The UK public broadcaster, the BBC, is set to secure free-to-air (FTA) rights to live coverage of English soccer’s FA Cup competition through a sub-licensing agreement with TNT Sports. This development follows last month's announcement of TNT Sports obtaining the main rights to the FA Cup from the 2025-26 season onwards.
TNT Sports, a UK pay-TV heavyweight owned by media giant Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), has agreed on this sub-license deal with the BBC. As per reports from Daily Mail, this agreement allows the BBC to beat commercial broadcaster ITV – its current rights-sharing partner – in securing secondary live rights package.
Under this arrangement, the BBC will provide live coverage of two FA Cup matches from each round up until quarter-finals, one semi-final and finally, the grand finale. While some details are yet to be finalized, it is reported that this deal will also grant BBC rights for a highlights program.
ITV was again edged out by the BBC to retain the rights
This move comes after last month's announcement where TNT Sports secured primary broadcasting rights for FA Cup starting from 2025-26 season after striking an agreement with Football Association (FA) governing body.
The broadcaster - formerly known as BT Sport - will show every game live from competition’s third round outside 3pm domestic media blackout across UK till end of 2028-29 season via its linear channels and WBD’s streaming platform Discovery+. It includes airing rights for both FA Community Shield match and FA Youth Cup semi-finals and finals.
This four-year deal would have kept competition behind pay-wall causing both BBC and rival ITV losing their broadcasting privileges which they hold until end of 2024-25 season; however now it seems like BBC stands chance at retaining these coveted broadcasting privileges.
BBC and WBD's past good relationship came to life again
This isn't the first time WBD and BBC have entered into such an arrangement. Almost a decade ago, WBD secured exclusive rights to the Olympics from the public-service broadcaster, and then entered a sub-licensing partnership with the corporation.
The TNT deal also included a commitment to make matches from each round free-to-air, either via its platforms or in partnership with a terrestrial channel. This is reminiscent of BT Sport's previous agreement where it shared broadcasting rights with BBC from 2014 to 2021.
Barbara Slater, outgoing BBC director of sport, expressed in November that retaining rights to major sporting events is becoming increasingly challenging for them. However, this new deal signifies that traditional broadcasters like BBC are still very much in play when it comes to securing broadcasting rights for major sports events.
This sub-license agreement between TNT Sports and BBC marks an important development in sports broadcasting landscape - one that ensures continued access for fans while navigating complex dynamics of media ownerships and licensing agreements.
