ITV, BBC score FA Cup deal
May 24, 2019
By Colin Mann
As revealed by advanced-television.com, UK terrestrial broadcasters ITV and the BBC have agreed a new broadcast deal to show the Emirates FA Cup, making the competition available entirely free-to-air to viewers from 2021. Pay-TV operator BT Sport has shared the broadcast rights to the competition with the BBC since 2014.
The new four-year deal with The Football Association (The FA) will see comprehensive coverage broadcast across the full breadth of the cup each season, from the First Round through to the Final.
Live coverage of more than 20 matches will be shown by ITV each season from 2021/22 through to 2024/25, and the deal also includes live coverage of The FA Community Shield each year. Sharing coverage with the BBC, ITV will have first pick and fourth pick of matches in the Second Round, Fourth Round and the Quarter Finals, as well as second and third picks for the First, Third and Fifth Rounds and second pick of the Semi-finals.
In March 2019, the BBC announced a new four-year deal with The FA to show the FA Cup until 2025. Up to 18 fixtures a season will be televised by BBC Sport plus highlights and online clips.
“We are delighted to be able to broadcast the FA Cup once again,” declared Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport. “We are particularly pleased that we shared The FA’s vision of a completely free-to-air competition and look forward to bringing new viewers all along the road to Wembley Stadium.”
“The Emirates FA Cup continues to capture the public’s imagination, drawing millions of viewers at every stage,” added Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Commercial & Football Development Officer. “This agreement with ITV is fantastic news and means that we will reach the broadest possible audience across the country.”
“ITV has been a great broadcast partner with the England Men’s Internationals and will do a brilliant job with the coverage of the world’s most historic cup competition