Euro 2012 on BBC and ITV: Who does football better?
Published Jun 13 2012, 15:43 BST | By Alex Fletcher
Euro 2012 is proving to be a fabulous festival of football for sports fans. Even England haven't started off too badly (miracles will never cease!) in the Ukraine and Poland as the tournament heads into the second round of the group stage.But it isn't just on the field that the tackles are flying in and competition is high. The BBC and ITV are duking it out for the title of best Euro 2012 broadcaster and Digital Spy wants to know who is winning and who has scored an own goal with their efforts so far.
© BBC
Team BBC
The reliable hands of Gary Lineker skipper the BBC ship, which is more understated than previous major tournaments, perhaps in preparation for the Olympics Monster on the horizon.
Lineker and Match of the Day pals Alan Shearer, Alan Hanson and Lee Dixon have signed up Harry Redknapp, who joins Jurgen Klinsmann, Clarence Seedorf and David James for a killer punditry lineup, which is based at BBC Sport's new home at MediaCityUK in Salford. No boozy lads' nights out in Kiev for these boys.
Jake Humphrey and Gabby Logan are on location with the England camp and touring the grounds, while Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce and Simon Brotherton head up a post-Motty lineup of commentators.
The team's big test comes on Friday (June 15), when they take over exclusive rights to the England v Sweden game.
© ITV
Team ITV
Adrian Chiles heads up the more relaxed ITV approach to the tournament and appears to be enjoying himself (as much as Chiles ever looks like he's enjoying himself) sunning it up and enjoying coffee table banter with his team on the streets of Poland.
Big game players Patrick Vieira, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, Roberto Martinez and Gordon Strachan have been brought in to bolster the regular ITV lineup of Gareth Southgate and Andy Townsend and they have the comfort of a specially-constructed studio in Warsaw to their advantage.
The ever-divisive Clive Tyldesley leads the commentary team with his usual gusto and enthusiasm alongside roving reporters Gabriel Clarke and Ned Boulting.
There were no major clangers in the England v France game like their infamous missed goal from World Cup 2010, but have they raised their game enough to be crowned broadcast champions over the Beeb?
Who do you prefer, BBC or ITV? Vote in our poll below and let is know your verdict at the bottom of the page?
Pundits - ITV by miles
Presenters ITV - just
Commentators ITV
Sumamrisers - ITV by miles
August 17th 2012 at 4:56pm
I could answer easily if one of them was airing it in 3d. Why the olympics and not the euro? I bought a new lg tv for that. Well I still watched it in 3d cause of the 2d to 3d conversion feature but it's always better with true 3d.
July 2nd 2012 at 9:03am
Oh and whilst i'm on hobbyhorse...lets see which Channel viewers choose when games are on both I T V ...AND the BEEB...!
June 20th 2012 at 2:20pm
BBC will always be the go to for sport for me.
What annoys me intensely , especially with Sky commentaries , is that hey DO NOT appear to realise that we want commentaries on the action ...NOT loads ands of research that the commentators have fed to them.
Also ...why dont the commentators say when the game has kicked off any more...?
June 20th 2012 at 2:18pm
I disagree. We can see what is happening verbatim. We need insight on the strategy and the bigger picture.
August 17th 2012 at 4:56pm
ITV coverage contains better commentary, personally i think Steve Wilson on the BBC is only good for highlights - he just cant manage the big games. Adrian Chiles is good, offering a humorous touch to each game, Lineker is just slimy with his attempts and acting like a "nice guy". If ITV had no ad breaks they would win hands down. But they dont so the BBC get my vote.
June 16th 2012 at 8:08pm(+1 like)