Pay TV misses out in UK as BBC and ITV to share Euros

UEFA cameraman

October 23 – UK football pay tv broadcast giants Sky Sports and BT Sport have missed out on upcoming European summer TV football festival in France as the BBC and ITV have jointly secured the media rights to EURO 2016.

They have also scooped the rights to 2020, keeping the tournament on free terrestrial television for the next two editions. The broadcasters have traditionally shared the rights as they do for the FIFA World Cup.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director of UEFA Events SA, said: “We are delighted to reach an agreement with the UK’s leading free-to-air broadcasters ITV and BBC. Both partners have in-depth experience of broadcasting the UEFA European Football Championship.”

England, Wales and Northern Ireland have all qualified for the expanded 24 team 2016 tournament. In 2020 Scotland and England will both host matches, with the final to be played at Wembley.

“This deal adds to the coverage and in-tournament excitement for UEFA EURO 2020, where the UK will host a total seven matches: four in Glasgow, both semi-finals and the final taking place in London at Wembley. All in all, this is a very positive agreement for all football fans in the UK.”

The deal cover live and delayed rights across all BBC and ITV platforms, including magazine and highlights programmes. The BBC and ITV will provide multiple access points via their linear and digital assets to every game.

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