A major shift is coming to English football broadcasting from the 2025-26 season, with the iconic Emirates FA Cup entering a new era of television coverage. The Football Association has struck a long-term four-year broadcast rights agreement with TNT Sports, ensuring that the world’s oldest national football competition will be widely televised across the UK — both on pay TV and free-to-air platforms.

Under the new deal, TNT Sports will become the primary rights holder for FA Cup matches, taking over what was previously a shared arrangement between broadcasters like BBC and ITV. The agreement marks a significant change in how fans will watch one of the most beloved knockout tournaments in world football.

Despite TNT Sports holding the majority of live rights, the competition will remain accessible to a broad audience thanks to a **sublicensing arrangement with BBC Sport. Under this arrangement, the BBC will broadcast 14 live FA Cup matches per season free-to-air, including two games from each round up to the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final itself. These free broadcasts will be available on BBC One, BBC Two and via BBC iPlayer, allowing fans without pay TV subscriptions to still enjoy key moments of the tournament.

The deal with TNT Sports also includes exclusive broadcasts beyond the matches shown on the BBC, with additional live fixtures available on TNT’s channels and its streaming platform discovery+. This means that subscribers to TNT Sports can watch a larger selection of games throughout each round of the competition, often including matchups not featured on free-to-air TV.

This new broadcast landscape reflects broader trends in the sports media industry, where major competitions are increasingly anchored by subscription providers while still preserving free-to-air access to ensure that historic and culturally significant events can reach the widest possible audience. The FA Cup Final itself remains one of the UK’s designated sporting “crown jewel” events, meaning it must be shown live on free-to-air television, a principle upheld in this agreement through the BBC’s coverage.

For fans, this means a mix of subscription and free coverage — with opportunities to enjoy live matches on both TNT Sports and the BBC. Supporters with TNT Sports access will benefit from broader match selection, while those tuning in via the BBC will still catch headline fixtures, including the showpiece final at Wembley Stadium.

The new four-year deal officially begins with the 2025-26 FA Cup season, bringing fresh broadcast dynamics to the competition from the autumn of 2025. Whether you’re a casual supporter eager to watch the final on free TV or a dedicated fan planning to follow every exciting round, this agreement ensures the Emirates FA Cup remains prominent on British screens for years to come.