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ITV inundated with complaints after broadcasting howler
Rashid Razaq5 Feb 2009
ITV was today inundated with complaints from angry viewers after it showed adverts at the moment the only goal was scored in an FA Cup replay.
The broadcaster's executive chairman, Michael Grade, apologised for the blunder which denied millions the chance to see Everton's Dan Gosling score against Liverpool live.
Mr Grade blamed a technical fault. “As a football fan myself I was glued to the match and was as disappointed as anyone to miss the goal,” he said.
“Last night's glitch was inexcusable and we are awaiting the results of our technical inquiry so we can put in place stringent procedures to address this.”
The slip was thought to be caused by an automated system for broadcasting adverts. It is normally used on “regular schedule” nights and is not designed for live events which can over-run.
There was a peak of 7.2 million viewers for the broadcast. ITV said it had received 1,000 complaints.
The match coverage cut away to an advert for Tic Tacs in the 27th minute of extra time with the fourth round replay stuck at 0-0 and heading for penalties.
ITV returned to the live action only for fans to see Everton's goal celebrations. Host Steve Rider apologised, laying the blame on “technical problems”.
The problems continued as ITV went to adverts again and cut back mid-way into a post-match interview with Gosling. After the programme ITV showed a test card for more than five minutes before resuming normal service.
Rider, discussing the match with studio pundit Andy Townsend, said: “Apologies once again if our technical problems denied you the opportunity to see the goal live.”
Viewers have set up a petition on Facebook to strip ITV of the FA Cup rights it snatched from the BBC in a £425 million four-year deal last year.
An ITV spokesman said: “The technical problem appears to be an issue of network transmission. We apologise to viewers for the interruption to the game and are looking into the cause.”
An FA spokesman said: “We are seeking a full explanation from ITV. It is important this does not happen again.”
Reader views (49)
You're complaining about one break - try watching tennis on Sky Sports - they have a break evey 5 minutes! I wonder how many people complain about that(?)
- David, London, 21/08/2009 13:16
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Dear Sirs
My wife and I tuned in last night (Thursday 23 July ’09) as we have done for many years to ‘The Bill’, which we have long considered to be one of the consistently very best authoritative/realistic and enjoyable programmes on UK TV per se.
We can only say that we were completely appalled at the dreadfully inappropriate and excessively noisy, distracting and totally annoying music augmented by the allied visual accent lines and allied noise. These both dominated the introduction to each section of the programme and regularly interrupted each action scene. This was so intrusive that it ruined our enjoyment on this first outing of the programme in its new format. This was to the extent that we had to mute the sound on each occasion.
Clearly this is no improvement and you should immediately return to the previous professional tried tested format. I.e. please take note of the old maximum “if ain’t broke don’t fix it”. We feel it is so bad that we are unlikely to be able to continue viewing what was previously such an excellent programme loved by so many viewers for many years. Why on earth did you make such a lousy change to the production?
Please reject this new format in favour of the previous one without delay as it is ruining the programme.
- Eric Sands, Long Bennington, |UK, 24/07/2009 15:38
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shocking!
should never have live sports if they cannot control when adverts are shown, everyone knows if you turn away something might happen, thats life and football is more important than that.
still itv were earning money, i wonder if that is the real reason
- ken, chigwell, essex, 07/02/2009 11:27
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didn't watch it so don't care.
- Steve, Gloucestershire, 07/02/2009 10:29
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What a shame - not. I would have thought that if you were that interested in this moronic so called sport you would invest in a tv sports channel, then regular viewers would not have to turn off the tv and read a book when this so called sport is on in the evenings and be unable to relax in the front of the tv after a hard days work.
- Anon, UK, 06/02/2009 08:00
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I was utterly disgusted with this monumental cock-up. What if the millions who watched the moon landing had to put up with this just as that moon boot hit the dust? There would have been anarchy!
I'm afraid there's a Quentin somewhere who's head must roll!!
