AFTER LOSING THEIR rights for the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup, ITV won’t renew the contract of long-time co-commentator Andy Townsend, according to the Daily Mail.
The former Republic of Ireland international has been with the broadcaster since 1999 and has been central to ITV’s football coverage.
Reports suggest the 51-year-old has parted company by ‘mutual consent’ as he wants to work on live football and has received offers from various international broadcasters.
ITV lost their FA Cup rights to BBC this season and BT Sport’s acquisition of Champions League coverage, alongside Sky Sports, means ITV’s live football offering is now limited to England internationals.
Townsend was part of the station’s Premiership highlights programme, which ran from August 2001 to May 2005, but his departure as well as that of presenter Matt Smith suggests ITV won’t revial BBC for the lucrative package when it comes back up for auction next month.
With the Daily Mail reporting the former midfielder has had offers from other stations, BT Sport are likely to be the frontrunner given their football coverage is set to expand next year as they show Champions League for the first time.
