Channel 4 Lands Club World Cup Rights
Free-to-air television network Channel 4 has acquired rights to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which will feature UEFA Champions League winner Chelsea FC.
Should Chelsea make the final of the competition, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates, Channel 4 will broadcast the match live.
The final is scheduled for Saturday, 12th February, and Channel 4’s coverage would begin at 4pm UK time. A highlights programme would also be shown on Channel 4 on the evening of the final.
Chelsea’s semi-final against an opponent that is yet to be decided will take place on Wednesday, 9th February and will be shown live on the E4 channel.
If Chelsea plays in the third/fourth place playoff, the match will be shown live on E4. If Chelsea reaches the final, the third/fourth place playoff will be shown on the 4Seven channel.
Pete Andrews, Head of Sport at Channel 4, said, “This is one of the few major honours to have eluded Chelsea so it’d be great if they can make history live on Channel 4. We’re delighted to be bringing top-flight football live on free to air terrestrial television.”
Channel 4, which is believed to have beaten the BBC to the new deal, has made a string of sports rights acquisitions in recent months. In January, the broadcaster became the exclusive free-to-air home of Formula E in the UK.
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