BBC loses Boat Race coverage to ITV
Next month's Varsity Boat Race will be the last to be televised by the BBC, as this week the corporation lost the annual event to ITV, following supposed rows with race organisers over plans for commercialisation.
The race, a prominent fixture of the BBC's sporting calendar since 1954, will switch channels following this year's 150th anniversary proceedings. ITV's coverage will begin in 2005 when they commence a five year deal with P to M Ltd, the event's rights' holders. The BBC refused to give up without a fight, and spent six months locked in negotiations with race organisers.
Caroline Searle, of the co-ordinator's press office, told The OxStu that "in terms of money, the bids were more or less the same," but the fact remained that ITV offered "a more complimentary package".
Ms Searle took pains to sidestep the rumours that ITV would allow the race to become more commercialised, saying that the "iconic amateur event is not funded by the universities and has, as such, involved sponsorship and television rights since the early seventies." Government guidelines prohibit the BBC from showing any overt commercial sponsorship.
Brian Barwick, ITV's sport controller, said: "The Boat Race is an integral part of the British sporting year. It is a very telegenic event."
The organisers "offer their encouragement" to the Oxford boat and commiserate students, some of whom may well be bewildered by this break in tradition, by advising them to "just watch it on ITV". Last year's Boat Race drew an audience of 7.2 million, on a busy weekend of sporting action.
26th Feb 2004