The World Cup 2006

Hurrah. A thread for the World Cup 2006.

Both ITV and the BBC have two England games each.

Quote from ITV Sport: "BBC will take first pick of games from the 'round of 16' knockout stage, with ITV taking picks two and three. The remaining 'round of 16' games will be split between the two broadcasters on a one-by-one basis.

BBC will take first and fourth pick of the quarter final games, with ITV taking picks two and three.

If England reach the semi-final stage, both BBC and ITV will show the game live, with ITV showing the remaining semi-final exclusively. If England do not reach the semi-final stage, ITV will have first pick of the semi-final games, with BBC broadcasting the other match.

Both broadcasters will show the World Cup final live."

Games to be shown on the BBC & ITV (I presume ITV will air some on ITV4, due to there being duplicates on some nights).

9 June
1700: Germany v Costa Rica BBC
2000: Poland v Ecuador ITV

10 June
1400: England v Paraguay BBC
1700: Trindad & Tobago v Sweden ITV
2000: Argentina v Ivory Coast ITV

11 June
1400: Serbia & Montenegro v Netherlands BBC
1700: Mexico v Iran BBC
2000: Angola v Portugal ITV

12 June
1400: Australia v Japan ITV
1700: USA v Czech Republic BBC
2000: Italy v Ghana BBC

13 June
1400: South Korea v Togo BBC
1700: France v Switzerland BBC
2000: Brazil v Croatia BBC

14 June
1400: Spain v Ukraine ITV
1700: Tunisia v S Arabia ITV
2000: Germany v Poland BBC

15 June
1400: Ecuador v Costa Rica ITV
1700: England v Trinidad & Tobago ITV
2000: Sweden v Paraguay ITV

16 June
1400: Argentina v Serbia & Montenegro BBC
1700: Netherlands v Ivory Coast ITV
2000: Mexico v Angola ITV

17 June
1400: Portugal v Iran BBC
1700: Czech Republic v Ghana ITV
2000: Italy v USA ITV

18 June
1400: Japan v Croatia ITV
1700: Brazil v Australia ITV
2000: France v South Korea BBC

19 June
1400: Togo v Switzerland BBC
1700 S Arabia v Ukraine ITV
2000: Spain v Tunisia BBC

20 June
1500: Ecuador v Germany/Costa Rica v Poland ITV
2000: Paraguay v T'dad & Tobago/Sweden v England ITV

21 June
1500: Iran v Angola/Portugal v Mexico ITV
2000: Netherlands v Argentina/I Coast v Serbia & M ITV

22 June
1500: Czech Republic v Italy/Ghana v USA BBC
2000: Japan v Brazil/Croatia v Australia BBC

23 June
1500: Ukraine v Tunisia/S Arabia v Spain BBC
2000: Togo v France/Switzerland v S Korea BBC

Will it be in HD and W I D E S C R E E N?

They will all be in Widescreen and may be available in HD.

There's rumour going around that the BBC could be showing it in HD, so you never know.

Good to see that a BBC/ITV deal has been reached with the Broadcaster to these games, I remember last time in 2002 when the Cost of the games dramatically increased, but apparently the BBC and ITV weren't willing to preare this much and the games could have gone to Sky, but luckily a deal was negociated.

Plus like Euro 2004 this means we see great schedules with the Regional News going out at 3.30pm and Coronation Street very late at night.

brilliant thanks mromega, I know Germany and Sweden have confirmed they will be in HD.

Not if England don't qualify.

Interesting to read in Des Lynam's autobiog that for the 1998 WC, the BBC seriously considered screening all the World Cup games with ITV doing the same. Their logic was that more people would watch BBC, so they'd come out of it better,

They will, even though their current form is not good at all. Due to the perfect draw for us regarding the group stages, and the teams that we are likely to face in the knockout stages being reasonably good from our point of view, Englnd have effectively been handed a fast-track ticket, something which the broadcasters must have taken into consideration.

So, here one for you.

The coverage on ITV will be split between ITV1 and ITV4.
Here's the rub - does this mean that all the afternoon kick off games, will be on ITV1 and the less attractive 8pm K/o's will be shunted onto ITV4?
Because as ITV4 timeshifts with the new CITV channel during the day, the afternoon games can't be shown on ITV4. Or will ITV do a sneaky slight of hand and show the afternoon games on Men & Motors instead?

Hmm...

I doubt any early stage games will be shown on ITV4. The only exceptions to this will be during the final group matches, when two games kick-off at the same time.

The BBC have it so much easier at this stage - they can show the 'Match of the Day' on BBC, and shunt the lesser game on to interactive, without interrupting BBC3's schedules! Ah, the magic of the red button!

Interesting to see that both the Beeb and ITV are showing all three matches on certain days!

On a related point, I wonder if Manish Bhasin and/or Adrian Chiles will play any prominent roles at WC2006 on the Beeb?

It seems quite unfair the BBC would get to screen all England knock-out games. Surely if the round of 16 goes to the BBC, ITV should get the Quarter Final pick.


I also don't see why, with the exception of games that may feature England, they can't decide in advance what matches they will show in the latter rounds.


Anyhow, looks like it'll be Germany who knock England out on penalities this year!

Anyone got any predictions for the 'teams' for the World Cup television?
I reckon:

BBC
Presenters: Lineker, Stubbs, Bashin, maybe Chiles for highlights
Commentators: Motson, Brotherton, Pearce, Wilson, Mowbray
With the usual pundits

ITV
Presenters: Logan, Smith, Rosenthal
Commentators: Tyldsley, Drury, Champion (they've had a quiet few months lately!)
Pundits: Earle, McCoist, Venables etc