Disruption to TV schedules will reach a climax during the seven days from Saturday 29th June as BBC and ITV manage multiple major live events.
- Glastonbury, Euro 2024, Wimbledon and General Election coverage mean normal programmes will be sidelined.
- Viewers will need to switch to streaming services to ensure uninterrupted live coverage of major events.
The BBC and ITV will struggle to cover a clash of multiple major cultural, sporting and news events. Viewers will be pushed towards live streams and pop-up channels on the iPlayer and ITVX to avoid last minute channel and schedule changes.
While on-demand services have taken a growing share of viewers watching dramas and reality shows, live TV continues to perform strongly for major events. Already, Euro 2024 coverage has seen audiences exceed 10 million and pre-Election coverage is also attracting millions.
But the glut of live events during the end of June and beginning of July have forced broadcasters to launch temporary pop-up channels where viewers can access full coverage of events without interruptions. The BBC will carry a red button link on BBC One and BBC Two to the extra channels, which will be made available through the BBC iPlayer. ITV viewers can access ITVX to view ITV’s full selection of programmes.
The BBC’s live coverage means programmes like Bargain Hunt, The One Show and EastEnders will either be cancelled or moved to BBC Two. ITV viewers can expect ongoing disruption to Emmerdale and Coronation Street as well as daytime staples Tipping Point and The Chase. The commercial broadcaster has already had to juggle live football with Royal Ascot this week.
Euro 2024
The BBC and ITV have yet to confirm how they’ll carve up live games during the knock-out stages.
On Monday 1st, Tuesday 2nd and Friday 5th July, there will be two games. The first game kicks-off at 5pm, the second at 8pm UK time.
As a result, for the week commencing 1st July, the BBC and ITV have two schedules ready. Printed listing magazines due out on 25th June will carry both versions. Should the BBC show live Euro 2024, it will move Wimbledon to BBC Two to allow BBC One to show Euro 2024. ITV will move regional news to mid-afternoon if it shows live Euro 2024 coverage.
Streaming alternative
- The BBC will offer a dedicated Euro 2024 channel on the BBC iPlayer. ITVX is also offering a Euro 2024 streaming channel. Live coverage of games in the knockout stages will be available on one or the other streaming service, depending on how the BBC and ITV decide to carve up the remaining games.
Wimbledon
During the first few days of coverage, coverage is due to switch multiple times between BBC One and BBC Two.
From Monday 1st to Wednesday 3rd July 2024, Wimbledon will start on BBC Two at 11am, move to BBC One at 12:15pm, switch back to BBC Two at 1pm, rejoining BBC One an hour later. At 6pm coverage switches to BBC Two, returning to BBC One at 7pm. Highlights are on BBC Two.
In the event the BBC takes Euro 2024 coverage (see above), Wimbledon coverage will remain on BBC Two into the evening.
On Friday 5th July, viewers can expect the bulk of Wimbledon coverage on BBC Two, as BBC One covers the aftermath of the General Election.
Streaming alternative
- Avoid channel hopping by going to the dedicated Wimbledon live streams on the BBC iPlayer, where you’ll be able to choose courts. This service replaces the old-style Red Button service on Sky, Freesat and Virgin Media. Viewers using these platforms will still be able to access extra coverage as the red button now links to the iPlayer.
Glastonbury
Live coverage of the main performances from the headliners of this year’s music festival will be shown across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four from Friday 28th June-Sunday 30th June. BBC Three isn’t currently scheduled to show any live coverage, but is due to carry highlights week commencing 1st July.
Streaming alternative
- BBC iPlayer will carry dedicated Glastonbury channels with wall-to-wall live coverage.
General Election
Both BBC One and ITV1 will screen live coverage from just before 10pm on Thursday 4th July, in time for the exit poll, released as polling stations close.
The BBC and ITV will be live throughout the night and daytime Friday 5th July. Viewers in Northern Ireland and Wales will have a choice between local coverage and the main UK feed across BBC One and BBC Two. In Scotland, BBC One Scotland will have its own programme. The network feed will be on BBC News.
At present, the BBC has two schedules for Friday 5th July. At 4pm, BBC One will either switch from covering developments at Westminster to live Wimbledon or show Euro 2024 live. The broadcaster will therefore be hoping there’s no unexpected twists or turns following the vote.
ITV1 meanwhile, also has two schedules. Should it get to show the late afternoon Euro 2024 kick-off, it will be wrapping up Election coverage at 3:30pm, handing over to regional news before the match.
Channel 4 is also getting involved with alternative coverage, running from 10pm on Thursday 4th until 9am Friday 5th.
Streaming alternative
- BBC iPlayer, ITVX and STV Player will be live streaming Election coverage, where you’ll be able to choose between the broadcaster’s main London-based programmes and special live programmes from the Nations, covering events in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
- The BBC and ITV face growing streaming competition, with Channel 4 Streaming upping its coverage. GB News will cover its first General Election. Meanwhile, Sky News Election coverage will be live streamed on YouTube in HD quality.
Tour De France
One of the few events that will not face disruption. Coverage of the annual cycling event will be available live each afternoon on ITV4 from the 29th June. Stream ITV4 on ITVX.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: RXTV/BBC/ITV