Gosh, not the sort of OTT comment, that we usually get on this thread.

Even if BT get first picks, at least some kind of matches are back on the BBC. Second or third pick matches should still offer quite good games.

Samuel just for once I will celebrate with you!

That's a big uplift for the BBC in my opinion. As the previous poster said 1st picks may go to BT But I'm not sure the FA would want that.

I really never in my life would have thought Aunty would get the cup back. I thought they were down and out to be honest.

Anyway back to my normal on the fence style!

Ken

Looks like the FA finally saw sense and instead of going with the highest bidder [almost certainly Itv bid more than bbc], they went with the broadcaster who would offer better coverage, more publicity, exposure and higher ratings for the competition. Itv had their chance between 08-13 but they made some fatal errors such as missing key goals, having too many adverts and bad host/pundits like Chiles & Townsend so it appears the FA has reverted back to the tried and tested quality coverage that they know the BBC can deliver. Good to see some proper live club football back on the Beeb finally.

So no confirmation no idea of picks or cost or even if its a done deal and short memories too - remember last time? Ill wait for something official

That's important in my opinion. How can our national Broadcaster not show our national Game live? I personally didn't think ITV did to badly but I'm happy to see it go back to the beeb. I know it's subjective but I felt it was always at home their. That's probably me being my funny old self as usual.

Wonder where the England Friendlies will go?

Ken

What the infamous CL deal!

Your right though. Still a while to wait until conformation I reckon.

Ken

Rob Budden of the Financial Times is a reliable source. While it's not a 100% done deal, what he said is quite telling and it appears the BBC are now odds on to get the terrestrial rights back. What happened last time by the way?

Early leaked rumours flushed out a higher bid overnight

That's true. I don't know if it would be aloud though. The deadline may have passed.

Ken

ITV's cup coverage had ran its course. The trouble is the profile of the tournament is not what it once was and ITV did nothing whatsoever to move the coverage forwards or make it more compelling. If anything it being on ITV was an additional turnoff on top of what was often unattractive ties in unattractive viewing slots.

It makes sense for it to be between the BBC, who are now very short on live football and could certainly move the coverage forwards by making it feel more special and regaining some of that lost interest, and BT who are looking to rapidly build their portfolio of sports rights in order to go to war with BSkyB. Perhaps they'll share the rights between them, that would be my preferred outcome.

Quirke should start in less than a month. It's released on DVD on August 26.
It will be interesting to se how it rates with a big name like Gabriel Byrne.

The White Queen is a disappointment, both in the ratings and in terms of quality.

It got 1.46m last night, the highest Sunday show in 3 weeks, but yes the OTT ratings are, well, OTT. It will go to 1.6m at best IMO.

Tonight should be explosive 1.8m prediction for bb

As I massive die hard bb fan myself I know it won't get near to 3-4m viewers closer to 2m I think it's a shame someone had to be booted out though this twist has seriously backfired on c5 but spat from this its been a great series

Nobody except BB fans care


I'll go with 1.4 (1.5 +1)

I doubt tonights BB will see much of a rise. For its more casual fanbase the highlights show is the event telly, and the events are followed and directly via them. It's just not the big 24/7 experience it once was at all, with people chewing at the bit to keep up with events as they happen. I personally wasn't even aware of this incident until it was mentioned here.

The only drawback for ITV will be from January 2015, and this is assuming the rights have gone back to the BBC for definite, they will have another five Tuesday flopzones on their hands. However, maybe being freed from the contract on Saturdays and Sundays as well, could see an alternative being created.
Also for BBC One, where the ratings pressures aren't so high, getting this contract back fulfils their PSB requirements by covering the smaller matches and also gains them some live football for three or four years outside of the international tournaments.

Well said - completely agree.


I think that's what you meant to say.


Funny how ratings don't matter when they're bad. If they're so unimportant to the BBC what on earth are you doing in this thread?


If there truly was One Born Every Minute they could reduce the episode count to 1.


Doubt it - other than Torchwood (which was nothing more than a Doctor Who vanity project) I can't recall a drama being promoted from BBC2 to BBC1.


Many factors. Firstly the BBC have made signfiicant savings already with the F1 Sky deal and losing rights such as Moto GP and the major race meetings.

Secondly the FA Cup isn't as attractive as it once was - probably down to being on ITV for a few years. Ironically it's the BBC who price themselves out of the market by seemingly doing so much better with the FA Cup, so it gets to a point where they can't afford it, ITV steal it - then a few years later it's back down to a price the BBC is able to afford.

Thirdly and most importantly this is the first time in a long time they're not packaged with England competitive games - so the BBC can probably get about 80% of the games that ITV had for less than 50% of the price. ITV were much more interesting in retaining the England rights.

Its hard to disagree with that, though its not the worst ever by any means.
People are giving up on it and probably one reason for this is that it is difficult to keep up with who everyone is. People come and go, switch sides and die constantly. And as has been said by me and others , its not an era that has had much tv exposure. Law and Order is far more acceptable and comfortable fayre seemingly after a hard day with the sun cream.
EDIT-me with the after sun too after being burnt to a crisp watching Cricket today.

+1. But just a correction, they don't seem to matter when they are bad for the BBC (most of the time).

Can't wait to see Wigan vs Huddersfield followed by Hansen, Shearer and Lawrenson as lead into The Voice next year. That should solve its problems.

On a side note Five were not mentioned in relation to theFA cup bidding at all. Are we to presume they did not submit a bid?

More good news from the BBC - they've won the rights for Wales autumn internationals through to 2018.

Probably worth pointing out that Sir Bradley had already won Le Tour before the final stage of the race last year - that'll be a significant factor in those ratings looking a bit flat.

Fantastic news for the BBC, and for the world's greatest domestic football competition.

The WRU were never going to let them go to Sky though, let's be honest, and the BBC will be slightly relieved at that because otherwise they'd only have Scotland left.

Never take anything for granted when it comes to live sport on TV. It was widely reported last year that a deal with Sky was all but signed and that as a sweetner the WRU were looking for Sky to make itself available in rugby clubs across the country.

And as I said, never take anything for granted so as only one match in the FA Cup is protected there is a slim chance that the final could be the only match the BBC air live, with everything else on BT Sport. The way the rights were sold though suggested you have to have at least one match per round plus a replay to air the final - but BT could have won all the rights and then be sub-licencning the final as they'd be required to do.