BT Sport nets rights to share FA Cup to 2018
BT KICKED off its debut season as a sports broadcaster with an early coup yesterday, netting joint rights to televise the FA Cup until 2018.
The world’s most famous domestic knock-out competition will be shown on both BT Sport and the BBC, starting from the 2014-15 season.
BT had already secured rights for the coming season’s FA Cup through its purchase of ESPN’s UK business. ITV will also broadcast the 2013-14 FA Cup, but its involvement will now expire next summer.
The deal for 2014-15 until 2018, the financial details of which were undisclosed, is another boost for BT. The company is launching its sport channel next month having acquired a share of Premier League broadcasting rights alongside Sky.
“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,” FA chairman Greg Dyke said yesterday, about BT.