ITV to show FA Cup

ITV has won the rights to broadcast the FA Cup and England's home international football matches.

The Football Association announced that the BBC and BSkyB, which have owned the rights for the past seven years, have been outbid by the commercial broadcaster along with pay per view outfit Setanta Sports.

The two companies offered more than £400 million for the television rights for four years from August 2008.

The lower-than-hoped-for licence fee settlement has capped the amount the BBC can bid for sports rights.

Brian Barwick, the Chief Executive of the FA, said: "We are delighted to have concluded a four-year deal with the two companies.

"It is a deal that starts from August 1, 2008 and is worth in the region of £425million."

Winning the rights is a coup for ITV executive chairman Michael Grade, who left his role as BBC chairman to join ITV.

He said: "ITV is pleased to be returning both the FA Cup and England games to our viewers and advertisers.

"Our position is now substantially enhanced as the leading terrestrial free-to-air sports broadcaster."

The move will increase ITV's football coverage, which is currently focused on Champions League matches.

It will also add to Irish-based satellite broadcaster Setanta's growing sporting portfolio, following its acquisition of rights to 46 live Premiership games from next season.

The BBC is likely to be left without any live football to show on its channels and the move will weaken the market leader Sky's dominant position.

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