ITV to broadcast live event to celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday
ITV has won the rights to broadcast celebrations for the Queen’s 90th Birthday at a Royal event taking place next May.
The commercial broadcaster has beaten the BBC to screen the event live after the corporation was criticised for its coverage of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012, reports the Telegraph that claimed the decision was 'a snub'.
600 horses will be included in the event, set to take place on the grounds of Windsor Castle, that will be produced and directed by Simon Brooks-Ward, who refused to comment on whether the BBC has offered any involvement during the launch announcement.
A spokesman for the BBC, stated: “Any suggestion that the BBC has been snubbed is completely untrue. The BBC works more regularly with the Palace than any other broadcaster and has covered a wide range of recent national and Royal events including the Invictus Games with Prince Harry, commemorations for the anniversaries of D-Day, the First World War and last week's VE 70 events."
Almost 5,000 complaints were received about the BBC’s coverage of the Diamond Jubilee River Procession, hosted by Fearn Cotton.