ITV get UEFA semi-final terrestrial green light

Last updated : 04 April 2002 By Ananova


Uefa confirm ITV would be allowed to screen both legs of a potential Champions League semi-final clash between Liverpool and Manchester United on terrestrial television.

Both teams take leads into the second leg of their quarter-finals against Bayer Leverkusen and Deportivo La Coruna respectively.

At the moment, Champions League games on Tuesday nights are screened live on ITV Sport, the digital channel, with Wednesday night matches on ITV1.

A Uefa spokesman said: "The contract with ITV states they are obliged to screen Wednesday matches on free television but if they want to do the same with Tuesday matches that would be possible too.

"They would inform us as a matter of course but there would not be any objection from Uefa."

If Manchester United and Liverpool get through their quarter-finals it will place ITV in something of a quandary.

The games are sure to bring huge viewing figures if shown on terrestrial TV, but with ITV Digital's problems - the station is currently in administration and threatening to renege on their £315million Football League contract - the tie may be viewed as an incentive for people to sign up to ITV Sport.

An ITV spokeswoman said: "We will not make any decisions until we know the outcome of the second legs."