On the Ball axed.

:-(

A former member 5 April 2004 12:24pm

Hibee posted:

Square Eyes posted:

Johnny83 posted:

Some people out there think the BBC won the rights of off ITV. They didn't ITV didn't bother bidding this time round as it was finacially good for them.

ITV were outbid actually. BBC paid �105m for the Premiership highlights, ITV didn't value the rights as highly as that and so were outbid.

That's right ITV did bid but didn't bid so high which was a very wise decision. It's a shame the only football they have now is the Tuesday Champions League games hopefully they'll get the 8 live Premiership Matches that will almost even the score.

I hope they don't.

ITV should never be allowed another football contract after the previous Nationwide League debacle ...

As is things with football - they got the highlights. Wish they hadn't, though!

BR

Browneye 6 April 2004 11:51am

whats going to happen to gabby ?. i hope she will not dissapear off our screens

SJ

sjdavis 6 April 2004 3:46pm

Far be it from me to pass the blame from ITV, but I think they looked at how Sky had paid over the odds for live football and been successful from it, and they thought the same formula would work for the Nationwide League and the ITV Sport Channel etc. So the over-pricing of football was happening long-before the ITVD debacle - only it was ITV that thought people would want to pay money to watch the Nationwide League - not so.

Gabby will be presenting the Champions League, Worthington Cup, and some Euro 2004 matches - she'll also be fronting the Premiership games (if ITV gain rights to them) next season. On the Ball will indeed be axed.

(April 2004)