| The Big Match | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Football |
| Presented by | Brian Moore (1968–1983) Elton Welsby (1983–1992) Mark Pougatch (2021–present) |
| Starring | Jimmy Hill (1968–1973) Jim Rosenthal (1980–1983) |
| Opening theme | see Theme Tunes |
| Ending theme | see Theme Tunes |
| Composer | see Theme Tunes |
| Production | |
| Producer | London Weekend Television |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 25 August 1968–26 April 1992 2021–present |
| Related | |
| Match of the Day (BBC) | |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
The Big Match was a British football television programme, screened on ITV between 1968 and 1992.[1]
The Big Match originally launched on London Weekend Television (LWT) – the ITV regional station that served London and the Home Counties at weekends – screening highlights of Football League matches.[2][3] Other ITV regions had their own shows, but would show The Big Match if they were not covering their own match – particularly often in the case of Southern and HTV. The programme was set up in part as a response to the increased demand for televised football following the 1966 FIFA World Cup and partly as an alternative to the BBC's own football programme, Match of the Day. The Big Match launched the media career of Jimmy Hill, who appeared on the programme as an analyst, and made Brian Moore one of the country's leading football commentators.
The programme was launched soon after London Weekend Television took over the ITV weekend franchise for London from ATV, which had previously shown local football highlights under the name Star Soccer. Co-presenter Jimmy Hill was also Head of Sport at LWT.
The Big Match originally screened match highlights on Sunday afternoons while Match of the Day screened them on Saturday evenings. But in 1978, Michael Grade at London Weekend Television audaciously won exclusive rights to all league football coverage for ITV in a move termed "Snatch of the Day". Although the Office of Fair Trading blocked the move, the BBC was forced to allow ITV to take over the Saturday night slot in alternating seasons.[4] This new arrangement began with the 1980–81 season.