The rights to broadcast this years showpiece sporting tournament is in the hands of two national mainstream television channels: BBC and ITV.
The Football World Cup in South Africa 2010 will command many hours from both BBC and ITV primetime television slots from 11th of June – 11th of July. Games will be shown at 12.30, 17.00 and 19.30.
Programs will no doubt contain many hours of build up, the game itself, half time replays of highlights and the dissecting of the game after the match.
These games will clearly increase viewership and advertising revenue (ITV only).
This World Cup differs from many that have passed before because several mainstream free-to-air TV channels have found the maths so unfavourable in Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia that they have conceded broadcast rights to rivals, including pay-TV channels and premium cable or satellite channels. (According to The New York Times.)These organisations have previously found it hard to break into the World Cup.
So ITV and BBC have stumped up the cash to show 48 games in the group stage and 16 knockout games that will be played in 1 month, all of which will be shown on mainstream, free-to-air UK television. The final will be shown on both BBC1 and ITV on the 11th of July 2010 at 20.30.
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