ITV make Match of the Day bidding decision with BBC contract set to end in 2025
BBC are reportedy set to retain the rights to show Premier League highlights from 2025 – after ITV decided not to make a bid.
Channel 4 and Channel 5 have also reportedly decided not to attempt to secure the rights due to falling viewing figures, as well as the BBC having an established brand in Match of the Day.
That means that the Gary Lineker-fronted Saturday show is set to continue after the 2025 deal comes to an end which will already have surpassed 60 years since it first came to air.
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The Daily Mail report that rivals don't see sufficient commercial value given that Premier League highlights often go live on YouTube at 5:15pm on Saturdays.
ITV's decision to withdraw after initial talks with league bosses means that they won't bring back The Premiership, which was previously hosted by Des Lynam.
For three years between 2001 and 2004, ITV's The Premiership replaced Match of the Day in showing top-flight highlights – and had U2's Beautiful Day for the opening theme.
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Although the show wasn't well received by all, the theme song was an inspired choice from producers, and it was reused for their Championship highlights programme between 2004 and 2009.
Since July of 2022, ITV have had the rights to EFL highlights – called English Football League Highlights.
It replaced EFL on Quest, which was broadcast between 2018 and 2022 and hosted by Colin Murray, Jacqui Oatley or Michelle Owen
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MOTD host Lineker opened up about his future on the show earlier this year after the BBC reinstated him after a suspension regarding a political tweet.
Lineker said on the Match of the Day Top 10 podcast earlier this year: "Jermaine Jenas – who is probably drifting more towards my role. I think Jermaine is doing it really well as well, doing The One Show."
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