The BBC will not have boots on the ground in the United States for this week’s World Cup quarter-finals.
Having maintained throughout the tournament that their broadcast plans are flexible, the Beeb have now confirmed their studio panel will not travel Stateside until the semi-finals. Meaning, they will spend less than a week in the country at the licence-payers’ expense before returning home.
All three of Match of the Day presenters, Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates, will present live from the host cities for BBC TV and BBC Radio 5 Live from the semi-finals.
The BBC are controversially presenting their World Cup coverage from their Salford base until the semi-finals
They will be joined by a punditry team of Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards and Joe Hart.
It has already been confirmed that Logan, 53, will present the final in New York on July 19th – becoming the first woman to do so.
Their coverage of the tournament has sparked controversy after opting to base the World Cup studio in Salford as part of Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski’s cost-saving drive.
However, the corporation has reassured throughout the tournament that they would have a presence on-location for the business end.
ITV hold the rights for England’s quarter-final against Norway on Saturday, while the BBC will air just one quarter-final – Spain against Belgium on Friday evening.
However, the Beeb does have first pick of the semi-finals – meaning if England beat Norway they would almost certainly be aired on BBC1.
More to follow.
