ITV and Setanta pay £425m for football rights

by Harriet Dennys, Media Week 30-Mar-07, 11:30

LONDON - ITV and Setanta Sports have won live rights to the FA Cup and England's home international matches.

The broadcasters have paid £425 million for the four year deal, effective from 1 August 2008 - a staggering 42% more than the current £300 million package shared by BBC and BSkyB.

ITV will broadcast England's competitive home games, friendly away fixtures, the first pick of FA Cup games and the Women's FA Cup Final.

Setanta Sports, which already holds live rights to 46 Premiership games, will show England home friendlies, under-21 internationals, the Community Shield, the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and the FA Youth Cup.

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. 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.

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