CHARLES SALE: BBC playing rough on England games at World Cup finals

17 December 2009 00:20
World Cup TV rights partners BBC and ITV are locked in a stalemate over their screening of England games in South Africa.[LNB]Both sides were confident after the draw that it would be relatively easy to divide up the matches this time, following almost three months of discussions before the 2006 World Cup TV schedule was agreed.[LNB] Capello going for glory: But the BBC and ITV are sill talking over which England games they want to screen at the World Cup[LNB]ITV, wanting to guarantee bumper advertising revenue, would plump for England's peak-time group games against the USA and Algeria and concede the third group match against Slovenia and the last 16 match to the Beeb.[LNB]But the BBC, knowing they hold the upper hand because of the 4:1 audience ratio if both channels screen the same game, are playing hardball.[LNB]They also want the potential England quarter-final and the first pick of the other games, particularly Brazil v Portugal.[LNB]Talks continue but there are fears this will drag on into the New Year.[LNB] There was some surprise in Nigeria that the FA delegation, having taken the trouble to travel to Abuja to present their 2018 World Cup case to the country's FIFA ExCo member Dr Amos Adamu, hosted the meeting with him in the British High Commissioner's residence.[LNB]They could have visited Adamu, a director-general in the Civil Service, in his offices rather than the chosen venue, which had overtones of the colonialism England 2018 are trying so hard to avoid.[LNB] It seemed an extravagance to host the announcement of the 2018 World Cup grounds at the cavernous Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster when only around 50 media personnel attended.[LNB] Enlarge Extravagant: Football League Chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney speaks at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster[LNB]Glamorous TV sport presenter Charlie Webster was also brought in to spend not much more than a minute going through the fire alarm procedure and introducing panel chairman Lord Mawhinney.[LNB]Intriguingly, former Real Madrid TV presenter Charlie is best known for a newspaper kiss'n'tell on England defender Jonathan Woodgate, which she denies having done. Bid officials say they chose the venue because presentations had been held there over three days.[LNB] West Ham's crocked striker Dean Ashton, who has retired due to his chronic injury, has had another operation this week just to ensure he can walk without constant pain in his left ankle.[LNB]West Ham, who will chase £7million in compensation from the FA after Ashton first injured himself on England duty, paid for the surgery carried out by ankle specialist James Calder, out of their medical insurance.[LNB] East Midlands own goalRejected 2018 World Cup cities Leicester and Derby didn't help themselves by declaring in their tenders that the East Midlands could not deal with three venues, as the region's infrastructure would not be able to cope.[LNB]In the event, only Nottingham was picked.[LNB] United front: Milton Keynes[LNB]This was in contrast to the united front of all authorities in Milton Keynes, who announced they would be expanding their stadium to seat 40,000 irrespective of their World Cup ambitions, with finances already in place.[LNB] The enthusiasm shown by Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn and celebrity fan Steve Cram for England's bid as part of their successful pitch for the Stadium of Light received a special mention from the selection panel.[LNB]Yet St James' Park was also included in the list of grounds despite hapless Newcastle chief executive Derek Llambias, a former casino manager, being part of the city's presentation group.[LNB]Owner Mike Ashley was not included in the Newcastle tender for fear his widespread unpopularity would have a detrimental effect.[LNB] The FA board, despite all the cost-cutting going on at Wembley, including the cancellation of next February's FA Council meeting, are still going ahead with their lavish Christmas lunch after today's summit.[LNB]Interest will centre on whether Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards, after his poorly timed exit from the World Cup bid board, will walk out in a huff, as he did on a previous Christmas occasion.[LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail