BBC plans cost-cutting World Cup coverage
BBC’s cost-cutting approach to the World Cup coverage is poised to see it lag behind rival broadcasters due to its more modest strategy, reports BritPanorama.
The broadcaster has decided to keep presenters Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates stationed at its Salford headquarters until at least the quarter-final stage. This decision stems from the BBC’s commitment to budget constraints and a reduction in its carbon footprint through limited air travel.
The expansion of the tournament to 48 teams and 104 matches, up from 32 teams and 64 games, coupled with the logistical difficulties of hosting the event across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has significantly affected the corporation’s planning.
Some group-stage matches will feature commentary from studios in England rather than from venues in North America. In contrast, ITV has adopted a different strategy, securing a prominent studio in Brooklyn overlooking the Manhattan skyline for its World Cup coverage. The broadcaster is also finalising arrangements for analysts Roy Keane and Ian Wright to provide match insights from this location throughout the tournament.
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods are set to lead ITV’s coverage, with Pougatch expected to handle presentation duties for England fixtures. Recent tournaments indicate that these analysts attract a significant audience, as ITV’s coverage of England’s Euro 2020 semi-final triumph over Denmark peaked at 27.6 million viewers.
The two networks share the 104 fixtures, with ITV broadcasting 51 and the BBC covering 54. ITV plans to show 29 group-stage matches, including England’s initial encounter against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 and their final group match against Panama on June 27. The BBC retains rights to England’s second group game against Ghana at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium on June 23 and Scotland’s match against Brazil.
Should England progress in the tournament, the BBC will provide coverage for their round of 32 and round of 16 matches, while ITV has secured three quarter-final picks, including the first two. Both channels will also air the final simultaneously. ITV aims to leverage its American base by producing travelogues and mini-documentaries to complement live match broadcasts.
Historical viewing patterns suggest that the BBC usually outshines its rival when both channels air simultaneously. However, figures show that the last World Cup final attracted a peak of 15 million viewers on the BBC compared to 4.3 million on ITV. Conversely, ITV’s ability to draw large audiences is evidenced by 10.2 million viewers for England’s Women’s Euro 2025 semi-final victory over Italy last summer, marking the channel’s largest audience for that year.
As the global football spotlight realigns, it remains to be seen if the BBC’s strategic choices will resonate with viewers in the upcoming tournament, amidst a backdrop of rising public expectations and mounting competition.
