ITV to air all qualifying England matches until 2018
ITV has today announced that it will exclusively show live coverage of all England’s international football matches, at home and abroad, for the Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup qualifying competitions.
It is the first time in recent years a single broadcaster will show all of England’s qualifying games for consecutive major tournaments.
ITV has held the rights to show exclusively all England’s home games since 2008 as well as, since 2009, the team’s friendly matches both at home and away.
Today’s deal also includes the rights to broadcast 20 non-home nation qualifying games for ITV4.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports has been awarded the rights to Home Nations and Republic of Ireland qualification matches for UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The new agreement with UEFA provides Sky Sports with coverage of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, together with and all other UEFA member associations, between 2014 – 2017.
Peter Fincham, ITV Director of Television, said: “Bringing viewers exclusive live coverage of each key England international match is hugely important to ITV and means football fans will be able to watch for free England’s progress both at home and abroad as they attempt to qualify for the final stages of these tournaments.”