ITV Secures Exclusive Terrestrial Rights To England Match
ITV has secured the rights to show exclusive terrestrial coverage of England’s vital European 2004 qualifier against Turkey next month.
The channel can show full delayed coverage, or highlights at any time following the final whistle of the decisive game in Istanbul on 11 October.
ITV’s controller of sport, Brian Barwick, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide terrestrial viewers with the opportunity to watch coverage of such a key England match and play our part in ensuring as many viewers see it as possible.”
BSkyB is believed to have paid £3 million for the exclusive rights to the final match in the European Championship qualifying group. However, the satellite broadcaster made the delayed rights available to terrestrial channels following a plea from the Government’s Sports Minister, Richard Caborn, over security concerns surrounding the match (see BSkyB Allows Terrestrial Channel To Show England Match).
ITV will confirm transmission times later this week for the game that will add a busy sporting weekend on the station. It already is showing seven rugby world cup matches on ITV1 and ITV2, as well as the culmination of the Formula One season with the Japanese Grand Prix.
International football is a proven ratings winner for terrestrial broadcasters and 11 million viewers tuned in to BBC1 earlier this month to watch England’s 2-0 defeat of Liechtenstein (see BBC Scores With Football Coverage).
ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com
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