ESPN Acquires Rights to Emirates FA Cup in Select Territories

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In a multiyear agreement, ESPN has secured the exclusive TV and digital rights to the Emirates FA Cup in Spanish-speaking Latin America, the Caribbean and Australia.

The deal brings 79 Emirates FA Cup matches to ESPN linear networks across the regions, including ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Caribbean, ESPN2 Caribbean and ESPN Play, ESPN’s multiscreen live and on-demand broadband service in the region. The deal commences today, April 6, with the semi-finals featuring Manchester City F.C. and Brighton & Hove Albion, followed tomorrow by a match that will see the Wolverhampton Wanderers play Watford F.C.

Per the deal, additional content will also be featured across ESPN platforms, including Emirates FA Cup highlights and the FA Community Shield, the annual match between Emirates FA Cup and Premier League titleholders to start the English football season.

The Emirates FA Cup, also called The Football Association Challenge Cup, is the annual knockout competition in English soccer. The 2018-19 season featured more than 700 clubs.

Tim Bunnell, ESPN’s senior vice president of programming, said: “As the oldest national football competition in the world, the Emirates FA Cup holds some of the most storied moments in the history of soccer. Adding such an iconic tournament to ESPN’s unparalleled soccer content reinforces the company’s steadfast commitment to serving fans across our international networks.”