Dave Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jan/25/itv.television1 ITV has ditched plans for live coverage of the final of the Euro 2008 football tournament this summer, after England and the other home nations failed to qualify. The commercial broadcaster will leave live coverage of the final on Sunday June 29 to BBC1, settling instead for showing highlights later in the evening. This is thought to be the first time ITV has declined to show live coverage of the final of either of the two major international football tournaments, the World Cup and the European Championships. It has been predicted that England's failure to make the Euro 2008 championships - after failing to see off Croatia at Wembley last year - could cost ITV more than £10m in lost advertising revenues due to lower audience interest. The other home nations - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - also failed to qualify, along with the Republic of Ireland. Traditionally both ITV1 and BBC1 show live coverage of the final of the World Cup and European Championships, even though the corporation normally attracts around three times the audience of its commercial rival. For the last World Cup in July 2006, the disparity was even greater. BBC1 attracted an average of around 14 million viewers for three hours of coverage of Italy's 1-0 victory over France on July 9, 2006, while ITV1 attracted only about 3 million. The European championship consists of 31 matches. This summer the BBC and ITV will each broadcast 12 group matches, two quarter finals and a semi-final. All of ITV's matches will appear on ITV1 unless two games are scheduled for the same time. ITV has the first pick of which of the two semi-final matches it prefers to broadcast. The broadcaster will have live coverage of Euro 2004 winners Greece's group matches against Russia, Spain and Sweden as well as Holland versus Italy. The BBC's live coverage will include France's games against Holland and Italy. The tournament is being held in Austria and Switzerland and begins on Saturday June 7 with the group round tie between Switzerland and the Czech Republic. ITV and the BBC share live rights to Euro 2008 as part of their joint deal with European football's governing body, Uefa, for UK TV, internet and mobile rights to the tournament. "This decision has been made only for this tournament," said a spokesman for ITV Sport. "We are not setting a precedent for the future. The decision has been made because there is no home nation representation at this year's tournament and we don't believe that it is in the public interest for both broadcasters to show [the final] live." Fucking wankers. Not that I'd watch it on there anyway. In fact this thread is pretty pointless, but never mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 They've out done themselves here though, getting rid of their best sports presenter by a fuking mile. Muppets. ITV have made the highly surprising decision to part company with Jim Rosenthal, who is widely regarded as the best all-round sports broadcaster in the business. The move not to renew Rosenthal's exclusive contract after 28 years with the network will send shockwaves throughout the industry, especially after his immaculate hosting of the Rugby World Cup, which delivered the ratings-obsessed channel with their best audience of 2007. Mark Sharman, ITV's head of news and sport, has just brought back Sir Trevor McDonald to News at 10 at the grand old age of 68. Yet he told Rosenthal, 60, he would not be receiving another full-time contract when his current deal ends in August because ITV were looking for new talent. Rosenthal's long list of ITV credits includes presenting Champions League and World Cup football, Formula One at 153 grands prix, athletics and boxing, as well as three Rugby World Cups. An ITV colleague said: 'The whole network are stunned at what's happened to Jim, who is revered for the way he goes about his job. 'Anyone who has seen the word-perfect way he handles an outside broadcast would assume he's talking with an autocue. He's the best there is and he doesn't shout about it.' Sharman said: 'Jim Rosenthal has made a magnificent contribution to ITV Sport over a long period of time but we will no longer tie him to an exclusive contract. 'He will be free to explore other challenges while ITV Sport will have the opportunity to make on-air changes, particularly with the new FA deal.' Rosenthal will continue to present what's left of ITV boxing, while Sharman is likely to give extra responsibility to new signing Craig Doyle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 3-1 NYD Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Craig Doyle? says it all I suppose! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Craig Doyle? says it all I suppose! Just what I was going to say. He has great credentials him. From BBC's Holiday programme to this !! Cracking decision.. how do these dickheads who make these decisions get to these positions of power. Good to see Michael Grade is having the impact he promised at ITV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 To be fair, Doyle did a good job during those Olympic roundups. Jim Rosenthal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Craig Doyle? says it all I suppose! Knows his stuff when I've seen him on the BBC rugby like but as ITV don't show rugby... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 would'nt watch it on there anyway. Would love to see the BBC get the CL coverage off them one day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
indi Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Is it any wonder they're shite!?! "Oh, I know let's show the whole tournament... ...apart from the final, of course!!" - Genius!! ITV is one of the worst British companies ever, and that's a highly competitive list to be near the top of, wish they'd hurry up and go out of business, the fucking 'tards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 That's shite like, will BBC have all the matches now, or will some not be televised? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 That's shite like, will BBC have all the matches now, or will some not be televised? As Indi says, ITV are showing all the normal games they would, but not the final... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 I read the thead title as "Finals" None of the home nations are ever in the final anyway, daft decision. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Jim is a great professional....unlike his nephew David. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RodrigoPalacio Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Jim is a great professional....unlike his nephew David. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooneyToonArmy Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 would never watch it on ITV anyway........I guess they think more viewers will watch their usual crap of daytime tv rubbish Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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