BBC beat ITV to FA Cup deal
THE BBC will continue to show live FA Cup matches for four years from the 2025-26 season after agreeing a deal with main rights holder TNT Sports. While the contract has yet to be signed, Mail Sport has learned that the BBC have beaten ITV to the secondary live rights package in a deal that will give them coverage of two matches from each round up to the last eight, plus one semi-final and the final. TNT bought the rights from the FA in a record four-year deal worth £264million last month, with the contract stipulating that games in each round must be made available on free-to-air TV. While TNT could have shown matches on YouTube or their freeview channel Quest, it was always their intention to seek a public service broadcaster as their rights partner.
The BBC have had live rights to a portion of the FA Cup since 2014, with their coverage shared with ITV for the past four years, and retaining them will be a major boost for a broadcaster who have lost rights to Formula One, the Grand National and the Open golf over the last decade. While a few details remain to be agreed, it is understood the deal will also give the BBC rights to a highlights programme. Although it was negotiated by TNT, the FA will also be pleased with the deal as the BBC’s heavy promotion across TV, radio, online and social media platforms will ensure the FA Cup continues to receive wide exposure. All FA Cup ties from the third round that do not kick off during the Saturday 3pm broadcast blackout will be televised live.
As part of the deal, TNT have also secured rights to the Community Shield and the FA Youth Cup final.