ESPN Obtains Australasia Rights for FA Cup & England National Team Matches

ESPN and The FA have reached a six-year multimedia agreement for rights in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands for The FA Cup, England’s men’s Senior and Under-21 team matches and the annual FA Community Shield sponsored by McDonald’s match.

Starting in November, the sports media company will televise up to 59 FA Cup matches per season – including exclusive coverage of The FA Cup Final. Coverage each season will include matches from the First Round Proper through to the Sixth Round Proper, replay matches from each round, the Semi-Finals and The Final – one of the top global football events each year. All matches will also streamed live and on-demand on ESPN3.com for Foxtel subscribers. 

The deal includes rights across television, internet, broadband and mobile.

The FA’s Head of Broadcast Mark Shannon commented: “We are delighted to announce our new partnership with ESPN in Australia and New Zealand. The FA is aware of just how popular and well supported both The FA Cup and the England teams are in those regions and in ESPN have found a partner that shares that passion. ESPN’s already strong football portfolio makes it the perfect home, with the world’s oldest domestic cup competition now sitting side by side with the Champions League.”

Michael Walters, vice president of programming, ESPN international, added: “The FA Cup is the world’s oldest football knockout tournament, making it a truly unique competition with a rich heritage that reaches back more than 100 years and across all of English football. Every year, it delivers some of the greatest drama and storylines in global football, and captures the passion of sport. It will be a great addition to ESPN’s expanding schedule that includes some of the world’s best football and top sports events from around the world.”