BBC Sport is being "sold the rights to broadcast next year’s World Athletics Championships in Moscow" by its terrestrial rivals Channel 4, which wants to "concentrate on the Paralympics," according to Charles Sale of the London DAILY MAIL.
The BBC was "due to take over the showcase track and field contract from Channel 4 in '14 on a four-year deal that includes the World Championships coming to London in '17." However, Channel 4 is understood to be pulling the plug on its agreement with the Int'l Association of Athletics Federation a year early because it is "upset about losing out to the BBC for the next term." Another factor was the fall-out from its savagely criticized coverage of the World Championships in '11 from Daegu, South Korea, "when hapless lead presenter Ortis Deley had to be replaced halfway through the event." As well as being favorites to retain the Paralympic rights for Rio in 2016 after its acclaimed London 2012 broadcasts, Channel 4 intends to "cover the Int'l Paralympic Committee’s World Athletics Championships from Lyon," France next year (DAILY MAIL, 11/30).
