United Kingdom
Over 100 nations have provided wall-to-wall coverage since the communications satellite launchings allowed for worldwide coverage beginning in 1966. European coverage of the World Cup has been extensive since 1954 (though with the World Cup held in Chile in 1962, much of the Euro coverage that year was tape-delayed).
Broadcast of the qualification for the World Cup Finals for England is currently held by ITV (terrestrial, home matches) and ESPN (cable/satellite, away matches), with the BBC holding rights for Northern Ireland and Scotland home games. BSkyB holds the rights to Scotland and Northern Ireland away games, and all Wales and Republic of Ireland qualification matches.
However, coverage of the World Cup Finals is on a government mandated 'protected' list meaning it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five) as opposed to satellite or cable television. Although only one broadcaster is required, the two biggest terrestrial operators, the BBC and ITV, have always made a joint bid for coverage with broadcast of the Home Nations matches (particularly England) alternating between the broadcasters up to the later stages of the tournament. This is believed to prevent an extremely expensive bidding war for coverage between the two networks, with the current agreement running until the 2014 tournament.
| Year | Network | Commentators |
| 2010 | BBC | Jonathan Pearce Steve Bower Simon Brotherton Steve Wilson Guy Mowbray |
| ITV | Clive Tyldesley Jon Champion Peter Drury Ian Crocker |
|
| 2006 | BBC | Jonathan Pearce John Motson Simon Brotherton Steve Wilson Guy Mowbray |
| ITV | Clive Tyldesley Jon Champion Peter Drury Peter Brackley |
|
| 2002 | BBC | Barry Davies John Motson Tony Gubba Steve Wilson Rob MacLean Ian Gwyn Hughes |
| ITV | Clive Tyldesley Guy Mowbray Jon Champion Peter Drury Guy Havord Peter Brackley |
|
| 1998 | BBC | Barry Davies John Motson Tony Gubba Jon Champion Ron Jones John Murray |
| ITV | Peter Brackley Brian Moore Clive Tyldesley Peter Drury |
|
| 1994 | BBC | Barry Davies John Motson Tony Gubba Gerald Sinstadt Clive Tyldesley |
| ITV | Peter Brackley John Helm Alan Parry Brian Moore Rob Palmer |
|
| 1990 | BBC | Barry Davies John Motson Tony Gubba Gerald Sinstadt |
| ITV | Gerry Harrison Peter Brackley John Helm Brian Moore Clive Tyldesley |
|
| 1986 | BBC | Barry Davies John Motson Tony Gubba Alan Parry Gerald Sinstadt Archie MacPherson |
| ITV | Gerry Harrison Martin Tyler Peter Brackley John Helm Brian Moore (Final only) |
|
| 1982 | BBC | Barry Davies John Motson Tony Gubba Alan Parry Des Lynam |
| ITV | Hugh Johns Gerry Harrison Gerald Sinstadt Martin Tyler John Helm Nick Owen |
|
| 1978 | BBC | David Coleman Alan Weeks Barry Davies John Motson |
| ITV | Hugh Johns Gerry Harrison Gerald Sinstadt Martin Tyler Arthur Montford |
|
| 1974 | BBC | David Coleman Alan Weeks Barry Davies John Motson |
| ITV | Hugh Johns Keith Macklin Gerry Harrison Gerald Sinstadt |
|
| 1970 | BBC | David Coleman Alan Weeks Kenneth Wolstenholme (Final only) Barry Davies Idwal Robling |
| ITV | Hugh Johns Gerry Harrison Gerald Sinstadt Roger Malone |
|
| 1966 | BBC | Kenneth Wolstenholme (Final only) David Coleman Frank Bough Walley Barnes |
| ITV | Hugh Johns (Final only) Barry Davies Gerry Loftus |
Read more about this topic: List Of FIFA World Cup Finals Broadcasters
Famous quotes containing the words united and/or kingdom:
“The city of Washington is in some respects self-contained, and it is easy there to forget what the rest of the United States is thinking about. I count it a fortunate circumstance that almost all the windows of the White House and its offices open upon unoccupied spaces that stretch to the banks of the Potomac ... and that as I sit there I can constantly forget Washington and remember the United States.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“Was I not born in this Realm? Were my parents born in any foreign country?... Is not my Kingdom here? Whom have I oppressed? Whom have I enriched to other’s harm? What turmoil have I made to this Commonwealth that I should be suspected to have no regard of the same?”
—Elizabeth I (1533–1603)