BBC, ITV Will Hold Summit To Split Up All 64 World Cup Matches

The BBC and ITV will meet on Monday to divide up the 64 matches of the World Cup "in a summit that is as important for the two broadcasters as the draw itself," according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. ITV "is believed to have first pick of England's matches" and expected to opt for the second match against uruguay, to "maximise its advertisers." That game kicks off at 8pm BST, in São Paulo on 19 June. That means the BBC will have the opening match in Manaus against Italy on 14 June, which "will be more attractive" now that the kickoff  has been brought forward to 11pm from 2am. ITV will have the final match against Costa Rica on 24 June. The BBC would then have the dilemma "of whether to gamble on England reaching the quarter-finals or opting for coverage of a potential second-round clash" against Colombia, Greece, the Ivory Coast or Japan. Both broadcasters are expected to show the final, as they did in '10 (London GUARDIAN, 12/8).