The landscape of television and film has undergone significant changes attributed to advancements in technology. Even acclaimed filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan have had to acknowledge the influence of smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches on audience consumption of content.
The coverage of Euro 2024 has introduced a new battleground for conventional television broadcasters. The current objective is to achieve viral status on social media, a challenge that neither the BBC nor ITV has fully embraced to date. The rise of podcasting has also emerged as a profitable and unregulated frontier for experts, complicating the dynamic between viewers and traditional TV broadcasting.
The punditry teams of BBC and ITV are currently dominated by rival podcast empires. For the BBC’s Rest Is Football team, the equivalent of ITV is the Overlap gang. The former group includes prominent figures such as Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, while the latter comprises Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright. Their podcast discussions have even featured appearances from prominent individuals like Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate, despite potential discomfort arising from the unfiltered opinions of former football internationals.
The candid discussions on these podcasts bear resemblance to the unfiltered energy of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s Derek and Clive. The unrestrained nature of these conversations has facilitated unrestricted commentary on England’s performance, leading to controversial moments that have captured the attention of the media.
While ITV’s coverage continues to excel, with pundits expressing candid opinions and additional insights from Ange Postecoglou, the BBC’s coverage led by Lineker is evolving as a topic of discussion both on and off the screen. Even with the inclusion of expert commentary, the unfiltered nature of Lineker’s podcast threatens to become a significant issue for the BBC.
In terms of commentary, ITV’s lead commentator, Sam Matterface, may not possess the same mastery as Brian Moore, but he has displayed growing maturity and experience. Meanwhile, the BBC’s Thomas Frank and Wayne Rooney have also made significant contributions with their fresh insights and enthusiasm, enriching the conversations on both networks.
The extensive group stage of Euro 2024 has proven challenging to maintain consistency, even for experienced pundits such as Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist. However, the ongoing drama and controversial commentary have only served to heighten the anticipation for the upcoming matches.
Ultimately, the rivalry between the BBC and ITV’s Euro 2024 podcasts has become a prominent aspect of the Euro 2024 experience, introducing an unexpected and exciting element to the traditional BBC versus ITV battle.