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ITV set to snatch FA Cup rights ITV scores in FA Cup rights fight
(about 1 hour later)
ITV and Irish broadcaster Setanta are set to pick up the rights to show the FA Cup and England home internationals. ITV and Irish broadcaster Setanta have secured the rights to show the FA Cup and England home internationals in a £425m four-year deal.
The Football Association is expected to confirm later on Friday that it has agreed a new four-year £400m-plus television deal with the two companies. The Football Association confirmed the deal, beginning in August 2008, saying that it was "delighted" at the outcome.
The contract, which will begin in August 2008, is said to be worth £100m more than the existing deal with the BBC and BSkyB. The deal is worth £125m more than the existing contract held jointly by the BBC and BSkyB.
BSkyB and Setanta won a £1.7bn auction to screen Premiership games last year. Snatching the FA Cup and England rights is a major coup for ITV and its executive chairman Michael Grade.
Sporting priority
Snatching the FA Cup and England rights would be a major coup for ITV and its executive chairman Michael Grade.
Mr Grade made boosting ITV's coverage of live sporting events a priority when he left the BBC to join ITV in December.Mr Grade made boosting ITV's coverage of live sporting events a priority when he left the BBC to join ITV in December.
The broadcaster already has the terrestrial rights to the Champion's League, which it shares with BSkyB. ITV already has the terrestrial rights to the Champion's League, which it shares with BSkyB.
'Sporting highlight'
From August 2008, ITV and Setanta will broadcast FA Cup and England home games, with ITV having exclusive terrestrial rights and Setanta having exclusive pay-TV coverage.
The FA Cup is a great highlight in the English football calendar Mark Mohan, Setanta Sports
The BBC and BSkyB have held the FA Cup rights since 2001.The BBC and BSkyB have held the FA Cup rights since 2001.
BSkyB and Setanta are involved in an increasingly fierce battle for pay-per-view sports rights.BSkyB and Setanta are involved in an increasingly fierce battle for pay-per-view sports rights.
In a statement, Setanta Sports said it would be showing 25 FA Cup matches a year as well as eight England friendlies over the lifetime of the contract.
"The FA Cup is a great highlight in the English football calendar and will help to strengthen our offering even further," said Mark Mohan, the firm's group commercial director.
Last year the Irish broadcaster secured a six-year deal to televise the PGA golf tour featuring 40 leading tournaments, rights previously held by Sky.Last year the Irish broadcaster secured a six-year deal to televise the PGA golf tour featuring 40 leading tournaments, rights previously held by Sky.
Setanta also holds the rights to broadcast the Scottish Premier League.Setanta also holds the rights to broadcast the Scottish Premier League.
BSkyB and Setanta won a £1.7bn auction to screen Premiership games last year.