Editing FA Cup (section)

===Domestic broadcasters===
{{See also|English football on television}}

The FA Cup Final is one of 10 events reserved for live broadcast on UK terrestrial television under the [[Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events]].

In the early years of coverage the BBC had exclusive radio coverage with a picture of the pitch marked in the ''[[Radio Times]]'' with numbered squares to help the listener follow the match on the radio. The first FA Cup Final on Radio was in [[1926 FA Cup Final|1926]] between [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] and Manchester City but this was only broadcast in Manchester, the first national final on BBC Radio was between Arsenal and Cardiff City in 1927. The first final on BBC Television was in 1937 in a match which featured Sunderland and Preston North End but this was not televised in full. The following season's final between Preston and [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] was covered in full by the BBC. When ITV was formed in 1955 they shared final coverage with the BBC in one of the only club matches shown live on television, during the 1970s and 1980s coverage became more elaborate with BBC and ITV trying to steal viewers from the others by starting coverage earlier and earlier some starting as early as 9&nbsp;a.m. which was six hours before kick off. The sharing of rights between BBC and ITV continued from 1955 to 1988, when ITV lost coverage to the BBC. From 1988 to 1997, the BBC was the exclusive broadcaster of the competition on terrestrial television and covered the competition from the third round onwards, showing one live match per round alongside highlights.

In 1990, [[British Satellite Broadcasting]] (BSB) obtained rights to the competition, and showed a live match from rounds 1 and 2. This continued to be the case after [[Sky Television (1984–1990)|Sky]] took over BSB in 1991.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ FA Cup Broadcasters since [[1990–91 FA Cup|1990–91]]
|-
! Seasons !! [[Free-to-air]] !! [[Pay television|Pay-TV]] !! Streaming
|-
| [[1990–91 FA Cup|1990–91]]
| [[BBC]]
| rowspan=3|[[Sky Sports]]
|-
| [[1996–97 FA Cup|1996–97]]
| [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|-
| [[2001–02 FA Cup|2001–02]]
| [[BBC]]
|-
| [[2008–09 FA Cup|2008–09]]
| rowspan=4|[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| [[Setanta Sports]]
|-
| [[2009–10 FA Cup|2009–10]]
| 
| [[The Football Association|The FA]] website for free
|-
| [[2010–11 FA Cup|2010–11]]
| [[TNT Sports 4|ESPN]]
|-
| [[2013–14 FA Cup|2013–14]]
| rowspan=4|[[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|BT Sport]]
|-
| [[2014–15 FA Cup| 2014–15]]
| rowspan=3|[[BBC]]
|-
| [[2019–20 FA Cup|2019–20]]
| [[Facebook]]
|-
| [[2020–21 FA Cup|2020–21]]
| The FA Player
|-
| [[2021–22 FA Cup|2021–22]]
| [[BBC]]/[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|-
| [[2025–26 FA Cup|2025–26]]
| [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]]
|}

====1997 to 2001====
From 1997 to 2001, Sky owned the coverage showing one match per round, with the free-to-air rights sublicensed to ITV who showed an additional match from the third round onwards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Summary of UK sports rights|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/54187/annex_10.pdf|date=18 December 2007|access-date=18 May 2024|publisher=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>{{rp|44}} The BBC continued with highlights on ''[[Match of the Day]]''.

====2001 to 2008====
From 2001 to 2008, BBC and Sky again shared coverage with BBC having two or three matches per round and Sky having one or two.

Until the 2008–09 season, the [[BBC]] and [[Sky Sports]] shared television coverage, with the BBC showing three matches in the earlier rounds. Some analysts argued the decision to move away from the Sky and, in particular, the BBC undermined the FA Cup in the eyes of the public.

====2008 to 2009====
From [[2008–09 FA Cup|2008–09]] to [[2013–14 FA Cup|2013–14]], FA Cup matches were shown live by [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] across England and [[Wales]], with [[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]] broadcasting to [[Northern Ireland]]. Scottish member [[STV (TV network)|STV]] refused to show them, and instead the regularly advertised programming that otherwise would mostly have been shown across the UK (new and repeated network entertainment and drama content, films, local productions etc.) would continue as normal in a delayed or exclusive fashion while the rest of the ITV network aired the football. ITV showed 16 FA Cup games per season, including the first pick of live matches from each of the first to sixth rounds of the competition, plus one semi-final exclusively live. The final was also shown live on ITV. Under the same 2008 contract, [[Setanta Sports]] showed three games and one replay in each round from round three to five, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final. The channel also broadcast ITV's matches, albeit with their own commentary teams, exclusively to [[Scotland]], after STV's decision to replace the games with regular programming. Setanta entered administration in June 2009 and as a result the FA terminated Setanta's deal to broadcast FA-sanctioned competitions and [[England national football team|England internationals]].<ref>{{cite news |title=FA face Setanta shortfall |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8115805.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 June 2009 |access-date=12 August 2009 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612085850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8115805.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The early rounds of the 2008–09 competition were covered for the first time by ITV's online service, [[ITV Local]]. The [[2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds#Extra preliminary round|first match]] of the competition, between [[Wantage Town F.C.|Wantage Town]] and [[Brading Town F.C.|Brading Town]], was broadcast live online. Highlights of eight games of each round were broadcast as catch up on ITV Local.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/FA_Cup_online.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20081123062714/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/FA_Cup_online.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2008 |title=Watch The FA Cup online }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2008/07/Watch_live_online.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080818225653/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2008/07/Watch_live_online.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 August 2008 |title=Cup tie live online }}</ref> Since ITV Local closed, this coverage did not continue.

