FA Cup

The BBC and Sky have joined the battle to secure the rights to the FA Cup.

BT and ITV have already set their sights on the English footballing showpiece, with the broadcast rights up for grabs for the next three seasons.

The invitation to tender covers three season including 10 FA Cup packages, two highlights packages and Community Shield, The FA Youth Cup and the FA Youth Trophy.

ITV has previously held the free-to-air FA Cup rights as well as England’s home qualifiers and home and away freindlies.

This year’s FA Cup final will air at 5.15pm on ITV and ESPN.

The match at Wembley in London between Manchester City and Wigan will air in the late afternoon on Saturday, May 11.

There has been criticism of the late kick-off, given the fact the semi-finals were played at the same time leading to many Millwall fans drinking all day prior to the game and erupting into violence at the match.

Sunday, 21 October 2012, 1:30PM – 2:00PM

Mark Pougatch introduces the draw for the 1st round of the FA Cup live from Wembley Stadium.

The 48 teams from League 1 and League 2 join the 32 non-League survivors who have reached the 1st round proper.

Sean Dyche, a member of Chesterfield’s FA Cup semi-final team in 1997, and the former England defender Earl Barrett will make the draw.

Saturday, 5 May 2012, 3:15PM – 7:45PM

Chelsea v Liverpool: 

Adrian Chiles introduces live coverage of the 131st FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. 

Some of the biggest names in English football take centre stage – Chelsea stars John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres go head-to-head with Liverpool’s lynchpins, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Jamie Carragher and Andy Carroll.

Between them Chelsea and Liverpool have played in 23 FA Cup Finals.but this is their first meeting in English football’s showcase Final.. Liverpool are looking to achieve a domestic cup double having already won the Carling Cup this season. 

This will be Kenny Dalglish’s fourth FA Cup Final in two spells as Liverpool manager. However his side face a Chelsea side competing in their fourth final since Wembley was re-opened in 2007. Interim coach Roberto di Matteo has overseen a dramatic transformation since succeeding Andre Villas-Boas in March and the Italian has his own special FA Cup Final history having scored for Chelsea in their triumphs at the 1997 and 2000 Finals. 

Expert studio analysis from Roy Keane, Gareth Southgate and Gordon Strachan. Commentary from Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend. 

Ofcom investigating BGT

Ofcom is investigating Britain’s Got Talent over the audition of burlesque performer Beatrix Von Bourbon.

The X Factor holding mobile auditions

The X Factor will this year hold mobile auditions around the UK in cities not included in arena auditions. They will begin in Plymouth tomorrow.

FA Cup in 3D on ESPN

The FA Cup final will be shown live in 3D on ESPN next month. The channel will also be dedicating 12 hours of programming on the football centrepiece.

Tulisa discussing sex tape on Alan Carr

Tulisa Contostavlos will discuss, among other things, her sex tape when she appears on Alan Carr Chatty Man talkshow this Friday night.

Sunday, 19 February 2012, 1:35PM – 4:45PM

Stevenage v Spurs: 

Spurs love a bit of FA Cup glory and the draw in this year’s competition has so far been kind to Harry Redknapp’s team. After struggling at Championship Watford, Spurs now face the short trip to League One Stevenage, just 30 miles north of White Hart Lane and around 45 places below them in the league. Like Spurs, Stevenage are enjoying a strong season and are in the running to make the play offs despite losing manager Graham Westley to Preston. Adrian Chiles presents live from Stevenage with Gareth Southgate, Roy Keane and Graham Westley. Commentary from Peter Drury and Jim Beglin.

Saturday, 18 February 2012, 4:50PM – 7:20PM

Live coverage of a tricky FA Cup 5th round tie for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in the north east of England. It’s seven years since Arsenal last won a trophy and Wenger knows his team will have their work cut out this evening if they are to reach the quarter-finals of FA Cup this season. 

Adrian Chiles is joined by Gareth Southgate and Roy Keane. Commentary from Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend. 

