The two broadcasters have a long-running partnership when it comes to covering World Cups and the Euros.
The broadcast split between the BBC and ITV during the knock-out stages is negotiated well in advance.
For Qatar 2022, ITV got first pick of the Group of 16 and Quarter Finals.
Broadcasters initially publish two different schedules for each matchday in these stages until ITV has made its choice. For the semi-finals, the BBC gets first pick.
This is not ususual: ITV typically gets the first picks for the first part of the knock-out stages.
This ensures the commercial broadcaster can maximise revenue and ratings by picking as many England games while they are still in the tournament.
By the time the BBC gets the first pick and this year the possibility to show an England game at semi-final stage, there’s no guarantee England will still be in the tournament.
Both BBC and ITV show the final.
The BBC in return generally gets to feature one of the other UK nations, should they qualify.
In the case of Qatar 2022, England and Wales ended up in the same group, which changed the normal dynamics. This time around, the BBC got to show Wales v England as part of its two games featuring Wales. That meant ITV only got to show one England group game this time around.
It’s ITV’s traditional habit of securing the last group game and the first part of the knock-out stages at major tournaments that has given the broadcaster a reputation as having a ‘curse’ on the England team. Statistically, the games ITV normally gets to pick in the World Cup and Euros are the ones that are most likely to see England crash out.
by Iain Hatton
Image: BBC