ITV and the FA Cup??

[thelegendofyrag]

Is it just me or do ITV seem to have taken out some of the passion of the FA Cup??

They only have one live game this weekend! I thought the Liverpool - Everton game was live but it's highlights!! The BBC used to have two live games on FA Cup weekend.

Plus the fact they seem to be biased towards Man Utd, calling them Manchester against Tottenham as though they are the only team in Manchester! It's the same with the Champions Leauge. At least the BBC seem more neutral.

Take sport away from ITV altogether!

[LFC_SL]

Me and the flatmates agreed that even Five have superior football coverage. At least Five do not take themselves too seriously, least of all the radio presenter-who-wishes-he-was-still-working-with-Edith who is allowed onto TV for once

In Teddy Sheringham they managed to find somebody even more boring that Shearer - congratulations, all is forgiven MOTD! And that guy who's name escapes me acting as the "expert" on their highlights package really need not bother. And are ITV the only people who do not realise how gimmicky their TV graphic computer thing is? It started with their CL coverage, but I do not care to watch Andy Townsend showing the viewer how rubbish their touchscreen is

And their highlights programme single-handedly sucked all interest out of the games

And I think the reason for the poor picture quality is because each ITV region is responsible for filming. I'd argue Five have better picture quality too!

Bring back the BBC!

[stevielad]

Originally Posted by thelegendofyrag

Is it just me or do ITV seem to have taken out some of the passion of the FA Cup??

They only have one live game this weekend! I thought the Liverpool - Everton game was live but it's highlights!! The BBC used to have two live games on FA Cup weekend.

Plus the fact they seem to be biased towards Man Utd, calling them Manchester against Tottenham as though they are the only team in Manchester! It's the same with the Champions Leauge. At least the BBC seem more neutral.

Take sport away from ITV altogether!

Err - both the Hartlepool - West Ham and Man U - Spurs game were live yesterday

But agree - the commentary and general punditry is rubbish compared to the BBC or Sky.

[thelegendofyrag]

oh yeah forgot about the west ham - hartlepool game. apologies. But what happened to a live game on a sunday? Thats the whole point of 'FA Cup weekend' not FA Cup Saturday.

I think if i remember correctly the Andy Townsend analysis started in that truck they used for chamionship highlights??

[Dave26]

Haven't sultana (setanta) got the rights to some of the FA cup matches? I think they showed ManU - Tottenham and Liverpool - Everton.

[Baseley09]

Agreed, the only football ITV can cope with is Champions League which i admit to enjoying on there, all other soccer shows they have are pish mind.

[thelegendofyrag]

Originally Posted by Dave26

Haven't sultana (setanta) got the rights to some of the FA cup matches? I think they showed ManU - Tottenham and Liverpool - Everton.

Oh really? Thats even worse then as half the nation couldn't watch the liverpool everton game. I would assume that would be why ITV couldn't show it? But they maybe agreed to share the Man U v Spurs game?

[yeahwhatever]

Is it just me or were those ITV FA Cup highlights on Saturday just about the worst so far? The opening game was the Pompey upset-low camera angle-2 cameras only?(from Comet?)-poor camera work-amateur zooming-gave me a headache. The rest of the programme was equally poor. Apart from the main live games they covered it looked they paid two spectators 25 quid each to cover the rest. Here you are mate, look through there and push record. Rubbish. The FA should seriously tell ITV that if they don't get their act together they'll give it to Sultana. Or anybody.

[loz]

Blame the greedy FA, not ITV.

Their greed is what allowed them to sell to ITV and Setanta, whereas BBC and Sky were doing a pretty good job before.

The FA are only interested in the money. Not the quality of the TV coverage or the size of the audience.

[Dave26]

Originally Posted by thelegendofyrag

Oh really? Thats even worse then as half the nation couldn't watch the liverpool everton game. I would assume that would be why ITV couldn't show it? But they maybe agreed to share the Man U v Spurs game?

Actually I think i'm half right, they definitely showed the merseyside derby, but thinking about it I don't think they showed the United - Spurs Match. Maybe it was the Arsenal match? I'm sure someone with setanta could confirm that. Either way I hate the fact that not only is the FA cup not on the BBC (I hate ITV football coverage), but its not even on sky

[thelegendofyrag]

I hope this is sultanas only season of football and they go down the pan. Taking England games and the FA-Cup is a crime!

[Dave26]

Originally Posted by loz

Blame the greedy FA, not ITV.

Their greed is what allowed them to sell to ITV and Setanta, whereas BBC and Sky were doing a pretty good job before.

The FA are only interested in the money. Not the quality of the TV coverage or the size of the audience.

Exactly, its up those who receive the money who gets the coverage. Just be glad football isn't as dependant on TV as Rugby League, several matches have been rearranged because sky wanted them to be

[thelegendofyrag]

Originally Posted by loz

Blame the greedy FA, not ITV.

Their greed is what allowed them to sell to ITV and Setanta, whereas BBC and Sky were doing a pretty good job before.

The FA are only interested in the money. Not the quality of the TV coverage or the size of the audience.

I think i was told a while ago that it isn't actually the FA that get to choose who braodcasts. Im sure this was mentioned during a rant about setanta getting the England away games. No idea if itwas true or not?

[loz]

Originally Posted by thelegendofyrag

I think i was told a while ago that it isn't actually the FA that get to choose who braodcasts. Im sure this was mentioned during a rant about setanta getting the England away games. No idea if itwas true or not?

the issue was that the EU didn't want Sky to have too much of a monopoly over football, and hence wanted some packages to go to other broadcasters.

[Wild Weasel]

The quality of the ITV broadcast was dire on digital terestrial and satellite. Each player had a fuzzy outline around them like they'd had their Ready Brek that morning.