Ofcom has received requests from ITV and BBC for consent to broadcast live coverage of part of the Euro 2008 Football Championships.
This is a Group A Listed Event which means that the rights to broadcast live coverage must have been offered to both categories of broadcasters specified in the Broadcasting Act 1996: those providing services which are free to air with national or near national coverage (BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five) and those providing all other television services. The rules which apply are set out in the Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events (revised January 2002).
ITV and the BBC will be sharing coverage of Euro 2008. All of the matches which they will be showing will be on ITV1 and BBC One except for four in the earlier stages of the tournament which clash with other matches on the same evening and which will therefore be shown on ITV or BBC digital channels.