UK: ITV and BBC to share the 64 matches of the 2014 World Cup

British public broadcaster, the BBC, and private free-TV channel ITV, who are joint rights holders in the United Kingdom for the 2014 World Cup (in Brazil from 12/06 to 13/07/2014), have agreed on an allocation of matches for the competition, on the 10/12/2013.

ITV, who were entitled to first choice, let the BBC take England's first game in Group D, against Italy on the 14/06/2014 in Manaus. The decision is due to the match's late kick-off (24:00 CET), despite the earlier decision by FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) to bring forward the kick-off by three hours.

ITV will broadcast England's second game, against Uruguay on the 19/06/2014 in Sao Paulo (21:00 CET) and the third and final group game against Costa Rica on the 24/06/2014 at 18:00 CET, in Belo Horizonte.

The BBC will have priority if England make it through to either the second round or the semi-finals, while ITV will broadcast England's quarter-final, assuming they qualify. ITV will broadcast the tournament opener (Brazil vs Croatia, on the 12/06/2014), while the two channels will broadcast the 2014…