ITV and BBC announce World Cup games split

ITV and BBC will share the rights to broadcast England’s group games in this summer’s World Cup.

Live coverage of the England matches will be split between the two broadcasters, with ITV1 showing the England v USA and the England v Algeria games, while BBC One airs the England v Slovenia match.

ITV1 will also broadcast the opening game between South Africa and Mexico from Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium.

During the knockout stage of the tournament, the two broadcasters will continue to split coverage of the England matches, depending how the team progresses through the competition.

BBC will take first pick of the round of 16 and quarter final matches, and if England reach the semi final, the game will be shown live by both ITV1 and BBC One.  Both broadcasters will also be able to show the World Cup final live.

The broadcasters will also simulcast live games on their own websites, following the same split pattern as the television games.

Niall Sloane, ITV’s controller of sport, said: “We’re delighted that ITV will kick off coverage of this summer’s World Cup and that England’s two opening games will be shown live on ITV1 in peak time.  There is no bigger event on UK television or online than the World Cup and ITV will be at the heart of the action from the first kick through to the final whistle.”

Philip Bernie, BBC head of TV sport, added: “The BBC are very happy with how the TV split of matches for the World cup has been resolved. The BBC has some of the most appetising of the Group fixtures, and will be showing live every England match from their final Group game onwards, so we hope to be with them for a long and successful campaign. The BBC will aim again to capture the very best of the biggest event of the year across all its outlets, on TV, on radio and online.”

Plans for highlights programmes and online highlights are due to be announced shortly.