Report: Match of the Day is not going anywhere as ITV don’t bid for rights to Premier League highlights

Good news for MOTD fans

It has been the hot topic in football, television circles for a while now. With ITV shedding the likes of Andy Townsend and Adrian Chiles in the wake of Champions League games going off the channel to BT at the end of this season, it was assumed that they would go all out to grab the rights to Premier Leauge highlights in the latest round of bidding, meaning the end of BBC's Match of the Day from the close of the 2015-16 season. However, it is being reported today by the Daily Mail that ITV have decided not to even bid for the rights, which is something of a strange decision. It leaves them with virtually no football, bar England internationals, and it appears to leave the way clear for BBC to retain the rights once again. The good news is that it means rows over the running order on Match of the Day will continue for the foreseeable future. UPDATE: Here is the BBC confirming they have retained Match of the Day. They paid £204million over three years and there will also be a new midweek show.

We're keeping Premier League highlights on BBC for a further 3 years through to & including the 2018/19 season! #MOTD pic.twitter.com/cVD4S8nBJv — Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 29, 2015