Roland Garros on primetime national UK TV next Sunday afternoon

[batz]

http://www.itv.com/tvguide/#intcmp=NAV_TVGUIDE

from 1445 until 1730 on ITV 1 (it's live from 0945 on ITV4).

For those outside the UK, ITV 1 is one of the 2 big free to air channels (BBC1 is the other) - I don't recall tennis ever being given this level of coverage outside Wimbledon.

 

[rainingaces]

The rights must have been going cheap for itv to have made a bid. I am guessing there is no red button and they will chose to cover the big names rather then the great match ups.

It will be interesting to see who is on the comms, dont have any real high expectations but I do hope they are not clueless part time tennis fans.

 

[batz]

The rights must have been going cheap for itv to have made a bid. I am guessing there is no red button and they will chose to cover the big names rather then the great match ups.

It will be interesting to see who is on the comms, dont have any real high expectations but I do hope they are not clueless part time tennis fans.

I know for sure that Petchey will be one of them - not sure about the rest.

 

[Speranza]

You beat me to it Batz, I was quite surprised to see their advertising of the FO a few weeks ago. Thought I was seeing things. I cannot for the life of me remember ANY tennis being shown on ITV in all of my life. It seems almost, well, wrong???

I'll be interested to see what pundits and past players they get in...

 

[Hood_Man]

Sounds impressive. I was worried about the coverage when ITV announced they'd bought the rights, but this could turn out very well indeed.

 

[hard2explain]

The rights must have been going cheap for itv to have made a bid. I am guessing there is no red button and they will chose to cover the big names rather then the great match ups.

It will be interesting to see who is on the comms, dont have any real high expectations but I do hope they are not clueless part time tennis fans.

Budget cuts mean the BBC can't really go after sports anymore, outside their big marquee events, also I've read a lot of it's gonna be on ITV4.

On another note, hopefully this means Andrew Castle won't be doing commentary, gump that he is and all.

 

[mtr1]

I imagine Simon Reed and Chris Bradnam will feature, they do the Albert Hall commentary for ITV.

 

[Sentinel]

Does this make Andy the favorite for RG ?

*evil*

batz, i was just reading about Mo Farah, British distance runner. Is he well known there, do you have any thoughts on him ?

 

[SLD76]

Im just glad that the FO is increasing prize money, especially for the early rounds. EArly rounds seeing 7% increase while winner's purse increasing 4%.

 

[rainingaces]

Budget cuts mean the BBC can't really go after sports anymore, outside their big marquee events, also I've read a lot of it's gonna be on ITV4.

On another note, hopefully this means Andrew Castle won't be doing commentary, gump that he is and all.

Should be solid and reliable ratings winner being a big sporting event. itv4 do pretty well with sport the europa league and smaller events like darts.

 

[batz]

Does this make Andy the favorite for RG ?

*evil*

batz, i was just reading about Mo Farah, British distance runner. Is he well known there, do you have any thoughts on him ?

Mo is very well known here; he was one of the candidates for sports personality of the year. He seems like a top man to me.

 

[Mustard]

The BBC have been flogging all their TV tennis coverage except Wimbledon. Before this year, the BBC used to have Australian Open night matches on the interactive throughout the tournament, as well as all Andy Murray matches, the semi finals and the finals. This year, they only showed 1 men's semi final, the women's final and the men's final. And now they've sold their French Open highlights rights to ITV.

ITV haven't had TV coverage of a main tour event since 1993, when they last had the rights to the US Open, before Sky brought the rights for 1994.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

I can't stand ITV. I'll be watching on Eurosport.

 

[Mustard]

I'll be mostly watching on Eurosport.

 

[Homeboy Hotel]

Next sunday afternoon? R1 matches?

I've got a certain Monaco grand prix to watch then.

 

[batz]

The rights must have been going cheap for itv to have made a bid. I am guessing there is no red button and they will chose to cover the big names rather then the great match ups.

It will be interesting to see who is on the comms, dont have any real high expectations but I do hope they are not clueless part time tennis fans.

