BBC have secured free-to-air (FTA) broadcast rights for FA Cup in a four-year deal across 2025-26 – 28-29 seasons.
This move will preserve FTA coverage – currently shared between BBC and ITV until end of next season – after TNT Sports controversially secured full broadcast rights in the new FA Cup broadcast deal from 2025-26 season which led to fierce criticism.
BBC’s latest deal will see them continue to provide the same live broadcast coverage as currently available with two matches from the First Round until Quarter-Finals, plus one Semi-Final and joint coverage of the Final.
BBC will also retain the FTA highlights and digital clips across its platforms as part of the deal.
BBC Sport’s Interim Director, Philip Bernie described the latest contract as a positive result after their recent Premier League renewal and securing UEFA Champions League highlights from next season.
“This partnership for the next four years is brilliant news and, alongside our recent Premier League extension and UEFA Champions League highlights coming this year, means that BBC Sport will deliver fans top class analysis, commentary and coverage of the biggest football competitions free to air and accessible for all.”
SVP Sports Rights Acquisitions and Syndication WBD Sports Europe, Trojan Pailliot added: “Our ambition is to make more of the live Emirates FA Cup action available to fans than ever before, so the BBC are an outstanding partner to ensure that alongside more games we also make the competition as widely available as possible.”
FA Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham is “delighted” that BBC will be the FTA partner as he iterated that it was always intended to recruit a FTA partner “… to ensure that this very special competition would be accessible for everyone,” despite fears of TNT having exclusivity.
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