The Sport Thread

Rosenthal didn't really leave ITV to join Channel Five, ITV didn't renew his contract in 2008 and he did various other things like Superstars and Five Live, before ITV hired him for a few freelance gigs. Even though he's on Five now, he still does stuff for ITV, he'll doubtless be helming the FA Cup draw next week, so as a freelancer he'll go wherever the work is.

OK - so anyone know how this NFL game thingy works? It's a Fox Sports production, so have they brought cameras, facilities, etc. from America in a giant truck or are they loaning local hardware? Also, the pictures we are seeing on Sky Sports 3 being sent directly from Wembley, or are we watching a satellite signal being sent from the USA?

He was doing Champions League highlights the season before he joined Channel 5 as well as a nice bit of work at the World Cup. I'm not sure the FA cup draw gig was given by ITV, rather than the FA.

In the main Fox would use local facilities, although they would ship across some specialist equipment. I believe the NFL covers the cost for the broadcasters so it's cost neutral for them.

Sky are plugged directly into the broadcast truck rather than taking a feed from the US.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/oct/24/itv-fa-cup-england-games

I guess it's no surprise really, considering the BBC have had their budget cut and Channel 5 have lost the Europa League.

I thought Uefa was going to be selling England rights.

From 2014 apparently. It'll be interesting to see how that works and whether it means one broadcaster will get all Eng/Scot/Wal/NI games or if it ends up being sold on a First Pick/Second pick basis like the Champions League.

Telegraph: Martin Brundle expected to join Sky TV's new Formula One commentary team

That's me told!

According to a thread on Digital Spy, with a link to the page on the Daily Mail website, the FA are still unhappy at the BBC not bidding, and seemingly have made their feelings aware to government, regarding the budget cut. Same article, and take this with a pinch of salt, says the FA are still touting the rights, hoping to get a better deal.

Will they though?

The trouble is these are effectively (though unofficially) the terrestrial rights. They could in theory sell to Sky if Sky were interested then sell on the final (which has to be free to air), but really if the BBC are unable and C4/C5 uninterested they just have to accept an extension to the ITV contract at a lower price.

And not one to defend the Tories but complaining about a 20% cut to the BBC budget resulting in a 20% cut to the amount bid for their rights shows how out of touch with reality the FA and football are.