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)

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