ITV confirmed last month that it is dropping coverage of the annual Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford.

Despite record viewing figures of 7.6 million last year, a 76 per cent increase on the year before and a figure only fractionally below the 8.1 million who tuned into the FA Cup final,  ITV has decided not to renew its five-year contract with the Boat Race Company.

The BBC monopolised television coverage of the day for 50 years before ITV took over in 2004. It is believed that the company are dropping their coverage of this particular event and others, including the Grand National last year, as part of a cost-cutting plan: the helicopters required to film the race raise expenditure significantly.

Peter Fincham, ITV’s director of television, said, “We’ve been very proud of our coverage of the Boat Race. Unfortunately, we’re living in tough economic times and this inevitably leads to difficult decisions.”

Andrew Gilbert, a second-year rower from Jesus, said, “It’s a long standing institution of the country. It would be quite a big thing for old boys and members of the public not to be able to watch it. Unlike current students, they are unlikely to travel to do so.”

ITV is planning to focus instead on football rights, Fincham said, “You can’t have everything and money is a factor.”

The BBC refuses to comment on the progress of the negotiations, but Channel 4 is also believed to be involved in the discussions.

The event has been taking place on the Thames between Putney Bridge and Chiswick Bridge since 1829. During the 180 years it has been taking place, there have been 154 races. Cambridge has won 79 of these, and drew the 1877 race with a dead heat. The next race is scheduled for March 29th this year.

By Caedmon Tunstall-Behrens