FOOTIE ON TV

TNT Sports has sealed a deal to show FA Cup games from next year, but some matches will still be shown on a free-to-air broadcaster too.

The new four-year deal appears to give TNT the pick of matches, although the FA say more games from the competition will be screened live on TV than ever before.

Starting from the 2025/26 season, TNT will show live games from the first round through to the final.

But the FA insist selected games will still be shown on a free-to-air broadcaster which has yet to be confirmed. ITV and BBC currently jointly hold the rights in an agreement which runs until the end of next season.

No details of the number of games which will be shown on TNT and on the unconfirmed free-to-air channel has been revealed yet.

However, the FA has said every match outside of the Saturday 3pm kick-offs will be screened live from the third round.

The FA Cup Final is protected by legislation and has to be screened free-to-air.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that TNT Sports have won the full set of rights, but will sub-let some games to a free-to-air broadcaster. That would leave the BBC, ITV and possibly Channel 4 to try and strike a deal with TNT for those matches.

FA CUP NEW TV DEAL FROM 2025-26

• Selected live games to be shown on TNT Sports and an as-yet unconfirmed free-to-air broadcaster from first round to the final.
• More FA Cup games to be shown live than ever before, although the FA hasn’t confirmed how many and the split between TNT and free-to-air.
• EVERY game from the third round outside the 3pm Saturday kick-offs to be shown live.
• The FA say further details of the free-to-air broadcaster will be confirmed in “due course”.
• The FA Cup Final is on sport’s protected TV list so will be shown on both TNT Sports and a free-to-air broadcaster.