Saturday, 28 January 2012, 12:00PM – 3:05PM

Liverpool v Manchester United: 

Adrian Chiles introduces live coverage of the FA Cup tie of the round between Liverpool and Manchester United from Anfield. 

There is always drama when these two big rivals meet and it’s expected to be no different today with the build-up to this fourth round tie dominated by the recent Luis Suarez – Patrice Evra FA investigation. 

Kenny Dalglish suffered an FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in his first game back as Liverpool manager last year and will want his team to make amends. 

ESPN and Sky have added to their 3D content syndication relationship with the announcement that this year’s ESPN 3D production of the FA Cup Final, between Manchester City and Stoke City, will be shown live in 3D on Sky 3D, Europe’s first dedicated 3D TV channel.

ESPN’s 3D coverage of the Final – between 2.30pm and 6.30pm – will be part of a multi-faceted FA Cup Final day that also includes 12 hours of FA Cup programming on ESPN and ESPN HD. Like the ESPN and ESPN HD coverage, ESPN’s 3D coverage on Sky 3D will be commercial-free from 2:30 until after the trophy presentation.

Sky World subscribers with a Sky + HD box and a 3D TV will be able to watch the 2011 FA Cup Final in 3D. It will also be available in the more than 1,500 Sky 3D pubs nationwide.

The 3D sports syndication agreement follows collaboration between ESPN 3D and Sky 3D to deliver coverage of ESPN’s Winter X Games 15 in February. The two companies will continue to explore additional ESPN 3D events that can be delivered to Sky 3D customers, with further announcements due shortly.

ESPN 3D coverage of this year’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium will be directed and designed by ESPN, with ESPN punditry, commentary, studio and on-screen graphics.

“ESPN is extremely proud to have been at the forefront of the development of 3D sports coverage, and are very excited to work with other companies like Sky that are leading the way as well,” said Murray Barnett, vice president , ESPN Media Distribution. “Sports have proven to be a driver for technology and innovation repeatedly through the years, and that continues today with 3D TV. Bringing ESPN 3D’s production of great events like the FA Cup Final the Winter X Games and more to fans on Sky 3D will help showcase the new dimension that technology has made possible.”

John Cassy, Channel Director, Sky 3D added “Sky’s 3D story continues at pace. Working with high quality channel partners such as ESPN means that we can continue to extend the choice of high quality 3D content for customers. With Sky Sports continuing to break new ground, and with the addition of the best of EPSN’s live 3D coverage, Sky’s customers are enjoying the richest 3D experience available.”

The 3D output collaboration between Sky and ESPN reflects the commitment and leadership positions that both companies have established in 3D sports coverage around the world.

Since Sky 3D’s launch in April 2010, Sky Sports has already produced more than 100 live sports broadcasts for the channel, spanning Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League and international football, Aviva Premiership, Heineken Cup and international rugby, Ryder Cup and Masters golf, the PDC Darts World Championship, international cricket, and US Open tennis.

ESPN announced ESPN 3D – its 3D sports initiative – in January 2010, and launched a dedicated ESPN 3D network in the U.S. in June 2010. In January 2011 it announced that ESPN 3D would begin televising 3D sports all day, every day. It has already covered a wide variety of sports, including NFL American football, Major League Baseball, NBA basketball, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, X Games and Winter X Games, and more.

Next month’s UEFA Champion’s League final at Wembley Stadium will also be available live on Sky 3D, with Sky Sports the host broadcaster for the season’s finale. This year’s Carling Cup Final was the first domestic Cup Final to be shown live in 3D.

Further details on additional EPSN 3D content syndication will be announced in due course.

Sunday, 19 April 2009, 3:15PM on ITV1

Steve Rider presents live coverage of the FA Cup semi final between Manchester United and Everton live from Wembley Stadium. 

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have won the cup on a record 11 occasions, but not since 2004. In contrast this is Everton’s first FA Cup semi-final since 1995, when they went on to win the trophy, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final at Wembley. 

Steve is joined by Andy Townsend and Teddy Sheringham with commentary from Clive Tyldesley and Jim Beglin. Pitchside reports come from Gabriel Clarke.