Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou are set to become TV rivals as World Cup pundits this summer. Frank has signed with BBC Sport as a main analyst. Postecoglou will be working for ITV.
Frank’s First Public Appearance Since Tottenham Sacking
Frank has not spoken publicly since being sacked by Tottenham in February. His first appearance on the BBC should make for compelling viewing, especially for Spurs fans. The 52-year-old won 13 out of 38 games in charge at Spurs after seven successful years at Brentford. His win ratio of 34.2% is reportedly the worst of any permanent manager in the club’s history.
Postecoglou has also kept his silence since a disastrous 39-day spell at Nottingham Forest ended with his dismissal 18 minutes after a home defeat by Chelsea in October.
BBC and ITV’s World Cup Coverage Plans
The BBC and ITV share UK rights for the World Cup, although the only game they will both broadcast live will be the final on 19 July. The BBC has gambled by opting to have more first-pick games in the knockout stages, giving ITV guaranteed coverage of England games earlier in the tournament.
ITV will show England’s first game against Croatia on 17 June and their final group game against Panama, as well as their quarter-final if Thomas Tuchel’s side reach that stage of the competition. The BBC will have live coverage of England’s second group game against Ghana and any knockout fixtures in the last 32, last 16 and semi-finals, as well as two of Scotland’s group matches against Haiti and Brazil in their first World Cup appearance since 1998. The BBC will broadcast 54 games and ITV 51, with all of the tournament’s 104 matches available live.
Punditry Line-ups and Studio Locations
The BBC is also understood to have added the former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud to their regular punditry panel that includes Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Alan Shearer. ITV are recruiting Andros Townsend to join Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane.
ITV’s budget for the tournament is believed to be far greater than the BBC’s. ITV will be basing all of its World Cup coverage, to be presented by Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods, from its New York studio. The BBC team of Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates will be in their Salford studios until at least the quarter-finals.
The BBC’s decision to stay in the UK was based on financial and environmental factors, with the corporation committed to limiting air travel in an attempt to reduce its carbon footprint.
Key Facts on Broadcasters’ World Cup Plans
- ITV will cover England’s first and last group stage games, and a potential quarter-final.
- The BBC will broadcast England’s second group game, plus knockout stages.
- The BBC will broadcast 54 games, and ITV 51.
The BBC and ITV will both broadcast the final live on 19 July.