The World Cup 2006

I know, we got lucky there, though the Referee was hardly in England's favour was he? I missed the first half due to work, but managed to catch the second half all online, and considering the BBC but a disclaimer saying it maybe unavailable to due excess demand, the picture quality was superb, and it did the job with no problems.

Though I'm glad Motson apologised for the shadow, saying that it has nothing to do with the BBC and more to do with the Host Broadcaster. I think thats the price you pay of having a massive screen slammed right centre in the middle of a stadium on a sunny day.

ITV have won the Coverage Battle already as far as I am concerned. I like the opening Credits + the Music and the Graphics are good too.

The BBC think that everybody will automatically watch them, because people do prefer BBC to ITV (For some bizarre Reason), they just act if if they should show the Games.

Gary Linekar is the worse presenter of any programme, he thinks he is funny when he is just a plain idiot.

Gabby Logan isn't just gorgeous, she is good at her job and she is respected for it. Jim Rosenthal is good too, I actually met him a few weeks ago and he was down-to-earth and friendly, Steve Ryder seems ok too.

I am so pleased the next 2 England games are on ITV.

At last someone else who isnt a fan of Gary Lineker!
I don't rate him at all. Even Ian Wright is quite tiresome and I thought he would've suited ITV's coverage more than the BBC's! The BBC have done well to get Alan Shearer mind - Sam Allardyce is doing well on ITV aswell

One other point I would like to add is that I actually enjoy the adverts on ITV World Cup coverage as it adds to the overall effect of being part of the World Cup. In that break just then every advert was World Cup related and it really made the coverage feel a bit more special.

Sounds stupid, I know, but they really do add something ....

That, if you dont ind me sayuing so, is complete bollocks.

Did I just hear Clive Tyldesley during the break for PG Tips? Is that allowed?

I dunno if it's him on another advert either, getting a bit of money in at the moment...

I disagree- Linekar's been there and done it himself, and has fast taken Des' old mantle of the trustworthy presenter in times of England crisis.

I would agree a bit about Wright- I like his patriotism, but it does sometimes get a little tiresome. For me though, Linekar, Hansen and Shearer were superb today.

Logan is an adequate presenter, but it really could be anyone in the chair. As for being "respected", I think it's fairly easy to see that's not true given that she's being dropped by ITV for the England games.

And how anyone can enjoy adverts is beyond me!!

True enough, today's F1 coverage used the new ITV Sport graphics. Much nicer than the old F1 graphics, which always looked rushed to me.

I thought the BBC did a clever vision mix when the graphics failed and they had to rely on just host broadcast - they managed to put their scorebar and graphics back on without blanking the screen etc.

ITV's coverage is far better I totally agree. Sharper graphics as well.

Anyway, shame about Ian Wright but good game all the same, yes our players started to melt but hey England won. The car horns are still doing the England chant as I speak.

I feel like I'm in a parallel universe... how are so many people expressing their preference for ITV's coverage over the BBC?!

I will, of course, justify my surprise but I'm too hot right now.

***The Good:

BBC Opening sequence - good music (ITV's is a bit lame) and nice visuals although could have been realised a bit better. Still beats ITV's I think, but not a bad effort (slighty busy for my liking).

BBC Graphics - except the arrows on the scoreboard (where does that fit in?!)

ITV Studio - just edges the minimalist BBC, nice clean look

BBC Extra Stuff - audio channels, internet video and the vitual replay stuff - quite comprehensive.

Sky Sports News Studio - Amazing view, soo much better than the hotel backed BBC slot

***The Bad:

Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Adrian Chiles, Ian Wright, Gareth Southgate, Mark Lawrenson, Clive Tyldesley, John Motson, Ian Wright and bit Gary Lineker - Wright is a moron who condones cheating, Mr.Shearer is boring with not much to say (along with Southgate), Motson isn't watching the same game as everyone else, Lawrenson isn't anywhere near as funny as he thinks he is, Mr. Tyldesley is too loud and biased, Adrian Chiles is getting better but still too 'amateur' and Gary Lineker is getting increasingly smug every broadcast.

Advert Bumpers - Awful awful awful budweiser one (I didn't find the whole 'Americans don't get it!!' thing funny originally), the rest are bearable (just). The frequency of their appearence is high as well

Tendency to focus on England during/around matches - as seen on both channels

Far too much build up - dunno yet about ITV, but the BBC had so much time to fill with rubbish today.

No Opening Cermony Coverage - Surely this has to be shown?!

It was shown on BBCi if you really wanted to see thigh slapping bavarians.

I agree on every single one, particularly Ian Wright, the only pundit every known to sulk and refuse to speak after his team is beaten. You'll find that, unfairly, this lot are the reason for a lot of anti-English feeling up here. This lot and Fiona Phillips on GMTV of course, whose recent comments have been nothing short of racial incitement.

You would solve a lot of problems actually by providing an alternative audio-only commentary on digital - perhaps shared between Scotland/Norn Iron/Wales.

I like the Budweiser things though, for now. Although I can imagine them getting very annoying within a few days.