The BBC have made a surprising decision with regards to their coverage of the World Cup as the competition builds to a dramatic conclusion.
UK audiences have been tuning in to the licence-fee-funded broadcaster and rival ITV to watch the 104 matches of this summer’s competition, with the rights split across the two.
This naturally opens up the pair to comparison as they are essentially charged with providing the same product – and there has been one clear difference throughout: location.
BBC’s World Cup coverage to remain UK-based until the semis
Fans tuning in to one of many ITV-broadcasted matches from the start of the pre-match build-up have been greeted immediately by the channel’s breathtaking backdrop of the New York skyline, visible from the temporary studio built on a rooftop in Brooklyn.
It’s a stark contrast to the BBC, who are holding their own in terms of pundits – Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards and Joe Hart among their regulars – but not in aesthetics and authentic feel, settling for a digital background image of New York, with the programme delivered from their studio in Salford.
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Many had believed the BBC may eventually fly out for the knockouts, but that changeover has been and gone, with the quarter-finals now beckoning.
Now, it’s been revealed that the national broadcaster will not head Stateside until the semis.
That means they’ll spend less than a week of the tournament in the United States, with the first semi-final between France or Morocco and Spain or Belgium to be on Tuesday 14 July with an 8pm BST start.
However, with the BBC still not out there, delaying until the last four does make some sense, as they only have the rights to one of the three quarter-final clashes, when Spain meet Belgium. ITV are lined up to show the other three, including Norway vs England.
BBC have the first pick for the semi-finals, so will choose England if the Three Lions make it, with the current plans ensuring they’ll be on the ground for that game.
The decision to provide most of their coverage from Salford is said to have been one made on a cost-saving basis, with the BBC funded by taxpayers through the licence fee.
Star presenter Mark Chapman will travel earlier to host England’s meeting with Norway for radio station 5 Live, and Gabby Logan will present the final in New York – the first woman to do so.
The BBC set a record audience for a live UK broadcast between 2am-4am for the tense clash with Mexico in the last round, so the budget-conscious decision has merits but, in FourFourTwo’s opinion, it has lacked the prestige of ITV’s offering, predominantly due to location.
