Why City’s FA Cup clash with Terriers will start at 5.30pm

THE decision to move Bristol City’s FA Cup tie with Huddersfield Town has been met with derision.

While the match will now kick off at 5.30pm on Saturday, January 5 due to TV, it will not be available for UK viewers.

Instead, the Robins’ third-round tie against Premier League opponents will solely be available to view on overseas television.

A new six-year international broadcasting deal came into force for this year’s FA Cup, with 14 thirdround ties being moved for overseas broadcast on top of the six that BT Sport and BBC will show domestically.

The new TV contract is thought to be worth £820 million to the Football Association and means just ten of the 32 third-round ties will kick-off at 3pm on Saturday, January 5.

City’s home game against Huddersfield will kick-off at 5.30pm, along with Crystal Palace against Grimsby Town, Newcastle United against Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City versus Portsmouth.

Earlier on the Saturday, Bournemouth versus Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley against Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday versus Luton Town, Shrewsbury Town against Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion against Wigan Athletic and West Ham United against Birmingham City all kick-off at 12.30pm.

Then, on Sunday at 2pm, Fulham take on Oldham Athletic, Millwall host Hull City, Preston North End play Doncaster Rovers and QPR host Leeds United.

Each club whose fixture is moved for overseas TV gets a broadcast fee of £50,000 - significantly less than the £150,000 given to clubs on the BBC or BT Sport.

Alongside this, gate receipts will be split from matches, and the winners of the ties will pocket a further £135,000.

The FA said that “all Emirates FA Cup matches are scheduled in collaboration with the clubs, the local authorities and the police”.