BBC & ITV Secure World Cup Futures
The 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups will remain on the BBC and ITV after FIFA confirmed that it had sold its UK broadcast rights for the next two editions of the tournaments to the terrestrial broadcasters.
The deals were confirmed following a meeting of FIFA’s executive committee in São Paulo on Saturday, just days before the start of this year’s World Cup in Brazil.
While no financial terms have been released, the UK rights to the 2010 and 2014 tournaments were reportedly sold for £220 million in total.
In the UK, the BBC and ITV have shared the rights to the world’s biggest sporting competition since 1966, when the tournament was won by the hosts, England.
BBC director of sport Barbara Slater said of the deal: ‘It is fantastic news that the pinnacle event in world football will continue to be available free of charge for everyone in the UK.’
ITV’s Niall Sloane, added: ‘The excitement building on the eve of this summer’s tournament in Brazil demonstrates how the World Cup offers a shared, collective experience for people across the UK.’
‘So we’re thrilled to be able to look forward to bringing the next two World Cups free to air to viewers in 2018 and 2022.’
Meanwhile, ITV has extended its rights agreement with the French Tennis Federation and Roland Garros to continue its coverage of the French Open until at least 2018.
The broadcaster signed an initial deal for the rights to the second Grand Slam tennis event of the year in 2011.
The 2014 French Open finished last week with victories for Maria Sharapova and nine-time champion Rafael Nadal.
