The BBC and TNT Sports have agreed on a four-year deal starting from the 2025/26 season to co-broadcast 14 FA Cup matches per season. This includes two matches per round, up to the quarter-finals, one semi-final, and the final. TNT Sports holds the first pick of matches, whereas the BBC gets the second and fourth picks. The deal also allows the BBC to show FA Cup highlights and digital clips.
BBC Radio services have live English commentary for up to 25 Carabao Cup games every season until 2028. The deal includes the Carabao Cup final, and the games are set to be streamed on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC 5 Sports Extra.
The BBC has acquired UK rights to the UEFA Champions League for the 2024-2027 cycle. It is the first time that the British public service broadcaster has landed TV rights to this competition. BBC’s Champions League contract includes match highlights on television, as well as on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and mobile apps. Short clips around the competition are also expected to be regularly posted on the network’s social media channels. In addition, BBC’s deal includes the Champions League final.
British public service broadcaster the BBC has extended its English FA Cup domestic rights until 2025. The four-year contract renewal, which takes effect in 2021, will see BBC’s free-to-air television channels air up to 18 live FA Cup matches every season. Coverage will include up to six live FA Cup games from the first and second rounds, as well as FA Cup highlights and clips online. The BBC will be sharing FA Cup broadcasts with British commercial network ITV.
British public service broadcaster the BBC has acquired the UK live audio commentary rights for the English Premier League from 2022/23 to 2024/25. This lets BBC’s audio service provide live commentary for almost all EPL matches throughout the period of the deal. BBC gets first picks for Saturday 3pm fixtures, while also covering Saturday fixtures scheduled at 5:30pm, and Sunday fixtures at 2pm and 4:30pm. The majority of the live audio coverage is expected to be carried out on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The BBC has acquired UK rights to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and shares the coverage with ITV. The agreement with FIFA grants BBC the rights to show live 2022 World Cup matches on its television channels, as well as on its streaming service BBC iPlayer online and on mobile devices. Live play-by-play commentary is also expected on BBC radio channels. The 2022 World Cup on BBC in the UK includes match highlights, previews, reports, analysis, interviews, and auxiliary programming. Furthermore, BBC’s broadcast deal allows for the publication of exclusive World Cup footage on its social media outlets. BBC has additionally secured the majority of the live games involving the England and Wales national teams in the group stage, and it has reserved first pick of the semifinals.
BBC Radio will maintain coverage of the Premier League throughout the 2021/22 season. As per the terms of its three year deal, BBC Radio 5 Live will continue to audio broadcast approximately 140 live Premier League matches each season, taking place on weekends, as well as the occasional Friday and Monday game. In addition to audio coverage, BBC Radio’s bonus features include documentaries, news updates, and regular call-in shows hosted by the network’s presenters.
