Terrestrial football fan
Sir: Dominique Jackson wonders why the BBC bid alongside BSkyB for the televising of football (`Reach for the Sky', 20 June).
Far from suffering an identity crisis, our aim throughout was crystal clear. The pri- ority was to retain 'live' coverage of FA Cup football, culminating in the FA Cup Final itself, one of the nation's great sport- ing events. At the same time, it was the football authorities who sought a future pattern for the game involving a partner- ship between terrestrial television and pay- per-view, which they saw as an important Contribution to the financial well-being of football. By bidding for the Premier League highlights alongside BSkyB we were able to guarantee their support for what mattered to the BBC, the FA contract.
By making this strategic alliance we were able to get good value for the licence-payer, a five-year deal which will provide more
football on BBC Television than ever before.
Will Wyatt
Managing Director Network Television, British Broadcasting Corporation, Television Centre, Wood Lane, London W12
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