BBC, BT to Share FA Cup Rights

LONDON: The BBC and BT Sport have inked a four-year deal to share coverage of The FA Cup in the U.K. beginning in 2014.

The pact marks the return of the British football competition to BBC One, after a number of years on ITV. Matches involving the England home team remain on ITV. 

“Bringing the FA Cup back to the BBC was something I really wanted to do and I am so pleased that we have achieved it for football fans everywhere," said Tony Hall, the director general of the BBC. “There is something very special about big national moments on the BBC and the FA Cup should absolutely be one of them. The Olympics, Wimbledon and Glastonbury have shown how our audiences love it when we put the full weight of all our services on TV, radio and digital behind covering these events in depth and in ways no one else can. Working closely with the FA I believe we will change the way we view the FA Cup forever.”

Gavin Patterson, CEO of BT Retail, noted, “BT Sport made a determined joint bid to retain The FA Cup rights because we believe it is one of the truly great club football competitions. We are thrilled to bring our viewers the incredible stories of passion, and victories against all odds, that pepper the history of the competition. We will be fielding a superb lineup of presenting talent to showcase and analyze all of the action. And because BT Sport is free with BT broadband on BT TV, online or via satellite we are confident that we can reach a large audience rapidly.”

Greg Dyke, chairman of the FA, noted, "The BBC is obviously an organization I know very well but I don’t think anyone would dispute that their name goes hand in hand with some of the most famous FA Cup moments of yesteryear. We’re delighted that the competition is back on their channels, not just through television but with significant online presence as well. BT Sport might be new to television but they’re a major corporation and have been a part of everyday British life for a number of decades. They have millions of customers and are shaping up to be a heavyweight player in the broadcasting world so The FA Cup is a fantastic asset for their growing portfolio of sports.”