Ok, stop now if you really can't stand egg-chasing - but this may at least take your minds off the poxy football :dismay: Read on to see how ITV will make millions this weekend and how the English Rugby Football Union could lose millions - and would anyone really pay £25,000 for a pair of tickets for the final England's rugby heroes are set to hand ITV a bumper pay day this weekend with the network cashing in on the team's renaissance. The broadcaster could earn as much as £10,000 a second in advertising revenue during commercial breaks in Saturday's final against South Africa. This adds up to £1.8million for a typical three-minute advertising break – thought to be ten times more than usual. Media experts believe ITV could make £11million on the night, way beyond advertising bosses' wildest dreams for a tournament where few gave England much chance of progressing past the quarter-finals. The audience for England's nailbiting victory over France peaked at more than 12million. Up to 16million are expected to tune in for the Paris final – double the number who watched England lift the cup in 2003. Those planning to watch the action in person at the Stade de France will need deep pockets. A pair of tickets were put up for sale on eBay yesterday for £25,000, an impressive mark-up on a face value of £700. The seller wrote: 'We would rather see the final but if some insane offer were to be made, we would be willing sellers.' The Rugby Football Union will be left out of pocket if England beats South Africa – because the governing body did not expect the team to do so well. With England starting the tournament as virtual no-hopers, the RFU reportedly declined to take out insurance to pay the £2million winning bonus to players and staff. Each player is due to receive £45,000 if the team win. Fans travelling to Paris for the match were warned to expect delays – a national strike on Thursday and Friday could paralyse transport services across France. Officials warned there would be 'practically no trains, buses or metro'. Eurostar said i t expected to carry 25,000 people between Thursday and Saturday – a 40 per cent jump on usual figures.
If I had the money i.e a cool million in the bank then yes I would jump at it if that was the only chance for a ticket.