- K. Benwright, Walton. UK., 05/02/2009 17:38
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I never watch ITV it is a plastic channel always trying to compete with the BBC and SKY and failing miserably.I love my football but stopped watching premier league highlights as soon as they got the rights from the BBC, thank god we have Match of the Day back as listening to David Pleat is the best excuse for suicide i can think of and thats from just hearing him during radio commentaries ( i immediately switch off ).Would have been nice to see Lewis Hamilton win the world drivers championship but i justed wait for news highlights to show me the finish.ITV = WATCH A SHAMBLES
- David Foss, dagenham,essex, 05/02/2009 17:35
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I'm just surprised they got as any runs as they did . . .
- Teecee, Walton on Thames, 05/02/2009 17:09
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The BBC should feel ashamed that they let one of the alleged crown jewels of the sporting calendar go. Given how much we are paying to fund the BBC, at the very least they should retain the rights to show some live football.
ITV were the alternative and I hate the interruption of any sport with constant commercial breaks.
Beeb. Pull your finger out and don't let us down again
- Mike, St Albans, 05/02/2009 15:38
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This happens all the time in Mexico!
When the last Pope died there was a broadcast of Andreas Bocelli starting to sing Ave Maria in the Sistene Chapel. Imagine how moving that was! He had sung just two words and they cut to a bunch of plonkers in the Mexican studio yakking. And believ me yakking aimlessly is a national sport here.
So relax. think yourself lucky.
- Gordon Mann, mexico, mexico, 05/02/2009 15:23
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If you want to complain and ask ITV to do the decent thing, before they ruin in the FA Cup further, and let the BBC take back the coverage, then email viewerservices@itv.com
I knew as soon as it was announced that ITV would ruin the FA cup after the BBC has started to restore it folloing ITV's previous attempt in trying to kill it off! The FA must be rueing Brian Barwicks decision now!
- Simon, Newcastle, 05/02/2009 15:19
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I wasn't actually watching, but what adverts would I have seen instead of boring overpaid nancy-boy footballers?
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 05/02/2009 15:10
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That is the problem once we have paid the TV licence we can not get our money back.They are entitled to deprived us from what we have paid to watch and all we have is a sorry.. We want our money back. If we fail to pay our Tv Licence we could face a criminal conviction. I think the government should make it a criminal offence for providers who fail fail to show us what we have paid for.
- Alex Lisinge, Putney London, 05/02/2009 15:02
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Like the commentators far better than Sky and BBC who all seem to talk with a lisp or if they are eating sweets but as for the actual coverage and to miss the only goall after so long is a disgrace, I seem to remember they missed a vital part of a Grand Prix and put a advert on some seasons ago.Hope whoever caused last nights boob has got a P45 now.
- Mike, London England, 05/02/2009 15:01
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We must all assume that none of the commenters here has ever made a mistake themselves...
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 05/02/2009 14:59
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don't care - not everyone likes football!
- Sally Brooks, uk, 05/02/2009 14:56
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I agree with Mark of St. Albans. I was asleep as well. I have only seen one football match in my life and that was in 1946 (or thereabouts). It was a on Boxing day and one of the teams was Bolton Wanderers. I was so bored I walked out at half time. BUT, for all those DEDICATED FANS I will stand behind you in your complaints against the TV station that screwed up, as they so often do. As someone else said it's all down to money-greed.
- Jon Vickers, SC USA, 05/02/2009 14:44
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I am sick of football taking off mainstream programmes (one programme I really enjoy is the Bill and this is always the one that is taken off) I also am sick TV dictasting football too. I work on match day's at a premier league club and our wowrking time is affected by TV. One match we had to start at 8.30am on a Sunday, because the match was kicking off at 1.30 because of TV. If match kicks off at 12.30 we have to be in at 7.30am. All because of Sky and Sentanta dictasting to the clubs when matches are played.
- E Sullivan, London, 05/02/2009 14:23
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From another news website...
"An automated system for screening adverts was still in place during the extended Liverpool v Everton match. It is used when schedules are running normally, and fails to take overruns into account."
So, it was an automated system left engaged following an over-run. This is NOT a technical glitch at all. It is incompetence, pure and simple.
- Escobar A-Lop-Lop, Camden County, 05/02/2009 14:22
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ITV's coverage is just awful. Their 1st round tie between Histon and Leeds was dreadful and the advert interruption is unforgivable. All that hard work the BBC has put into restoring the FA Cup's reputation has already been washed away. The FA should be ashamed for selling the soul of the cup down the river through pure greed. Terminate the contract now for incompetence and hand it back to the Beeb!
