ITV Enters New Tie-Up with The FA

LONDON: ITV has signed a new two-year deal with The Football Association for the terrestrial broadcast rights for FA Cup and England international matches through the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

ITV1 will continue to broadcast the first pick of FA Cup games from the first round to the final, and will also have third-choice game pick in the fifth and sixth rounds and the fourth-choice pick in the third and fourth rounds. ITV1 will have the first choice of replays from the third to sixth rounds. ITV will broadcast in total up to 16 live games across each season in addition to highlights from every round.

ITV also continues to serve as the free-to-air home of England’s internationals, including all home qualifying games for the FIFA 2014 World Cup and all home and away friendlies during the two-year period. Away qualifiers are not included. ITV will also extend its commitment with The FA across the two seasons to encompass live coverage of six games from The FA Youth Cup on ITV4, including the semi-finals and final of the competition.

ITV’s director of television, Peter Fincham, said: “The FA Cup and England internationals are events with huge resonance and appeal for our viewers. I’m delighted that we are extending our partnership with The FA and that ITV1 will continue to be the home of live football on free-to-air television.”

Stuart Turner, FA’s group commercial director, added: “We enjoy a great relationship with ITV and this extension to our agreement underlines that. Having The FA Cup and England alongside other ITV content such as the Champions League and World Cups shows that our football content holds its own in exalted company. It further confirms ITV’s position as the home of free-to-air live football.”