UK terrestrial broadcasters BBC and ITV have jointly acquired the rights for the UEFA Euro 2012 football tournament, reports Sport Business. The BBC will show the England group game against Sweden on June 15. ITV will televise England group games against France on June 11 and against Ukraine on June 19. The BBC will then have first pick of the quarter-final matches.
ITV will also show two group stage matches featuring the Republic of Ireland, who are likely to be the second-biggest draw for UK audiences after England. ITV will show Ireland's matches against Croatia on June 10 and Spain on June 14. The BBC will show Ireland v Italy on June 18.
The deal leaves UEFA with just France out of the big five European markets in which to do a deal for the tournament. In both the UK and France it has struggled to get broadcasters to meet its valuation of the tournament due to a lack of competition.
The BBC and ITV were also the rights-holders for the previous edition of the tournament, Euro 2008.
