ITV is looking forward to a June Derby double, having broadcast rights to both the equine version and the FA Cup Manchester iteration taking place within hours of each other in June.
The broadcaster will be hoping for some impressive viewing figures – The Epsom Derby takes place at the earlier-than-usual time of 1.30pm on Saturday June 3, assuming there are no new Grand National-style hold ups to British racing’s biggest prize, having been brought forward to avoid clashing with the tantalising first-ever Manchester Derby FA Cup Final at 3pm. That game follows, with both screening live and free to air on ITV1 and simulcast on ITVX.
ITV1’s coverage of the racing Derby, which recently landed a new sponsorship deal with BetFred, will begin at 12.30pm. Intriguingly, BetFred owner and Manchester United fan Fred Done famously lost around half a million in 1998 when he paid out early on his team winning the Premier League, only for Arsenal to stage an unlikely late surge and close a 12-point gap to take the title.
Unbelievably, he then made the same costly mistake in 2012 when Utd were pipped to the title in the 94th minute of the season’s final game by that Agueroooooo goal for rivals City.
There’s no suggestion Done will be doing the same thing for the cup final – in fact his own bookmaker currently lists City as red hot 4/11 favourites with United at an outsider’s 9/4 – but ITV1’s coverage there will begin at 2.15pm regardless, with the racing coverage switching to ITV4 and also simulcast on ITVX. All the races from Epsom on the day will be broadcast live on ITV and ITVX.
Further details on coverage plans will be announced closer to the events.
