C5 ’live’ sports coup mired by scheduling clash

Channel 5’s coup in securing two major sporting events for

consecutive live broadcast this weekend has ended in embarrassment with

the revelation that the events - the Poland v England World Cup football

qualifier and the Argentina v England rugby union match - are being

played at the same time.

The football will now go out live at 7.30pm on Saturday 31 May, and a

recording of the rugby match will be broadcast immediately

afterwards.

The rugby was originally billed to kick off at 6pm, followed by the

soccer at 8pm.

A spokesperson for Channel 5 said: ’It has only recently become apparent

that both games are to be played at the same time. We have tried to

persuade the Argentinian rugby authorities to change the match times. It

is disappointing.’

The rugby will now be shown ’as live’ at 9.30pm, after the football has

finished, and the rugby score will not be broadcast during the football

match.

Nissan is thought to have paid about pounds 100,000 to sponsor the rugby

international on the understanding that it was a live event. However, as

the deal covers both the football and the rugby, it is unlikely to be

affected.

This article was first published on Campaign