third picks.

Should the England team reach the semi-final stage of the World Cup, both BBC and ITV will show the game live, with ITV showing the remaining semi-final exclusively. Otherwise, ITV will have first pick of the semi-final games, with BBC broadcasting the other match. Both broadcasters will show the World Cup final live.

Commenting on the broadcast arrangements, Mark Sharman, ITV’s director of sport said: “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement that gives ITV guaranteed coverage of two England group games, in particular a peak time group decider against Sweden. We are all looking forward to an exciting World Cup in Germany.”

Roger Mosey, BBC director of sport added: “We are delighted that we will be showing England’s opening game against Paraguay, and potentially their first two knock-out games. There will be more television, radio and new media coverage of this World Cup than ever before and we’re confident audiences will have a great choice of viewing.”

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com