JDW may scrap 'no TV' policy 4 football
JD Wetherspoon, the managed house business, may introduce television screens to its pubs during future World Cups.
JDW pubs were reported to be empty on match days during the tournament, which was held in Japan and Korea, last month.
Historically sales at the chain have always dipped during the tournament without having a long-term affect on yearly sales or forecasts.
Now it is thought the publicly-quoted company is considering showing games during future World Cups and also European Championships, next held in Portugal in 2004.
The move would go against one of the founding characteristics of the JD Wetherspoon brand. The pubs do not currently have televisions or music.
Founder and chairman Tim Martin has always dismissed the use of televisions in Wetherspoon outlets.
Pubs did better than expected during the World Cup.
Because of the time difference and early morning kick-offs, it was originally thought that the tournament would do little to lift sales. But the British Beer and Pub Association estimates an extra 44 million pints were drunk.
Incremental sales were thought to be £165m.
Many operators said trading during the World Cup provided a welcome boost, offsetting uninspiring sales seen as a result of the indifferent weather so far this summer.
World Cup worries are nothing compared to the impact licensing reform could have on Tim Martin's ambitious roll-out programme. We meet the man at the helm of JDW.
Related articles:
England may be out but pubs continue to benefit from the World Cup (26 June 2002)
