2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

It's almost as if their journalists just reprint things they see online rather than actually check the facts.

Like this wrongly reported ITV curse stats that ignored draws and simulcast matches, and was even perpetuated by the BBC



I’m this world of everyone being thick across social media, maybe online guides and EPGs should just show a long TBA rather than showing a provisional schedule that is only 50% right.

Some people on Twitter have even thought ITV have got it wrong in their coverage because their guide says it’s on BBC One!

Good old print media used to have both schedules - they may still have in the listings guides - but I guess online guides aren't so flexible. TBA would be best TBH.

(DigiGuide, ITV and BBC still showing as BBC One for Wednesday - even though it's definitely ITV)

It probably shows that most people have assumed the match would be live on BBC. It be interesting to see if ITV get a better percentage split for the final having done such a high profile semi which even casual viewers have watched.
Alternatively should the ITV Hub crash from the strain ( the biggest risk factor for ITV's coverage) it could increase the BBC's share for the final. I think it worked ok through for Tuesday's match so should be able to handle it but this will be bigger and will probably have peak demand figures for Tuesday from the start.

Must admit although I liked Adrian Chiles approach to the whole thing Mark Pougatch has proven to be a very safe pair of hands for ITV, and with Croatia being in the semi-final they should have their best pundit in the studio too - if indeed they are in the studio. Would surely make sense to have the primary presentation position in the stadium, even if just pitchside, and the secondary guests in the studio. Even Lineker admitted on air today they felt very disconnected from it all in their studio.

I like him too. Through I suspect he is one of those people that the public now recognize but don't know his name.

Considering it's a game of national importance, why aren't both channels showing the match?

Because of the Pick system.
It will be interesting to see if it stays in place for Euro 2020 - we could end up with a system in which England matches are simulcast but otherwise ITV get big finals exclusively. Depends on how ITV's coverage goes and what if any media coverage of it being ITV only is.

Yeah, makes no sense wasting new episodes against an England match, they'll get far lower then usual viewing figures. They should show repeats of something like Death in Paradise or New Tricks instead.

I imagine the ratings peak will be huge for ITV if it's a tight match

The Olympics 2012 peak of 27.3m will be smashed if England manages to get the final.

Although, I'll be the first to point out, that the 27.3m peak was achieved by the Olympic opening ceremony being only on one channel.

Be interesting to see because of the siml-cast if that figure will be beaten by either BBC One or ITV.
And remember, if the Mens final over at SW19 drifts towards a forth or fifth set, that will split the audience as well.

Combined figures for BBC/ITV - the total audience will be smashed out of the park, and headed for the highest ever viewing figure for a single event - but singularly, on one channel? Not so sure.

It's been quite a while since I've been a member of the BBC Club and had access to hot and cold running Radio Timeses.