ESPN has announced that they have reached an exclusive, multi-year rights agreement for the Emirates FA Cup.
The deal will bring 79 FA Cup matches starting in November through the Final match exclusively to ESPN+, the company’s OTT service. The deal also includes The FA Community Shield, annual match between the FA Cup and Premier League winners.
The FA Cup is a knockout tournament started in 1871 available to all professional and non-professional clubs in England. This season more than 700 teams will compete.
Burke Magnus, EVP Programming, ESPN
“Acquiring the FA Cup – the oldest national football competition in the world – further demonstrates our commitment to making ESPN+ a must-have for soccer fans in the U.S. With its storied tradition and world-class players and teams, FA Cup will be a signature property in ESPN+’s ever-expanding soccer portfolio.”
The addition of the FA Cup is just one of many soccer rights deals that ESPN has signed for their OTT service. Last week, ESPN+ announced a multi-agreement for Serie A, as well as Australia A-League, Chinese Super League, and Dutch Eredivise.
The service already includes out-of-market coverage of MLS matches and exclusive in-market coverage of the Chicago Fire.