ITV renew rights with FA

The FA have announced that they have signed a new two-year deal with ITV to show FA Cup and international fixtures.

The deal means that the free-to-air channel will show 16 FA Cup games per season and have rights to all England’s World Cup 2014 qualifiers and friendly matches.

The Guardian state that ITV have paid £90m for the extension, which is a saving of around 35% on its existing terms.

FA group commercial director, Stuart Turner is pleased with the deal, and comfortable working with ITV going forward.

“We enjoy a great relationship with ITV and this extension to our agreement underlines that.

“Having the FA Cup and England alongside other ITV content such as the Champions League and World Cups shows that our football content holds its own in exalted company,” he concluded.

Meanwhile ITV’s director of television Peter Fincham is proud to have secured the rights for his organisation.

“The FA Cup and England internationals are events with huge resonance and appeal for our viewers.

“I’m delighted that we are extending our partnership with the FA and that ITV1 will continue to be the home of live football on free-to-air television,” he admitted.

By Gareth McKnight