Courier, Mauresmo, Santoro, Sam Smith, Nick Mullins, Petchey. John Inverdale as anchor.

 

[batz]

Next sunday afternoon? R1 matches?

I've got a certain Monaco grand prix to watch then.

Yep. Formula 1 will just be finishing as the ITV1 coverage starts.

 

[Mustard]

Courier, Mauresmo, Santoro, Sam Smith, Nick Mullins, Petchey. John Inverdale as anchor.

Courier? It'll be nice to hear his commentary on British TV. I've heard him on 7, an Australian channel, and he's rather good.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

I can't stand ITV. I'll be watching on Eurosport.

I've gone full circle. I like the ITV team. Courier is a good pundit.

 

[Mustard]

I've gone full circle. I like the ITV team. Courier is a good pundit.

Yeah, ITV are doing a good job on this, and I knew Courier was good from seeing Australian TV on some DVDs I have. I think I'll be alternating between ITV and Eurosport during this tournament.

 

[batz]

Yeah, ITV are doing a good job on this, and I knew Courier was good from seeing Australian TV on some DVDs I have. I think I'll be alternating between ITV and Eurosport during this tournament.

Courier and Petchey commentating on the Tsonga match. Me likey.

 

[BeHappy]

This is great, it's actually on virtually all day if you have access to ITV's digital extra channels. ITv have really assembled a great team, apart from the lead anchor who knows nothing about tennis and who also does Wimbledon.

 

[rainingaces]

I like santoro he is very layed back, typicaly french and makes some really good points.

 

[billnepill]

OMG tennis on primetime in the UK??? what will you all do without snooker or darts to watch???? i mean your choices on the BEEB's channels runs from House of Lords, Heir hunters, Weakest Link to the news on like 3 channels....hahahaha

Yeah, you must be proud with American tv - American Idol etc

 

[batz]

OMG tennis on primetime in the UK??? what will you all do without snooker or darts to watch???? i mean your choices on the BEEB's channels runs from House of Lords, Heir hunters, Weakest Link to the news on like 3 channels....hahahaha

PMSL. If there's one thing I've learnt in the few years I've posted on here it's that tennis TV coverage in the UK is vastly superior to that on offer in the USA. Between Sky, Eurosport and BBC (and now ITV), every event worth covering is televised. Every slam, every MS, WTF plas a bunch of 250s and 500s - all in HD.

 

[rhubarb]

Have to say that ITV has been fabulous so far, although I'm working so I've not seen that much of it. Just seeing Jim Courier on board (and having nicked John Inverdale) made it clear that they are taking it seriously, and the amount of coverage: *all day*. Seriously impressed, hats off to them.

I had no idea the BBC had lost the rights until Jonathan Overend tweeted it at the weekend. Was thinking I'd have to buy a Eurosport feed, but I don't think that will be required.

Even if I have to put up with 2 x 30 second adverts every time I refresh their live web transmission page (it doesn't restart otherwise - please fix that), it's definitely good value.

 

[Towser83]

wow tennis on ITV. How strange. Will have to check it out when I get back to England.

 

[Hood_Man]

I'm impressed. I was worried it would be rubbish but they've really treated the viewers with respect.

I know the mens and womens finals are on ITV1, I assume that means ITV1HD as well? This will be the first time I get to see a HD tennis match, I'm looking forward to it

 

[Towser83]

I'm impressed. I was worried it would be rubbish but they've really treated the viewers with respect.

I know the mens and womens finals are on ITV1, I assume that means ITV1HD as well? This will be the first time I get to see a HD tennis match, I'm looking forward to it

That will be great if it is in hd!

 

[batz]

I'm impressed. I was worried it would be rubbish but they've really treated the viewers with respect.

I know the mens and womens finals are on ITV1, I assume that means ITV1HD as well? This will be the first time I get to see a HD tennis match, I'm looking forward to it

Yep, Final will be on ITV1 HD - as will live coverage from 1115 to 1600 tomorrow and 0930 to 1800 on Sunday.

Go ITV!