Wed 21/08 19:45 Fenerbahce v Arsenal
Tue 27/08 19:45 Arsenal v Fenerbahce

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...nst-fenerbahce

Celtic's 1st leg in Kazakhstan kicks off at 17:00 BST (or even earlier). Will that be live on ITV1, or will they opt for PSV v Milan at 19:45?

celtic match might be on itv4...

Although Celtic are a British team, I think PSV v Milan would get more viewers, as really, I don't see too many people being overly interested in a game between a Scottish team and a Kazakhi team, compared to a game between a big Dutch team and a big Italian team who've won the competition in the recent past. I certainly know which I'd prefer to watch.

True but neither you or me work for STV. Do they still get an opt-out from the ITV pick?

Ratings-wise, I get your point.

But has ITV ever shown a non-British tie when games with British teams were available? I can already hear the outcry from north of the border.

I think that option ended in 2009.

It did, although STV have done their own presentation for 'Battle of Britain' ties since, such as Rangers-Man Utd in 2010. There may be other examples too.

given Celtic's fan base - I would say no chance

The STV opt out ended because that was when STV and ITV were fighting about things like Downton Abbey, and ITV concluded the CL negotiations without telling STV anything about it. It's an odd one for UEFA really, as they could in theory divide up the UK rights to the four associations and get more money for them - bundle the Wales & NI rights with England (as it's unlikely that their champions will ever reach the groups, unlike Scotland) and sell the Scottish rights separately. They'd get about the same price for the E, W & NI rights as they do just now for the whole of the UK, and a wee bit extra for the Scottish rights from either STV or BBC Scotland. In theory.....

On the actual ties, I suspect that ITV will go with Celtic - though if they can get it, another one later too. If they carry it on ITV4, there'd be no reason why STV couldn't then do their own coverage on STV and opt-out of the other one later if they wanted to.

ITV can only show one game. The rest will be live on Sky.

The time difference would give ITV the perfect excuse not to show the Celtic away game, from a commercial point of view. They will want to sell advertising.

Interesting scenario because BBC Scotland's coverage would be available FTA across the UK (and the western part of Europe). When Celtic don't play, the BBC would invariably show an English team and steal away viewers from ITV or SKY.

In other words: It's not going to happen.

All dates have been confirmed now. As expected, Arsenal and Celtic are kept apart.

"The kick-off time of the home mach of FC Shakhter Karagandy will be confirmed later today."

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/...6_DOWNLOAD.pdf

UEFA site now has Celtic's away leg as a 4pm kickoff BST

That might work OK for ITV. 5pm KO disrupts the schedule with regional/national news etc displaced/shortened. With a 4pm Start they can skip the Chase etc for one day, come on air just before kick off and finish up by 6(ish) for the regional news and keeping the evening schedule on track.

Cheap studio based/offtube commentary mid-afternoon British UCL game on ITV will still rate higher than Alan Tichmarsh and all that.

ITV is not going to do a live Champions League game off tube. Commentators will be on site.

However equally, a Celtic game at 4pm on a weekday afternoon is never going to outrate Titchmarsh.

Can you confirm ITV will be showing Celtic?

Really? that is surprising.

You'll be surprised; off-topic I know, but the Saturday afternoon repeats of Come Dine With Me get better ratings than the live horse racing which precedes it.

Yes.
ITV has to show a British club if one is playing.

In the past you have done so but I can't remember which one, Europa League springs to mind. Kazakhstan seems quite far to travel, will ITV be willing to fund this?

will it be on ITV or ITV4?

Thanks arius - thought so.

Arius may confirm, but I believe that ITV are contractually obliged to show their CL games on ITV(1).

I think ITV showed the Udinese vs. Braga qualfier last season on ITV4.