New broadcast deal

The FA can today confirm that ITV and Setanta will be its exclusive UK broadcast partners for the four-year period from August 2008 to July 2012.

The announcement follows the conclusion of a bidding process for a range of FA events, including the core broadcast properties – The FA Cup and England matches.

The new deal will generate £425 million for The FA over the four-year term – a 42% increase on the current £300 million agreement with BBC and Sky, which expires on July 31 2008. The increased revenue will allow The FA to re-invest more funding back into the game at all levels.

The arrangement with ITV and Setanta ensures that The FA Cup and England matches will continue to be shown on a mixture of ‘free-to-air’ and subscription access, with the principal games remaining on ‘free-to-air’ TV.

There will also be more airtime for other FA competitions and teams, such as The FA Community Shield, The FA Trophy, FA Vase and FA Youth Cup, all of which will now be covered in greater depth by Setanta Sports. The women’s game will benefit from enhanced programming including live ITV1 coverage of the Women’s FA Cup Final.

FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick, who led The FA’s negotiating team, said: "We are delighted with this new deal and are looking forward to our partnership with ITV and Setanta. It is very good news for football as the increased revenue will allow The FA to channel more funds back into the game.

"ITV are the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster and have captured many special moments in English football history, while Setanta are an ambitious, emerging sports broadcaster who see our properties as the next critical step in their development. I’m hugely excited by their innovative ideas and their commitment to helping us promote all sectors of the game.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank our current broadcast partners, the BBC and Sky, for their coverage of our properties and look forward to working together with them over the next 15 months."

The agreements also reflect developments in the online and mobile markets, with a whole new set of rights being added to The FA’s packages. For the first time, The FA Cup will be available on a near live basis on Setanta Sports, allowing fans the chance to see a selection of matches in full between the final whistle on Saturday and the evening highlights programme on ITV1.

Also available for the first time via Setanta Sports, will be an extended highlights video-on-demand service for The FA Cup and England matches. Finally, fans will be able to access goal clips from England and FA Cup matches via their mobile and internet connections via the agreement with ITV.

ITV Chief Executive Michael Grade 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 FA has run an intense bidding process and we are delighted to be the winners. It is a great deal for all of us."

Michael O’Rourke, co-founder and joint Chief Executive of Setanta said: "Winning these rights is a major coup for Setanta Sports and will mean that we will have live football every week of the football season. The FA Cup and England home friendlies are a fantastic addition to our line-up of top-flight football, which already includes the FA Premier League (starting in August), exclusive coverage of the Scottish Premier League and other top European leagues.

"Setanta are also committed to supporting grassroots football and so are pleased to be broadcasting the England U21s and other international development games, the Women’s FA Cup and internationals, The FA Trophy and FA Vase. With more live games than anywhere else, Setanta Sports is now the must have for all sports fans."

How it will work: