In the history of UK football, Many people (including me) have been fascinated about how the BBC and ITV present football tournaments. So I have decided to take a look from 1978 onwards to judge who is better overall.
1978- World Cup Argentina
BBC
A very nice South American meets jewellery box theme that sounds about right for 1978. Some nice shots of the fans but little clips of the previous world cups or famous moments (maybe there weren't enough at the time in colour.)
ITV
ITV didn't seem to do proper opening titles in but just put some cheap music over clips of the tournament. Very poor because apart from that ITV at the time would provide the better coverage.
Winner- BBC. they made an effort.
1980 European championships
BBC vs ITV
it was such a popular tournament (not) that there seem to be no actual video clips of the intros. Could be a recurring theme of the 1980s
1982- world cup Spain
BBC
So would you ever associate Andrew Lloyd Webber with the World Cup? Well the BBC clearly thought that the time that the Jellicle Ball theme from cats would suit it. And god help us but it worked well. Nice use of limited special effects and focus on the flags of England and Scotland (but little mention of Northern Ireland being there as well. Shame)
ITV
ITV went back to basics for this world cup by just showing a bunch of random men playing football with the Spanish flag being cut in as well. The music was terrific though by Jeff Wayne (who had produced the big match theme as well) Called matador it began a tradition that ITV would get a theme produced exclusively for a football tournament.
Winner - BBC (Just) ITV had the better music but BBC was more polished
1984 European championships
BBC vs ITV
this is going really well. Not a single clip at this tournament either.
1986
BBC
Kudos for showing clips of previous tournaments but apart from that it just felt very cheap. The music is the main culprit of this and sounds like a 1980s USA cop show theme. It sounds vaguely Mexican but that is about it really.
ITV
ITV knock it out the park again with a fantastic intro that really does set the tone of the world cup. The music Axtec gold was so popular that it was used again (see below) and used for their popular football programme Saint and Greavsie. The clips shown are great as well.
Winner - ITV by a mile. The clips and music wins it every time.
1988 European championships
BBC- I cannot find it online but knowing the BBC it was probably rubbish
ITV
Hmmm... Maybe Aztec Gold doesn't work this time around but since it was used for Saint and Greavsie as well it was fine for the time
Winner- No score- (No clip for BBC)
1990 World cup- Italy
ITV
Declining to use Aztec Gold this time around and going with a little ditty called Tutti al Mondo by Rod Argent of the Zombies this was slightly ahead of its time and the graphics looked good. Usually this would be enough to win this, however, the BBC did something no-one on earth expected...
BBC
Whoever thought of using opera at the world cup is genius. It was perfect for Italia 90 and Nessun Dorma by Pavarotti proved to be a smash hit in the UK reaching number 2 in the charts. Okay, it might have something to do with England reaching the Semi-Finals of the world cup plus the fact that Italia 90 would be better remembered for glorious moments rather than great games (my highlight- Platt's goal against Belgium). The clips were stunning and Rossi's famous celebration captured the titles brilliantly. It didn't show Italy off as a country but by god, you knew it was Italian. Possibly the best world cup intro ever.
Winner- BBC- in a year where ITV did okay but BBC smashed them to pieces.
1992 European championships
BBC
The BBC decided to be Optimistic and use the European union theme Ode to Joy as the theme song. Well, how were they supposed to know how rubbish Euro 92 was going to be. and then the opening titles focused on retiring Captain Gary Lineker who didn't look sharp until his final game and then Graham Taylor hauled him off. And then England lost.
ITV
Oh, I absolutely love this theme. Again too Optimistic (unless you are Danish or Swedish) but the clips and the music work so well together as do the graphics. ITV got Union to compose the Song 'You Are The Number One' (Possibly aimed at Gary Lineker who they expected to beat Bobby Charlton's goal record. Graham Taylor had other ideas).
Winner- ITV. I love the music too much,
1994 World cup- USA
Strangely enough, without the home nations competing at the world cup this time around, (I blame Ronald Koeman) both the BBC and ITV declined to make much effort with the opening titles. BBC nicked the tune from West Side Story and just showed clips of the USA plus some of the teams who unlike England and Scotland had made an effort. (Wales Almost made it and did look like a good team until it all went wrong when the BBC chose to show the last 10 minutes of their game instead of England's hopeless task against San Marino - England had to beat them by SEVEN clear goals and hope Poland beat Holland. neither Happened. God help us we let San Marino score but England won 7-1. But Poland lost to Holland 3-1)
ITV
ITV declined to have an original song for this world cup (knowing how much smaller the audience was going to be) and decided to use the official world cup song Gloryland by Daryl Hall & Sound Of Blackness. I love the song but the clips are crap. Just showing people celebrating goals (and no-one I even recognize cut between random flags is frankly cheap and crap.
Winner- BBC- While I prefer ITV's music, it isn't even their own and everything else is terrible.
1996 European championships
BBC
Very good by the BBC. I love the music and showing clips using the stadiums that would be hosting the championships plus the focus on England and Scotland helps. It felt like it was coming home.
ITV
About the Same as the BBC's really. I do like Jerusalem theme and ITV would continue with the theme for a while after. However, I prefer the BBC's graphics and I found it to be a little dull.
Winner- BBC. Overall had the better package.
1998 World cup- France
BBC
I can see the idea behind it. The world's best players feasting at the French table with the world cup reflecting on them. however, in truth, it was very dull and didn't feel French or Epic. The real start of a Downward Spiral for the BBC.
ITV
Now, this is more like it. Showing France off with the highlights of previous world cups plus music which was perfect for 1998. ITV once again after 2 dodgy world cups that they really do opening titles well.
Winner- ITV. By a mile
2000 European championships
BBC
Its okay by the BBC and after a few bad efforts these opening titles feel modern and Fresh. Kudos to the MOTD logo at the end
ITV
Lack of Effort by ITV with this one. However, there wasn't any real point getting optimistic about Euro 2000 by a British broadcaster due to how rubbish England was when they were qualifying and throughout their brief time at euro 2000.
Winner- BBC- at least they tried.
2002 World cup- Japan/South Korea
BBC
Like 1998 I can see the idea behind it. Try to get the best out of both hosts and try to encompass the feeling of high speed towards the world cup final with showing previous clips and possible heroes, it actually does nothing for me and just seems, well BLAH!!!
ITV
However, this is the opposite. Using music from Japanese opera and showing the class of both nations this for me is possibly up there for the best ITV world cup intros
Winner- ITV. By a mile. AGAIN!!!!
Coming soon- Euro 2004 and 2006 world cup intros.
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