- Brett Scott, Bristol, 05/02/2009 13:50
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Give the broadcast back to the BBC. They were rubbish at F1, rubbish at ftball....not wonder they are begging for money....
- Rd, Basingstoke, 05/02/2009 13:48
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I didn't watch the game, have never watched ITV and was fast asleep when this happened, but I will fight to my dying breath to make sure ITV is closed down immediately.
I feel so strongly about this mistake and the funny thing is I don't even like rugby.
- Mark, st albans, 05/02/2009 13:46
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ITV have learnt a harse lesson, they can't compete with the BBC, let alone Sky regarding sporting coverage. Steve Rider is not a dedicated Football anchorman, Andy Townend show's enthusiam but so does my local milkman.
Using a fottie analogy, " play to your strenghts" ITV should stick to Corrie and low brow lunchtime TV
- Simon, Hanworth, 05/02/2009 13:45
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Knowing the venue I was not all surprised, I assumed that someone had nicked the camera.
- David Walthamstow, London, 05/02/2009 13:42
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I didn't see the incident, but I was shocked and appaulled by the outrageous error. I will never watch them again.
- Brent, London, 05/02/2009 13:30
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I am in Switzerland hwv I get Sky and the main UK channels. I am a Spurs supporter but enjoy footy in general.
Are ITV really to blame for this? They are openly a commercail channel and this is what can happen. They have a duty to their paying advertisers.
Likewise Setanta are open and honest about what they are - however the upshot of them getting England games / certain premiership games is that we either pay or miss the games. (I don't subscribe to Setanta but do to Sky).
We are called customers when we are fans. The game is no longer called a game but 'entertainment'. This does the game no good at all.
To be frank - I am tired of being milked of my money to watch football. Sky, Setanta etc. They real culprits are FA and the Premier league whose greed knows no bounds and I am afraid to say (even without the credit crunch) they run the risk of irritating their 'customers' who might well start turning off in their droves.
- Coys Switz, switzerland, 05/02/2009 13:24
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ITV destroyed athletics with their coverage in the 80s so watch out football!
- Richard Ogle, LONDON, 05/02/2009 13:20
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Tim, I couldn't agree more and have just posted something very similar on another page. The whole thing is Vauxhall Conference (lowly and defunct) as opposed to Sky and the Beeb.
Indeed, Channel 4's coverage of the Italian leagues was a million miles better, and that's going back a decade.
- Stu, Beckton, 05/02/2009 13:16
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Having sat through the entire match with the atmosphere building - to suddenly get an advert - then resume to the game to find a goal had been scored was so deflating! I was left dumbfounded! I immediately went on-line to find where I could log a complaint with ITV. After 25 minutes I finally gave up as it wasn't obvious. I'm with Sandra on this one .. does anyone know how to leave a complaint?
- Kim, Lancing, West Sussex, 05/02/2009 13:10
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The beauty of live sport is the unpredictability of it - viewers remain transfixed to the conclusion of the event as on Sunday night's Superbowl transmission on BBC1 won in the last 35 seconds.
ITV's pedigree as a sports broadcaster has always been inferior to the BBC and when both channels screened the FA cup final this was reflected in the breakdown of the viewing audience.
ITV's coverage of the rugby World Cup was wretched. Thank goodness they don't bother with tennis as I hesitate at the number of points / rallys you'd miss whilst they cut to a commercial break.
- Jezza, Woodford, 05/02/2009 13:03
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Regardless of the mistake - their coverage is garbage.
- James, London, 05/02/2009 13:01
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if it was 'techical error' how come they were able to broadcast an advert !!
surely a 'there is a fault' static page would have been more appropriate than squeezing in yet another advert.
ITV just don't do football...
- Simon Bucknell, enfield, 05/02/2009 12:54
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RUINED THE GAME FOR ALL THE VIEWERS, SHOULDNT BE ALLOWED NEAR MAJOR SPORTS BROADCASTS.
