
Cancel all other plans! The biggest football event of the summer is just around the corner, and the good news for you footie fans is that you can watch all 51 games of Euro 2024 on TV. That’s right, the Euro 2024 TV schedule is out and it shows that ITV has the pick of the early action.
Meanwhile, the BBC must bide its time, but at least it has secured the rights to broadcast England’s two opening fixtures. I’ll also take a look at who is set to provide us with ‘expert’ analysis, but I’m sure that you’ll be far more concerned with providing your own commentary from your sofa - or in my case, at the local hostelry.
So let’s kick off with which channels are showing Euro 24, and which games they are broadcasting. As usual, the BBC and ITV will be the official UK broadcast channels for the European Championships. The final will be broadcast on both BBC1 and ITV1, whilst the 50 other games will be divided between the two broadcasters.
The first three games of the tournament, including the mouthwatering opener between Germany and Scotland, will be shown live on ITV1. On the off chance you are interested, the channel will also be showing the opening ceremony from 7.00 pm. But if you want to avoid that nonsense, you can just tune in at 8.00 pm on June 14th for the start of the game.
ITV has also managed to bag a few of the standout group matches, including Spain v Italy (June 20th at 8.00 pm) and Portugal v Turkey (June 22nd at 5.00 pm). Plus, they will be showing England’s potentially crucial final group game against Slovenia on June 25th. Fingers crossed that won’t be the last we see of England in this campaign!
When the competition reaches the knockout stage, ITV also gets first pick of the second round games, plus they get to choose which semi final match they prefer to show. In a nutshell, if England make it through, ITV will be showing their games. You can also follow the live action on the ITVX app and watch daily highlights on the ITV website.
Meanwhile, the BBC don’t get a look in until the fourth Euro 24 game of the tournament. That’s worth waiting for though - it’s that one, where titleholders Italy and Albania lock horns (June 15th at 8.00 pm FYI).
But after that relatively slow start, the games will come thick and fast. England’s first two group games will be shown live on BBC1, whilst the state broadcaster will also be showing the much-anticipated clash between France and the Netherlands (June 21st at 8.00 pm), plus the key Scotland v Switzerland encounter on June 19th.
At the quarter final stage, the BBC get first dibs on which two fixtures they want to screen. So this is the point where you will be able to watch England’s inevitable penalty defeat. If you are out and about, you can watch the BBC live games on iPlayer, whilst the BBC Sport app and website will show highlights of all 51 matches.
Both the BBC and ITV have pulled out all the stops when putting together their commentary teams for Euro 2024. Here’s details of the crew that will be gracing your screens this summer.
The BBC Euro 2024 coverage will be fronted by Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Alex Scott, along with lead presenter Gary Lineker. Joining them in the studio will be established experts Micah Richards, Ashley Williams and Rio Ferdinand, plus new stars in the form of England legend Wayne Rooney (are we sure about that title?), Joe Hart and Ellen White and Wayner Rooney.
Scotland will also be represented in the BBC studio by James McFadden, David Moyes and Rachel Corsie. While Brentford boss Thomas Frank and two-time Euro winner Cesc Fabregas will also be sharing their wisdom. There is also a mix of new names and experience in the commentary box. Steve Wilson, Guy Mowbray, Steve Bower, Vicky Sparks and Jonathan Pearce will once again be behind the mic, with Robyn Cowan joining them as she covers her major men’s tournament.
Co-commentary on England games will be provided by Alan Shearer, with McFadden, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and Danny Murphy sharing the duties for other games. The England v Denmark game on June 19th will feature a novelty Jamie Johnson Watchalong, where younger viewers can listen to the cast of the hit CBBC show commentate on the game.
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods will once again be fronting ITV’s major tournament coverage. Joining them in the studio will be experienced analysts Roy Keane, Ian Wright, Eni Aluko, Graeme Souness and Gary Neville. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl will also be providing expert views, alongside VAR-certified refereeing analyst Christina Unkel.
In the commentary box, Ally McCoist, Andros Townsend and Lee Dixon will be on pundit duties, so they’re the guys to follow if you still have bonuses for Euro 2024 burning a hole in your bookie account. Meanwhile, Sam Matterface, Seb Hutchinson and Clive Tyldesley are the ‘voices of football’ for ITV. And take it from me, that crew really like the sound of their own voices.
Brief interludes of sanity will ensue though, as Gabriel Clarke and Connie McLaughlin will be reporting directly from the England and Scotland camps respectively.
Another great way to follow the Euro 24 action is via the top Euro 2024 betting sites. Although they won’t be allowed to offer you live streaming, what they will have is a live simulator and more footie statistics than both TV companies put together could produce. Play your cards right, and you might stumble upon some exclusive bookie promos along the way too.
Let’s face it, when you’re watching Euro 2024 on TV, you’re going to be checking out all the games regardless of which channel they happen to be on - there is zero brand loyalty when it comes to stuff like that. Obviously, the BBC are delighted to have secured coverage of England’s first two games, but ITV does have the upper hand as they get to broadcast the prime knockout games.
ITV also appears to have the “names” when it comes to studio analysis, but there’s a lifetime of experience in the BBC commentary box, and in Gary Lineker, they have the most renowned presenter in the game. Of course, we all have our favourites when it comes to TV pundits, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide which channel has the best lineup. Either way, it’s time to get comfy on the sofa and order a takeaway, the Euros are about to begin.
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