FA Cup: the BBC extends its free-to-air broadcasting rights for the 2021-2025 cycle

The British public television broadcaster BBC has extended its UK broadcasting rights for the Emirates FA Cup over the 2021-2025 period on 19/03/2019. The BBC will broadcast 18 matches per season compared to the current 16 (2018-2021 cycle). The rights to broadcast match highlights are also included in the agreement.

The estimated value of the contract between the BBC and The FA for the current cycle is £30m (€35m) per season; this amount will be "slightly more" for the 2021-2025 cycle, according to the British newspaper The Times.

The pay-TV operator BT Sport broadcasts 30 Emirates FA Cup matches per season over the 2018-2021 cycle, and pays an estimated £25m (€29m) for these rights that have not yet been renewed.

• Chelsea FC - Manchester United FC (0-2), Round of 16 of the 2018-19 Emirates FA Cup, posted a peak audience of 8.1 million viewers on the BBC on Monday 18/02/2019 (kick-off at 19:30 local time, 20:30 CET).

Premier League: BBC extended its broadcasting rights for match highlights over the 2019-2022 cycle (£70.5m per season) on 30/01/2018

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