Sparks Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 BBC 'caught napping' in TV rights battle By David Bond Last Updated: 1:45am BST 30/03/2007 The BBC were accused of being "caught napping" last night as rivals ITV and Setanta snatched the television rights to FA Cup and England games from them in a £425 million raid. Sources in the media industry claimed the BBC and Sky had been complacent as ITV chairman Michael Grade, working in conjunction with the Irish pay-TV broadcaster, pulled off one of the most audacious coups in recent sporting memory. The BBC, who currently share the rights to FA Cup and England games in a £300 million four-year deal due to expire next summer, fiercely denied the claims with insiders insisting the FA had simply opted for the bigger offer on the table. It is also understood that, in a last-ditch attempt to persuade the FA to stick with their current partners, the BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker fronted a joint presentation with Sky's Richard Keys at the BBC's White City headquarters on Monday. However, it did not convince the FA to reject ITV and Setanta, whose bid is thought to be worth £50 million more than the one submitted by the BBC and Sky. The new deal, due to start in August 2008, will give Setanta 17 live FA Cup matches, with ITV showing 13. But ITV will get the first- choice game in each round plus the majority of England qualifiers and friendlies Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Snrub Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Bollocks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Monkey Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I like how they think sending Richard Keys and Lineker along would sway the FA. "Ooh, a smug looking ex-pro with dubious presenting skills, and the 2nd hairiest man in football.....quick, lads, cancel that contract with the ITV, we're staying with these fellas". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stozo Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I'm getting more and more pleased that I signed up to Setanta last year. I was unsure whether it would be worth it just for the Ice Hockey and foreign football but since then they have acquired the right to the Australian Rugby League, Premiership for next year and FA Cup for the year after. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Fuck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gray Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 itv is awful sigh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggs Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 oh dear must admit i like bbc for the cup stuff but itv piss me off with there presenters and studio guests and how good is the coverage by setanta and who are the studio gits on there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest elbee909 Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Bet Gabby Logan is pissed off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skirge Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 So now we will have to pay for sky for Prem games and setanta for FA cup games, arggghhhhhh pure rip off! ITV + BBC should have all the football rights. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_NUFC Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Oh great, well done on letting ITV have more football. They're 'Football vandals'. ITV + Football = Disasterous coverage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Oh dear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkey Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 means more time spent at the pub watcing the footy... reckon it's a cost saving exercise by the BBC, cut the funding for that to invest in more top quality programs like Eastenders mackems.gif...and BBC3 (waste of space that channel). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 What sport will be on the BBC then? Apart from the bowls. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkey Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Curling, Rugby, Match of the Day, Horse racing..i think that's still on. ......lap dancing competition with Gaby Logan ...mmmmmm... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkey Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 i actually work for them so i'll see if i can dig anything out as to what will be on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NIToon Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 It could have been worse........5 could have got it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 5 would have been preferable, to be honest. This does equal more England games on terrestrial though, doesn't it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karjala Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 time to get a big foreign dish installed for around £200 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
safc Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Disastrous news tbh. I thought John 'Hehe' Motson was bad but I can't stand Clive 'Man Utd are great aren't they ' Tyldesley. ITV are bloody woeful at football coverage. The only real thing BBC1 had going for it was the FA Cup games as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I HATE ITV Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlufPurdi Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Ugh, more ITV football coverage. That's great, that is, just great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 ITV is like sex compared to Setanta Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrette Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Great. By far the worst football coverage one can expect, unless Setenta and ITV can sort themselves out. Terrible news. Can't stand ITV and I've heard how bad Setenta is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shido Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Fucks sake..i'd rather listen to john motson read the entire works of shakespeare 20 times than listen to david pleat's retarded mumblings.... Poor show BBC...poor show......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebellious Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 That has got to be the shittest news I have found out this year ! ITV and Shitanta great. Could some one please let me know what I have to spend now on Setanta to get what ? I take it I have to keep Sky Sports and also pay my TV licence for BBC regardless of them now not showing football. Shearer will have less work now won`t he ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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