====2009 to 2010====
As a result of Setanta going out of business ITV showed the competition exclusively in the 2009–10 season with between three and four matches per round, all quarter finals, semi-finals and final live as the FA could not find a pay TV broadcaster in time. Many expected [[BSkyB]] to make a bid to show some of the remaining FA Cup games for the remainder of the 2009–10 season which would include a semi-final and shared rights to the final.

In October 2009, the FA announced that ITV would show an additional match in the first and second rounds on ITV, with one replay match shown on [[ITV4]]. One match and one replay match from the first two rounds were broadcast on the FA's website for free, in a similar situation to the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2010 World Cup Qualifier]] between [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]] and [[England national football team|England]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/2009/FACup_TVTies_1P.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091027202428/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/2009/FACup_TVTies_1P.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2009 |title=FA Cup to be broadcast Free-to-Air |access-date=27 October 2009}}</ref> The 2009–10 first-round match between [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] and Leeds United was the first FA Cup match to be streamed online live.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/10/oldham-athletic-news/31689/latics-to-face-leeds-in-cup |title=Latics to face Leeds in Cup |access-date=27 October 2009 |archive-date=31 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031063846/http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/10/oldham-athletic-news/31689/latics-to-face-leeds-in-cup |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2010 to 2014====
ESPN bought the competition for the 2010–11 to 2012–13 season and during this time [[Rebecca Lowe]] became the first woman to host the FA Cup Final in the UK.

[[ESPN (UK)|ESPN]] took over the package Setanta held for the FA Cup from the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/07/fa-cup-espn-bbc-itv |title=ESPN secures rights to show FA Cup matches from next season |date=7 December 2009 |work=The Guardian |access-date=30 December 2009 |location=London |first=Owen |last=Gibson |archive-date=1 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101231207/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/07/fa-cup-espn-bbc-itv |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2011 final was also shown live on [[Sky 3D]] in addition to ESPN (who provided the 3D coverage for Sky 3D) and ITV.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2011/ESPN_3D_Coverage.htm |title=ESPN's 3D coverage of 2011 FA Cup Final to be available on Sky 3D |work=Sky TV |access-date=26 April 2011 |location=London |archive-date=2 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502064642/http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2011/ESPN_3D_Coverage.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following the sale of ESPN's UK and Ireland channels to [[BT Group|BT]], ESPN's rights package transferred to [[BT Sport]] from the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/Showarticle.cfm?ArticleID=022AEA86-B466-4C6E-9A3F-0BE241ED630B |title=BT Group acquires ESPN's UK and Ireland television channels business |publisher=BT Group |date=25 February 2013 |access-date=25 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301073342/http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/Showarticle.cfm?ArticleID=022AEA86-B466-4C6E-9A3F-0BE241ED630B |archive-date=1 March 2013  }}</ref>
STV would continue to broadcast regular programming in place of FA Cup games, live draws and highlights shows throughout this period, although it did the broadcast the 2014 final live.

====2014 to 2019====
ITV lost the rights to the FA Cup beginning with the [[2014–15 FA Cup]]. Terrestrial rights returned to [[BBC Sport]], with the final being shown on [[BBC One]] while BT Sport hold the pay TV rights. Under this deal, the BBC would show around the same number of games as ITV and still have the first pick for each round.<ref>{{cite web |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=BBC to show live matches from 2014–15 season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23339424 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=17 July 2013 |archive-date=18 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718173519/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23339424 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Matches involving Welsh clubs are sometimes exclusively broadcast on [[Welsh language]] channel [[S4C]], which is also available to view across the rest of the United Kingdom on satellite and cable television, and through the channel's website.<ref>{{cite web |title=S4C to broadcast live coverage of Wrexham's FA Cup clash |url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=575 |publisher=Sianel Pedwar Cymru |date=2 November 2011 |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-date=18 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218130256/http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=575 |url-status=live }}</ref> A similar arrangement is shared with [[BBC Cymru Wales]] when the corporation obtained the rights from 2014 to 2015, potentially giving the BBC an extra match per round.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrexham v Stevenage or Maidstone live on BBC Wales |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30043743 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 November 2014 |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-date=17 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117053103/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30043743 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2019 onwards====
On 23 May 2019, it was announced that ITV would replace [[BT Sport]] in broadcasting the FA Cup from the 2021–22 season. This deal saw the [[BBC]] and ITV become joint broadcasters of the tournament for the first time since 1988, which meant that, for the first time, all FA Cup matches would be exclusively broadcast on [[free-to-air]] television.<ref>{{Cite news|title=FA Cup to be free-to-air from 2021|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48388980|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515210246/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48388980|url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition, full coverage of the tournament returned to STV in Scotland, after the broadcaster replaced content from the competition with regular network programmes (and local content made in Scotland, plus films and specials) during the 2008 to 2014 period that ITV last held the rights.

[[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and [[Talksport]] provides radio coverage including several full live commentaries per round, with additional commentaries broadcast on [[BBC Local Radio]].

On 15 February 2024, TNT Sports will be broadcasting of FA Cup from 2025–26 season.

{{Portal|English football}}
{{Clear}}