ITV’s A-list World Cup punditry line-up and ‘plan to blow away BBC’ | Football | Sport

The Beeb are expected to scale back their resources for the USA, Canada and Mexico competition to save funds. Instead of sending reporters and film teams across the pond, they will be producing everything from their Salford HQ, until at least the quarter-finals, according to reports. Meanwhile, ITV will be stationed in New York with a studio overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. The level of their punditry team, combined with their larger budget, threatens to blow the BBC’s coverage out of the water. 

According to The Times, the BBC has taken a scaled back approach to their coverage to save resources, amid the competition taking place across three countries and the huge increase in the number of matches. Keane, Neville and Wright will also be mediated by presenters Laura Woods and Mark Pougatch. 

They, and other members of the ITV team, will be flown out to the Big Apple, as ITV insist on maintaining a physical presence within the USA for the competition. An announcement about the ITV punditry line-up is understood to be imminent. 

Meanwhile, it’s currently unclear who will be on punditry duty for the BBC. However, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan are expected to be the ones presenting their coverage. 

It’s also unclear as to whether the BBC are planning on flying members of their team to North America for the quarter-finals and beyond. Any decision could hinge on whether England and Scotland are still fighting for the biggest prize in international football. 

With 48 teams competing in the tournament this summer, the number of matches to be played has increased from 64 in Qatar to an enormous 104 across the USA, Mexico and Canada. The BBC will not be the only ones trimming their mane, as several other broadcasters will be looking for ways to save money. 

ITV will be broadcasting 29 group-stage games, including England’s opening clash against Croatia and the Three Lions’ final group-stage fixture against Panama. The BBC will then be the ones showing the second group game against Ghana as well as the exciting meeting between Scotland and Brazil. 

ITV and BBC have a deal which sees them split the coverage of England matches. The government stipulates all World Cup matches must be shown on free-to-air, as the competition is marked as a “crown jewel” event.