England: broadcasters BBC and BT Sport to share FA Cup TV rights 2014-2018

The BBC and BT Sport have secured the UK television rights to the FA Cup from the 2014/15 season onwards, on the 17/07/2013.

The publicly funded broadcaster and pay-TV channel have agreed four-year deals with the FA (Football Association) for live coverage and highlights of the competition. The deal includes TV, Internet and mobile rights and is estimated at £200m (€231.5m), as opposed to £120m (€138.9m) for the 2012-2014 period.

The BBC replaces ITV as the free-to-air home of the cup. BT Sport will continue a partnership with the FA that begins with the channel's launch on the 29/07/2013, having assumed ESPN's rights to show FA Cup matches.

The BBC will have a share in the live rights to the final, which are protected for free-to-air coverage under UK law. The broadcaster will have first pick of the best matches in each round. Under the agreement, the BBC will use its regional, radio and digital resources to promote the FA Cup.

BT is believed to be paying less than the BBC for its share of the package each year, which includes more games but no first-pick matches.

• The BBC's most…