- Brian, Wiltshire, 05/02/2009 12:52
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They did exactly the same with F1, cut to a break at the crucial moment. Although I understand this was a technical issue with an automated process, it does go to show that you cannot professionally show sport on this channel. The commentators are rubbish. ITV is the worst channel for watching sport on, and has been ever since World Of Sport was abolished over 20 years ago! Who wants a channel that prime time schedules consist of just two soap operas and drama upon drama upon drama. The soaps have far too many episodes in a week as well and put people off. An utter shambles of a channel that doesnt listen to what people actually want! With mistakes like this, no wonder the advertising revenue is down.
- Tim, London, England, 05/02/2009 12:39
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I thought that ITV only did TV adverts for their F1 coverage, are they now going to do it during the football too???
- Jason Trussell, Colchester, 05/02/2009 12:26
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please please could someone tell me the number for the itv sports complaint department?????.....PLEASE!!
- Sandra, north wales, 05/02/2009 12:20
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This is why they lost F1 and why Match of the Day is more popular now it's on the BBC. They should stick to what they do best - Trailer Trash TV
- Andy, highgate, 05/02/2009 11:57
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"Nearly 100 complaints were registered on the ITV website within an hour of the end of the programme."
Which surely is a tiny fraction of a percent of those watching it?
- Bob, Cheam, 05/02/2009 11:56
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ITV have form for this.
"Technical Problems"...yeah right. What you had there was some plum without a bone of sporting passion in his body, but a worryingly misplaced sense of commercial awareness sweating that too much time had gone by between ad breaks and just had to push the button.
They did it far too often in F1, which never had the luxury of 45-50 minutes of uninterupted coverage as football, generally, does, but would think nothing of sticking a break on in the closing laps of a race, when anyone that cares or takes an interest (not any ITV Sport directors for sure) knows that all remaining drivers left in play are pushing hard, resulting in some of the best racing to be seen (even if the previous 50 laps had been excrutiatingly dull).
Besides, they had the wrong match on...Forest v. Derby was much better, and I say that as a Forest fan.
- Escobar A-Lop-Lop, Camden County, 05/02/2009 11:55
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What an absolute shower! If the FA had any guts they would pull the contract. The Beeb for all its faults at least looks and sounds professional on sport.
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire, 05/02/2009 11:53
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I think it was a simple mistake. I don't think they should be castigated for it.
I appreciate being able to watch FA Cup, Premier League highlights, UEFA Cup and Carling matches on terrestial TV as I won't pay for Sky.
Frankly I think they are doing a good job.
- Kevin, North London, 05/02/2009 11:52
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ITV coverage compared to Sky and BBC is amateurish both in its presentation and use of technology. They have lagged behind in sports coverage for years and this event at the Everton game simply highlights their deficiencies and control. I would not want more footbal to leave the terrestial channels but think it is time for ITV to have their football rights removed in favour of the more professional BBC.
- Nigel, Folkestone, 05/02/2009 11:50
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how funny
- Fly, london, 05/02/2009 11:17
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Some peopke really need to get a grip on reality.. so you missed a goal.. hardly warrents furious calls etc. Get real...
- Joanna, london, 05/02/2009 11:00
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It wasn't the final, there are plenty more games to come, get over it. It is called human error.
- Steve, South East London, UK, 05/02/2009 10:59
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Good. I am sick of having normal mainstream TV schedules interrupted by football which most people do not want to watch.
- Tom, Watford (UK), 05/02/2009 10:48
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what a complete farce....6 of us all watching....3 minutes to go...edge of the seats....then a stupid advert and missed the only goal!!! Amatuerish, unproffesional and ridiculous! Furthermore, the entire game was directed very poorly, shots of fans instead of the game, replays missed, camera angles all wrong....looked like it was the Directors first game (and last i hope)!!
- Gary, amersham, 05/02/2009 10:47
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Ha ha ha!! TV is such rubbish anyway, why do people bother with it? It is an insult to the intelligence. Serves them right for getting adverts in the middle of a match lol.
- Neil M., london uk,, 05/02/2009 10:44
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ITV are an absolute shambles. Even when adverts don't cut into the only goal in two hours of football, the presentation is third rate. Third rate presenters and third rate pundits with continuous ad breaks at other times ruining the presentation.
Stick to what you do best and leave sport alone. Hopeless!
- Steve Osburn, england, 05/02/2009 10:26
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