From the Times.
THE BBC trounced ITV in the ratings for England's game against Denmark amid claims that millions of fans had heeded calls to boycott the commercial channel after the collapse of ITV Digital.
Viewing figures during the match peaked at 13.2 million on BBC1 and 3.6 million on ITV1. The BBC figure was the highest for a Saturday lunchtime since the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Official overall figures for the football grossly underestimate the total number of viewers because they do not include the millions who saw the game on big screens in pubs, clubs, town squares and special venues across the country.
The viewing figures have left ITV with a serious hangover. It has invested heavily in football, including poaching the BBC presenter Desmond Lynam, in an attempt to boost the channel's ratings. But many clubs blame ITV companies for the threat of financial ruin after the loss of income from ITV Digital for broadcasting their matches.
The Football League claimed last night that millions of fans had switched to the BBC because of its campaign urging them to boycott the commercial channel after the collapse of ITV Digital.
A spokesman for the Football League said: “This demonstrates the amount of feeling among football fans across the country at what they perceive is the injustice of the refusal of Carlton and Granada to honour the £178 million that is owed to the league clubs.” A court case to rule on the claim is expected to be heard next month.