Are the insights of Robbie Earle really worth £400m.

He is the epitomy of ITV's poor punditry. Even Gaby Logan's hopped it to BBC (i like Gaby she's alright). What's left? ITV are all packaging and no product. It's too over the top, too contrived. Everyone hates it. I dont know of ANYONE who likes ITV football.

The only reason i ever waitch it is for the Champions League and evertime i do im reminded that Clive Tyldsley has a script full of one liners and he spends the whole game trying to squeeze them in. David pleat also talks rubbish. BBC and Sky are light years ahead. Even Channel 5 put on decent analysis although picture quality tends to be poor. Its a sad day for footy fans.

Adam Michie, London, UK

A short-sighted and ludicrous decision by the FA. They'll want the BBC and Sky to have it back in four years to repair, once again, the inevitable damage to the compeition that will be made by ITV. You'd think the FA would learn from previosu experience witht he Cup from 98-01 and the Premiership (albeit not their responsibility) from 01-04.

A sad day.

Paul, Chelmsford,

The BBC have not been a serious sport network for years (excluding BBC Radio sport, which is excellent), whatever the skewed figures say, their remit requires them to cater for too many other things to allow for the dedication of large chunks of prime air-time and even larger chunks of money required for proper (for me that means blanket) sport coverage. As for the “intrusion” of advertisements into the half time break, who cares?, make a cup of tea, flick through some other channels, discuss the match for yourself with someone nearby. It is the flashing neon advertisements around pitches that are the real nuisance.
Any deal that lowers the amount of time that the unbearably smug Alan Hansen, whining Mark Lawrensen and amateurish Garth Crooks are on our screens is to be welcomed in my opinion. As for John Motson…
ITV’s coverage of the FA Cup and internationals will probably not be a vast improvement on BBC television but I don’t see how it could be any worse.

Mark Bannerman, Aberdeen, Scotland

"the bbc is much better than any other channel when it comes to showing football. anyone with half a brain realises this. Lloyd Stiles, Vienna, Austria"

Hmm, let's see:

BBC: Motson, Lawrenson, Hansen, Stubbs
ITV: Townsene, Venables and the odious Tyldesley
Sky: Stelling

Stelling is a god! Give me Sky any day. If I hear Motson say "old fashioned coop toy" one more time I'll scream!

Steve Lee, Gillingham, England

Great news! FA & ITV the perfect match, both deluded and living in the dark ages.

After ITVpremiership hash a few years ago, this will effectively alienate the BBC viewer who watches for quality and Sky viewer who already pays through the nose for games.

When will the FA learn that more money doesn't equal better quality?

This will break the addiction of the english public to over rated 'product' and give the public the chance to move away from the overpaid claptrappers.

Will ITV make a promise to take Motson with them as that is one 'institution' that belongs in one - BBC can then focus on spending our hard earned licence fees on something entertaining rather than heart rending.

Jeremy, Farnham,

Maybe the only programme i'd ever watch on itv as long as its not presented by the bland Steve Ryder, i turn over when he does the champions league. Wouldnt encourage me to watch any of the other rubbish on the channel though.

Jose, London,

It's sad but the major clubs don't seem to take the FA cup seriously any more. In addition football supporters are becoming much more club orientated and seem to be less interested in Internationals. I wonder how many supporters will turn up at the new Wembley except for really important games once the gloss has worn off.

ITV have probably paid over the odds as usual and I'm not paying Setanta or anybody else to watch.

Richard, Newcastle,

As far as football goes, the BBC stands for the Best Broadcasting Corporation.

ITV is the red headed step-child in comparison.

Does the FA not remember ITV digital? Who are Setanta and can they pay up?

Gurdip Shergill, Los Angeles, USA

When ITV had the rights to the Premier League a few years ago everyone hated it because they were more concerned with their ad breaks than talking about and showing highlights of the football. Now the FA has decided that it doesn’t matter about the quality of the programmes they will sell to the highest bidder. Well I for one won’t be turning on ITV to watch games like we saw on Wednesday night stuffed with as many ad breaks as they can squeeze in and certainly won’t be paying extra money to another pay per view channel to watch either. I pay enough to go and watch my team live without being ripped off by the FA in an attempt to pay for the white elephant at Wembley. Enough is enough.

Lorraine, Oxford,

quality should beat quantity. the bbc is much better than any other channel when it comes to showing football. anyone with half a brain realises this. even if itv did poach people from bbc the product is still far too glitzy and americanised. the adverts dont help either,

in other words, i hope they fail. it's not as if football needs the extra cash is it?

Lloyd Stiles, Vienna, Austria