Match of The Day - 1970s and 1980s

1970s and 1980s

During the 1970s, Match of the Day became one of the BBC's most successful programmes, with audiences peaking at over 12 million. The "Goal of the Month" and "Goal of the Season" competitions were introduced in 1970; slow motion replays followed a year later. However, at the end of the decade the BBC lost a significant share of matches, with a new four-year deal in 1979 splitting the rights between the BBC and ITV (ITV had originally won exclusive rights, but a ruling from the Office of Fair Trading ordered that the rights be split). Match of the Day was moved to Sunday afternoons for the 1980-81 and 1982-83 seasons, but as consolation the number of games per programme went up to three.

In 1983, the rights came up for renewal again; once again the BBC had to share with ITV. For the first time, league games were shown live, on Friday evenings. Additionally, programmes reverted to Saturday nights and shirt sponsorship was allowed for the first time on the non-commercial BBC. Industrial action by BBC staff hampered coverage that season, but the first live league match shown on Match of the Day was on Friday 16 December 1983, with a Manchester United 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

As the 1980s progressed, Match of the Day focused more and more on the First Division. The final Fourth Division game to be on the programme, between Blackpool and York City, was shown on 4 February 1984. Coverage of the Second and Third Divisions dwindled until it was finally dropped in 1986. However, other competitions were shown; the League Cup Final was covered live for the first time by the BBC in 1985.

In 1985, the rights for League football came up again, but an ongoing wrangle between the TV companies, Football League's TV Negotiating Committee and a rebel group of clubs led by Oxford United chairman Robert Maxwell meant the first half of the 1985-86 season was not televised at all; some clubs even tried negotiating individually with their local BBC and ITV regions. Eventually, in December 1985, a deal was agreed and Match of the Day resumed for the second half of the season.

After the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the BBC and ITV signed a new deal which left screening of highlights at the broadcaster's discretion; the BBC decided to suspend the regular weekly highlights apart from a couple of FA Cup Saturdays, instead showing basketball highlights in its slot. However, in the following season highlights of league football were reintroduced, though this was only occasional and not as often as before as the main focus was still on live games and the top teams.

In 1988, an even more competitive scramble for TV rights meant that the BBC lost all rights for League football to ITV, although they retained rights for FA Cup and England matches, shared with satellite channel The Sports Channel, who were part of the BSB network. For the next four seasons, Match of the Day only appeared on FA Cup weekends. However, ITV's negotiating stance and poor quality match coverage proved unpopular with the clubs.