The Sport Thread

[Newshound47]

I think Channel Four might have done a very good deal with the Euro 2024 qualifies. Due to England’s poor performance in the nations league it’s likely to be tougher than recent qualification groups.

BBC and ITV through might see lower than usual ratings for the later stages of World Cup if England do go out early through.

[eyeTV]

Channel 4 certainly seem to be taking the England broadcaster curse to the next level.

[Tom]

And to think people blame ITV at major tournaments for England losing.

[Brekkie]

Probably not doing C4's case not to be privatised much good. 

[Steve Williams]

BBC and ITV through might see lower than usual ratings for the later stages of World Cup if England do go out early through.

In 2014, England went out in the group stages, in 2010 they went out in the first knockout round and in Euro 2008 they didn't even qualify, so it's only been the last three tournaments that there's been home nations interest right at the business end, and it's been pretty much the exception in the past fifty years rather than the rule. And in those three tournaments, they might not have got record-breaking figures but the ratings were absolutely fine. Cos it's the World Cup.

Anyway, absolutely nobody had England down as potential winners when they went into the 2018 tournament and they got to the last four. Six months to go yet.

[RhysJR]

From a Welsh perspective, IMO Channel 4 should be given a lifetime contract for England matches    

https://twitter.com/FootballCliches/stat...0920668165

[Brekkie]

And not the difference there between the BBC and ITV that the myth suggests, though ITV's % will have gone up signficantly in the last few years with a couple of decent tournament matches and a straight forward qualifying campaign.

[XIII]

It's a bit hyperbolic to suggest the World Cup will hit lows if England go out early. We saw how huge the Italy v Spain match did for Euro 2020 so it's still going to do well especially if it's one of the bigger countries.

[Newshound47]

It's a bit hyperbolic to suggest the World Cup will hit lows if England go out early. We saw how huge the Italy v Spain match did for Euro 2020 so it's still going to do well especially if it's one of the bigger countries.

Italy v Spain only got that high because people wanted to see who England could face in the final. Same happened in 2018 with Belgium v France.

[Brekkie]

The big games still rate well though regardless. What will be interesting is how the move to Nov/Dec affects ratings this time - usually it's a period where TV ratings are much stronger, but if there is more competition that could work against it, though I doubt the BBC or ITV will schedule agressively against each others matches.

What fans don't want is for it to rate signficantly better than usual worldwide and for FIFA to get ideas about scheduling it then permanently.

[XIII]

The big games still rate well though regardless.  What will be interesting is how the move to Nov/Dec affects ratings this time - usually it's a period where TV ratings are much stronger, but if there is more competition that could work against it, though I doubt the BBC or ITV will schedule agressively against each others matches.

What fans don't want is for it to rate signficantly better than usual worldwide and for FIFA to get ideas about scheduling it then permanently.

I suspect a permanent switch to November/December for the World Cup or Euros is very unlikely given the disruption to the football season. There is a reason it's usually held in June and July.

[Brekkie]

That is exactly what they said about moving this years tournament to the end of the year and it still happened.

[Rdd]

With the winter World Cup, two midweek Premier League rounds have been moved to much earlier in the season than normal, taking place on 30th/31st August and 18th/19th October.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/2646764

Edit: Prime Video will have the 18th/19th October and Boxing Day rounds.

[Brekkie]

Andrew Castle actually giving a shout out to Boris Becker on the tennis coverage and looking forward to welcoming him back isn't something I was expecting from the BBC.

[AJB39]

Andrew Castle actually giving a shout out to Boris Becker on the tennis coverage and looking forward to welcoming him back isn't something I was expecting from the BBC.

Not an appropriate comment at all from Andrew Castle.