ITV Sport is to broadcast its most extensive coverage of the Coca-Cola Football League on a network and regional level following a two-year extension to its contract through to the 2005/06 season.
A weekly 45-minute programme called 'The Championship' will be shown on Sunday mornings across the network on ITV1, featuring extended highlights of two games from the top division, goal action and reports from the other matches as well as the key highlights from League One and League Two. The first programme, this weekend at 10.30am, will feature Leicester City and West Ham United.
On a regional level, viewers can see goals and key action in Saturday teatime news bulletins and any midweek action will be featured in regional news throughout the week.
In addition, there will also be a brand new regular Thursday night regional programme taking in all the highlights from the previous weekend and midweek games of their local teams, as well as the latest news from the clubs and a look ahead to the weekend fixtures.
The Football League's cup competition - the Carling Cup - will have network highlights from round three through to the final as well as extensive regional coverage throughout the course of the competition.
'The Championship' will be presented by Matt Smith direct from the main highlights game of the day and analysis will come from Andy Townsend, Ally McCoist and Robbie Earle. Match commentary will be provided by Clive Tyldesley, Peter Drury and Jon Champion.
An ITV spokesperson said: "We hope that fans of The Championship and Leagues One and Two will be well catered for in the coming season with an extensive level of terrestrial coverage across both the ITV network and throughout the local regions."
ITV1 has also secured live action from the second legs of both Manchester United and Liverpool's UEFA Champions League qualifying ties, to be played in late August. Liverpool's home match with Graz AK will be screened on ITV2 on Tuesday August 24th with Manchester United's return match with either Dinamo Bucharest or MSK Zilina the following night.
ITV will conclude its live football coverage in August with the UEFA Super Cup match between UEFA Champions League winners Porto and UEFA Cup winners Valencia now under the reigns of former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri.
From September ITV will resume its live coverage of the UEFA Champions League for the 12th consecutive season. Matches will be shown on both ITV1 and ITV2 on Tuesday evenings.