Channel 5 and the BBC were involved in a row this week after the
corporation’s sports producer, Chris Lewis, confiscated Channel 5’s
perimeter board advertising at a football match being transmitted live
on BBC1.
The incident happened on Tuesday at the stadium in Lyon, France, where
the BBC was covering Blackburn Rovers’ Uefa Cup defeat by Olympique
Lyonnaise.
Channel 5 had secured perimeter ad space for posters inviting viewers to
switch over to watch Channel 5’s coverage of Liverpool’s 5-0 rout of FC
Kosice.
Channel 5 claims the BBC game was broadcast without its ads in situ
after Lewis walked off with the work, against the wishes of the poster
contractor, Skyville.
Skyville is considering legal action against the BBC for loss of
reputation, ad revenue and media production costs.
However, a BBC spokesperson said: ’We have had no communication from the
company and cannot give any further information.’
Jim Hytner, Channel 5’s marketing director, said: ’It feels like an
unintended compliment that the BBC should worry so much about us. I’m
only sorry their team lost.’
