BBC and ITV have agreed a UK broadcast deal for 2023 FIFA World Cup, which takes place from 20 July to 20 August.
Confirmation of this broadcast deal between BBC and ITV to jointly provide UK coverage comes after months of negotiations with FIFA, amidst threats of a blackout alongside France, Germany, Italy and Spain due to undervaluing of the tournament’s broadcast rights.
Each Government across all five European countries even issued a joint statement calling for FIFA to negotiate a deal with broadcasters within their countries, in response to growing fears from football fans that hopes of a broadcast deal were fading.
Following further discussion between both broadcasters and FIFA, BBC and ITV committed to televising all 64 matches across the tournament which marks the first time that the latter broadcaster would air coverage of a Women’s World Cup.
BBC and ITV also partnered with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in order to complete the deal, with the EBU having already secured the rights for 28 countries in a deal with FIFA.
The BBC and ITV have partnered with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an alliance of public service media organisations, for the deal.
Both UK broadcasters will split coverage of 63 matches between each broadcaster, whilst the Final will be broadcast live on both BBC One and ITV1 in line with the men’s version.
Director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater issued the following statement upon confirmation of the long-awaited TV deal, as she said: “We have shown every Women’s World Cup on the BBC since 1999 and we are happy to extend our partnership with FIFA for the upcoming tournament.
“The growth of the women’s game is extraordinary, demonstrated by the 28 million who watched BBC coverage of the 2019 Women’s World Cup and the huge audience of 17.4 million who watched our coverage of the Euro 2022 final on TV last summer.
“In partnership with ITV we are delighted to make this World Cup available to the widest possible audience and free to air.”
ITV Director of Sport, Niall Sloane added that the broadcaster is “delighted” to be able to bring “comprehensive coverage” with live and highlights broadcasts across ITV1 and ITV4, whilst all matches will be able to stream on ITVX.
ITV currently hold rights to England qualifiers and other competitive fixtures so Sloane is hopeful that fans will join the broadcaster for “all the action from Australia and New Zealand throughout the tournament.”
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