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MUMBAI: The BBC and BSkyB have lost the rights to screen
the FA Cup.
The Football Association has struck a new four-year deal
with ITV and Setanta, the Irish pay TV station, from the 2008/09
season.
The new deal will generate £425 million (650 million
euros) for The FA over the four-year term – a 42 per
cent increase on the current £300 million agreement
with BBC and Sky, which expires on 31 July 2008.
FA CEO Brian Barwick, who led The FA’s negotiating team,
said: "We are delighted with this new deal and are looking
forward to our partnership with ITV and Setanta. It is very
good news for football as the increased revenue will allow
The FA to channel more funds back into the game.
"ITV are the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster
and have captured many special moments in English football
history, while Setanta are an ambitious, emerging sports broadcaster
who see our properties as the next critical step in their
development. I’m hugely excited by their innovative ideas
and their commitment to helping us promote all sectors of
the game."
ITV CEO Michael Grade said: "ITV is pleased to be returning
both The FA Cup and England games to our viewers and advertisers.
Our position is now substantially enhanced as the leading
terrestrial free to air sports broadcaster. The FA has run
an intense bidding process and we are delighted to be the
winners. It is a great deal for all of us."
Michael O’Rourke, co-founder and joint chief executive
of Setanta said: "Winning these rights is a major coup
for Setanta Sports and will mean that we will have live football
every week of the football season. The FA Cup and England
home friendlies are a fantastic addition to our line-up of
top-flight football, which already includes the FA Premier
League (starting in August), exclusive coverage of the Scottish
Premier League and other top European leagues."
The acquisition, Setanta Sports says, will bolster its growing
football portfolio following the acquisition of rights to
live Premiership games from August 2007.
Setanta Sports will partner ITV is showing the FA Cup and
England friendly matches, meaning that Setanta will have every
round of the FA Cup, through to the final, showing 25 FA Cup
games per year, with ITV showing a further 16.
Setanta Sports' games will include two quarter finals and
one semi final exclusively live and the exclusive rights to
the Community Shield each year. The FA Cup final rights will
be shared.
"Under the terms of the FA deal Setanta will have more
exclusive live football than any other broadcaster and will
be showing live football every week of the football season.
The number of top quality exclusively live English domestic
and international games broadcast on Setanta will increase
by 26, from 79 to 105.
Setanta Sports Group Commercial Director Mark Mohan said:
"This is a great win for the Setanta Sports Group and
another reason why we are a must-have for sports fans in Ireland."
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