ITV and BBC announce World Cup match split


ITV and the BBC can today confirm the split of matches for this summer?s FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Live coverage of England?s group games will be split between the two broadcasters as follows:

Saturday 12 June 19:30 England v USA ITV1

Friday 18 June 19:30 England v Algeria ITV1

Wednesday 23 June 15:00 Slovenia v England BBC One


The full split of group stage matches is outlined in the table attached below (fig. 1). The opening game between South Africa and Mexico from Johannesburg?s Soccer City stadium will be broadcast on ITV1.

During the knockout stage of the tournament the split of games between the two broadcasters will depend on England?s progression through the tournament. In all scenarios, the BBC will take first pick of the ?round of 16? and ?quarter final? matches. If England reach the semi final, the game will be shown live by both ITV and the BBC. Both ITV and the BBC will show the World Cup final live.

The scenarios covering the knockout stages are attached in a table below (fig. 2).

Each broadcaster will also simulcast live games on their own websites ? following the same split pattern as the television games. Plans for highlights programming and online highlights will be announced in due course.

Niall Sloane, ITV?s Controller of Sport said: ?We?re delighted that ITV will kick off coverage of this summer?s World Cup and that England?s two opening games will be shown live on ITV1 in peak time. There is no bigger event on UK television or online than the World Cup and ITV will be at the heart of the action from the first kick through to the final whistle.?

Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport said: "The BBC are very happy with how the TV split of matches for the World cup has been resolved. The BBC has some of the most appetising of the Group fixtures, and will be showing live every England match from their final Group game onwards, so we hope to be with them for a long and successful campaign. The BBC will aim again to capture the very best of the biggest event of the year across all its outlets, on TV, on radio and online