Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

This will be good news for football fans who don't subscribe to Sky Sports.

http://advanced-television.com/2014/...ld-cup-rights/

BBC, ITV secure 2018/22 World Cup rights

BBC and ITV have signed a new deal with FIFA to broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup across TV, radio and online
Securing the shared exclusive rights for BBC and ITV continues the free-to-air broadcasting of FIFA World Cup tournaments to UK television viewers, as well as encompassing online and radio coverage.
The 2018 finals will be the 14th consecutive FIFA World Cup that BBC and ITV broadcast together, continuing their long-running and hugely successful broadcast partnership. Over three quarters of the UK population tuned in to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
BBC Director of Sport, Barbara Slater, said it was fantastic news that the pinnacle event in world football would continue to be available free of charge for everyone in the UK. “As we prepare for kick off in Brazil, we hope viewers at home will enjoy watching it as much as we will look forward to broadcasting it.”
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said the excitement building on the eve of this summer’s tournament in Brazil demonstrated how the FIFA World Cup offered a shared, collective experience for people across the UK.
Niclas Ericson, Director of FIFA TV, said football fans in the UK could look forward to enjoying the very best coverage of the World Cup free-to-air for a long time to come.
The tournament is a Group A Listed Event under the Broadcasting Act 1996 as covered by broadcast regulator Ofcom’s Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events. The purpose of these arrangements is to ensure that key sporting events are made available to all television viewers, particularly those who cannot afford the extra cost of subscription television.
Listed events are categorised either as Group A or Group B events. The rights to broadcast listed events – live rights in the case of Group A events (e.g. Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon and European Football Championship) or highlights in the case of Group B events (e.g. Cricket Test Matches, Six Nations Rugby or Commonwealth Games) must be offered to so-called ‘qualifying broadcasters’ – those whose channels are available without payment to at least 95 per cent of the UK population.

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Good news for football fans, bad news for everyone else.

They should replace BBC 3 with a BBC Sports channel, and ITV should ditch that silly 'Encore' and have a FTA ITV Sports channel

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

That's unlikely to happen void.

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

If that would involve having to watch\listern to Adrian Childs,Andy Townsend and Clive Tyldesley then count me out,they are awful!!

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

SKY and BT will never get it, World Cup is on the list of events that MUST be free to air, along with National, the Open and Olympics.

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Indeed that is the case as you say and l cannot see that changing.

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Agreed as every two years there would be nothing on the main BBC and ITV channels if the football was on a sports channel!

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Unless Sky get to the Government, that is!

---------- Post added at 18:53 ---------- Previous post was at 18:53 ----------

At this time of the year, it would be just more repeats.

---------- Post added at 18:55 ---------- Previous post was at 18:53 ----------

It used to annoy me too, but now with the variety of channels and the TIVO box, it doesn't concern me any more.

I think ITV Encore will be good when it gets into its second year. They are planning to put new dramas on there, and with the extra money coming in through subscriptions and advertising, this can only be good news.

ITV are starting to get their acts together, I am pleased to say.

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Not much good to us Virgin customers Old Boy if we don't get it!

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

They got the Ashes from them:mad::mad::mad:

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

They were not on the top list of crown jewels sporting events but highlights have to be shown FTA.

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Wasn't that the ECB, rather than Sky?

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Yes the ECB sold the British cricketing public down the river.

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Ah, I stand corrected. Thanks. :o:

Re: Next World Cup matches remain FTA
 

Agreed they are appalling BBC not much better