BBC Cymru Wales has struck a deal to show highlights of all Wales’ home internationals, including the World Cup qualifying matches against Croatia, Serbia, Scotland and John Toshack’s FYR Macedonia.
The deal, which will cover two seasons from August this year, marks the return of Welsh international football to BBC Wales television after an eight-year absence.
Wales’ friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina on August 15, the last warm-up game for Chris Coleman’s side before the World Cup qualifiers begin in September, will be the first match to be covered by BBC Wales under the new deal.
The first World Cup qualifier to be shown will be the game against Belgium on September 7.
Each programme will also be simulcast live on the BBC Sport website, and available to view soon after on the BBC iPlayer.
The new deal means that Welsh international football will return to BBC Wales for the first time since 2004, having previously screened live coverage of all Wales home matches until the Football Association of Wales (FAW) signed a long-term deal with Sky Sports.
Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director, BBC Cymru Wales, said: “Sport is one of the major things that defines us as a nation and I’m delighted that BBC Cymru Wales will be showing television highlights of Wales’s home football internationals once again, complementing our existing radio and online coverage in English and Welsh, and giving the audience the best of Welsh sport on all platforms.”
Television highlights of all Wales home matches will complement the live broadcasts by BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. Both radio stations and online will continue to cover all of Wales’s games, both home and away.
Geoff Williams, Head of Sport for BBC Cymru Wales, said: “We know from our existing coverage that there is a real passion for football in Wales, and we are thrilled to be able to follow Chris Coleman and the Wales team on television, as well as radio and online.
“Coverage of the Welsh international team will complement our existing coverage of the Welsh Premier League and Welsh Cup, and we look forward to bringing action, analysis, news and views to our audiences for the next two seasons.”
Jonathan Ford, FAW chief executive, said: “The Football Association of Wales is looking forward to a close working relationship with BBC Cymru Wales.
“We all recognise the high quality of sports coverage on BBC radio and television and we know this will be of benefit to Welsh football at all levels.
“It is an exciting time both on and off the field. We are about to embark on a World Cup qualifying campaign with the aim of reaching Brazil in 2014 and Welsh football supporters will be able to enjoy the journey with the highlights on BBC Wales television and live coverage on BBC radio.”
Live coverage of all Wales’ home internationals will continue to be shown on Sky Sports.
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