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Fans slam ITV for not showing Leagues One and Two highlights during international break

Fans slam broadcaster ITV for not showing highlights of matches from Leagues One and Two during the international break.

A growing number of supporters were angered at being unable to watch their side at the weekend, just because their was no Championship action.

Matt from @GillsInTheBlood, took aim at ITV for neglecting lower leagues, contrasting it with Quest’s dedicated coverage featuring knowledgeable hosts and pundits.

Fans feel ITV treats these leagues as an inconvenience, prioritising repeats of old films over Leagues One and Two football, and want coverage returned to a broadcaster that values it better.

Matt from @GillsInTheBlood said in a video: “I’m going to shout it out, ITV, absolutely appalling service again. Ah it’s international break, football doesn’t exist beyond the Championship, it’s frankly disgusting.

“Give it back to someone that wants to look after it. Give it back to someone that wants to take League One and League Two serious, like they did on Quest.

“Quest might not be the biggest channel in the world, but what they did was they got a good host in Colin Murray. They decent guests. I it was, I always forget his name, Sam, the ex-Oxford striker.

“Decent pundits at that level. used to get I think the boys from the NTT20 know their stuff on there as well.

“And it felt like it was a program that really appreciated the bottom two divisions.

“Whereas ITV just feels like that League One and League Two are an inconvenience to putting on some crappy repeat film that we’ve all watched a thousand times on ITV1 15 years ago.

“And it just needs to be given to someone that actually cares about the lower leagues, which is why people like us and Gabe Sutton and the NTT20 boys and the boys at the League 2 lowdown and lower league lowdown for League 1.

“That’s why I will champion all of us as much as possible because we care about League 1 and League 2 and ITV, it’s just a money making deal for them isn’t it?”

Back in September, Gabriel Sutton wrote: “Hoping whoever gets the #EFL highlights rights in 2027, when ITV’s contract expires, really invests in all three leagues like Quest did 🤞🏻

“A big part of that is having a show when the Championship’s on an international break.

“In order for more people to see the magic of League One & League Two, we need the TV companies representing our leagues to truly buy into them – it makes such a difference.”

A month later, he added: “With the honour of hosting the #EFL highlights should come a commitment, ideally a willingness, to embrace the magic of all three leagues.

“Of course higher-profile teams and individuals might take precedence at times, but to not have a show for League One & League Two on international weekend is really poor.

“Once again, ITV sending the message they don’t care about teams below the Championship.”

Here’s how Twitter users reacted as fans continue to slam ITV for not showing Leagues One and Two highlights during international break…

@aroundgroundsss: League 1 and 2 are fantastic leagues with fantastic fans bases and clubs in that shouldn’t be pushed to one side just because it’s international weekend. Promoted the divisions, show case the divisions and have pride in how good they actually are @ITVSport @SkyBetLeagueOne and @SkyBetLeagueTwo will always be pushed in my eyes and in a lot of creators eyes. Because quite frankly we love it, it’s proper #SkyBetLeagueOne #SkyBetLeagueTwo #EFL #TL2H

@harriesdon87: This. Nail on the Head. I’d say L1 and L2 are very intriguing this year and deserve more coverage IMHO

@GraemeManderso1: Proper annoying bring back Quest!!!

@JordanRich2003: Couldn’t agree more.

@MarkHalliwell1: I see @itvfootball @ITVSport aren’t bothering again with a highlights show this weekend as it’s international weekend and the Championship aren’t playing. The @EFL should be complaining about this as it’s not good enough to ignore Leagues One and Two.

@ewins_gary: Exactly this.. debacle of a show even when it’s on..@ITVSport hang your head in shame..the sooner someone else takes it over the better….. someone who actually cares

@utccom: It’s a shocking programme in any case but not broadcasting during an international break with all those games in Leagues One & Two just isn’t right.

@Felstedboy: It was so much better on Quest.

@NickDeary: The @ITV @ITVSport coverage has been awful. They’ve shown a clear hatred of lower league clubs since the ITV Digital fiasco

@GlingK03: Even when it’s actually on, it’s so shit.

@ryangriffin89: Such a missed opportunity to give League 1 and 2 some more airtime. How hard is it to send an intern out to a ground and do some interviews. Do a small history feature? They could even get some existing content creators to chip in. Most would do it for free.

@steal1867: Made point in the EFL survey the other week the coverage is so limited compared to what it could/has been. Should’ve much more comprehensive and consistent. Pick a ‘game of the week’ from each league for extended highlights. Get proper pundits in and make a regular time to be on

@ewins_gary: Take me back in a heartbeat… Absolute dire coverage of the EFL highlights by ITV…. and in general serious discussions should be had about the all round standard of media output on football… all thanks to Comcast( sky) TNT/ ITV etc and BBC virtually giving up…

@john_nufc42: Well said big man 👏👏👏

@ThatIsAGoodnPod: Fan account @GillsInTheBlood speaking facts again. 🙌🙌 League 1/League 2 has never been considered by the mainstream media. When you’ve got some clubs with 20k attendances, its a massive market and reach. I honestly think @YouTube could be missing out on a massive investment here. 👀

@YNWA_4Life: But… Is anyone surprised by ITV? They have always had a very cheap approach to sport. Coverage of any sport on ITV feels like it’s as shoestring as possible. Their EFL highlights are the same. EFL needs to address this in the next rights tender and make L1 and L2 as important

@IanMass05261670: Similar error made on Talksport yesterday when they said it all kicks off again on Friday night following the international break with the championship fixture, completely neglecting the L1 fixture this evening

@simonheadsport: Spot on. By taking the rights to the EFL, @ITVSport should have a duty of care to serve the fans of all three divisions. The @EFL needs to be mindful of this when the rights are up for renewal/renegotiation.

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