TNT Sports has agreed a four-year deal with the Football Association (FA) to broadcast Emirates FA Cup matches in the UK.
The new partnership between the FA and Warner Bros. Discovery, which operates TNT Sports, will see the sports channel showcase live matches from the first round, with every game from the third round outside of 3pm kick offs on display through to the final at Wembley Stadium connected by EE.
In addition to the Emirates FA Cup ties, TNT Sports will also broadcast the English football season’s traditional curtain raiser, The FA Community Shield, and The FA Youth Cup semi-finals and final.
Coverage will be made available on TNT Sports’ channels on EE TV, Sky and Virgin Media, as well as on its streaming platform discovery+.
Former Manchester United defender and TNT Sports pundit, Rio Ferdinand, said, “The FA Cup, the one that got away, so the next best thing is to get to work on it on TNT Sports… but seriously, it’s fantastic to see TNT Sports go from strength to strength, with even more live football, from grassroots to top flight, fantastic storylines and more huge moments for our viewers to enjoy, fantastic news that TNT Sports will be the new home of the FA Cup.”
BT Sport, TNT Sport’s former brand, previously held the UK rights for the FA Cup through to the 2020-21 season, after which the current rights BBC and ITV rights deal began.
The new deal, which will commence from the beginning of the 2025/26 season, will see games from the world’s oldest national football competition also remain available free-to-air. However, the free-to-air broadcaster, which is likely to be the BBC or ITV, has not yet been confirmed.
Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive, commented, “The Emirates FA Cup is our crown jewel, and it helps us to provide vital investment across every level of English football, supporting clubs, communities, facilities and the wider grassroots game.
“Every season, and across every round, The Emirates FA Cup creates incredible moments and unforgettable memories for fans, and this new partnership will see selected matches shown live on TNT Sports, as well as free-to-air, from the first round of the competition through to the final at Wembley Stadium.
“TNT Sports are an outstanding broadcaster with an impressive record of showing some of the biggest and best sporting events around the world, so we are delighted to be working with them on our shared commitment and long-term vision that will ensure the Emirates FA Cup continues to thrive over the coming years.”
Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe, added, “TNT Sports is proud to partner with The FA to present more matches of the world’s most prestigious domestic cup competition than ever before alongside our great line up of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League and club competitions, bringing even more live football to our TNT Sports customers.
“The Emirates FA Cup and the incredible stories it creates every season goes well beyond football, making TNT Sports the perfect home as we continue to tell the stories that matter most to the fans.
“We have a huge amount of respect for the place that this world-famous competition has in the hearts of football fans and that’s why continuing to ensure we maintain a level of free-to-air coverage is important for us and The FA.”
TNT AND INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SCORES PARTNERSHIP
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