05/02/2009

Apology After Adverts Interrupt FA Cup Goal

ITV boss Michael Grade has apologised to viewers watching last night's FA Cup game after adverts were shown over the only goal in the Merseyside derby.

Many viewers missed Everton's Dan Gosling's extra-time goal on Wednesday night's match against Liverpool, when the game suddenly switched to adverts for Volkswagen cars and Tic-Tac sweets.

Grade called the glitch as "inexcusable" and said he was "disappointed as anyone to miss the goal".

Some viewers just managed to catch the goal after a number of ITV regions and digital channels returned to the game seconds before Gosling's strike. But for others the adverts continued and they were only able to see the Everton team's celebrations.

Grade also said: "We have years of experience in dealing with the changes in ad break patterns when games go into extra time and sometimes penalties.

"This we have done faultlessly through the Champions League, World Cup and European Championships.

"We are awaiting the results of our technical inquiry so we can put in place stringent and immediate procedures to address this,"

At the time ITV1's match presenter Steve Ryder said: "If you missed the goal we apologise. It was because of technical problems we had at that time."

The only goal of the game, which saw Everton put their Merseyside rivals Liverpool out of the FA Cup, came just minutes before the end of extra time.

(JM/BMcC)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 August 2010
ITV Cleared Over World Cup Goal
ITV has been cleared by Ofcom over an "unfortunate error" which led to HD viewers missing England's opening goal of the World Cup. In June, the media regulator received 823 complaints after coverage of England's first World Cup match against the USA on ITV1's high definition channel was interrupted by an unscheduled advert break.
18 September 2013
Three Teens Arrested Over GTAV Robbery
Police in north London have arrested three teenagers in connection with the violent robbery of a 23-year-old man, suspected to have been targeted for his copy of the video game, Grand Theft Auto V. The victim is understood to have been making his way home at around 1.30am on Tuesday when he was attacked.
08 December 2004
UK-wide rise in time taken to save for first house
It takes first time buyers six months longer to save for a house deposit when compared to the first quarter of 2004 and one year nine months longer than in 1994.
20 June 2014
England Lose Second World Cup Fixture
England are on the brink of having to exit the World Cup early after losing their second match in the tournament. The side lost 2-1 to Uruguay on Thursday night. The match, which was held in Sao Paulo, saw Uruguay take a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal from Luis Suarez.
13 November 2008
Investigation Into Drogba 'Missile throwing' Incident
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is facing a police and Football Association investigation after throwing an object into the crowd during last night's Carling Cup draw against Burnley. Drogba, who claims missiles were thrown at him as he celebrated his opening goal, threw the object - believed to be a coin - back into the crowd.