Ofcom has received requests from ITV and the BBC for consent to broadcast live coverage of the World Cup Football Championship 2010.
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 (currently BBC One, BBC Two, 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.
ITV and the BBC will be sharing coverage of the World Cup. All of the matches will be shown on BBC One, BBC Two or ITV1 except for eight in the earlier stages of the tournament which clash with other matches and which will therefore be shown on BBC Three, the interactive streams of BBC One, or ITV2, 3 or 4.
Ofcom is now inviting other broadcasters and interested parties to comment on the ITV and BBC request. Comments should be sent to John Furlong, Ofcom, Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA (email: john.furlong@ofcom.org.uk) by Thursday 1 April 2010. Unless confidentiality is requested, all comments will be available to view on Ofcom’s website after the consultation has closed.