According to a report by The Times, from the start of the 2021 season the FA Cup is set to be aired on ITV.
The reported rights acquisition will see English football’s cup competition aired exclusively on on free television for the first time in more than 30 years.
It follows the BBC also renewing its deal to show the competition until 2025, picking up a package that includes 18 games per season and a variety of online content. The ITV package sees the channel showing 30 games a campaign, whilst the two channels are set to share coverage of the final.
Following the announcement of the BBC’s extension, Mark Bullingham, the FA’s Chief Commercial and Football Development Officer stated: “The FA Cup is the best and most historic domestic cup competition in the world – and we are delighted to have agreed a new long-term commitment to keep it on the BBC until 2025.”
Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport added: “This new deal now brings even more games to audiences across the country. Our FA Cup coverage delivers some of the year’s biggest viewing figures, engages a key younger audience and provides memorable sporting moments that unite a nation.”
The new deals are likely to increase domestic TV audiences for the cup significantly, with games on free-to-air television regularly raking in larger viewing figures. This could make the task of finding a new primary sponsor for the tournament far easier, following this Saturday’s FA Cup Final between Watford and Manchester City.
