Has Sky Sports Acquired the FA Cup Rights In UK?

It appears very likely that some or all of the FA Cup matches will be shown on Sky Sports television in the United Kingdom this season. Setanta Sports UK had the rights to the FA Cup last season until they closed its doors this past summer.

Hello,

I’m just writing in to send this along to you. This appeared tonight on the website This is Somerset, talking about minnows Paulton Rovers being drawn against Norwich. The following quote is made by Paulton manager Andrew Jones:

“We have been earmarked by Sky TV as one of their live games and we are having a meeting with the FA tomorrow to ensure we can host the tie. We definitely want to hold it here and we don’t see any problems.”

As I had understood it, the FA had yet to select a partner to replace Setanta for airing the FA Cup in the UK. This would seem to indicate that Sky may have gotten it back after a one-year abscence.

Here’s teh article:

http:\/\/www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Excitement-builds-Paulton-Rovers-await-FA-Cup-draw/article-1449997-detail/article.html

Have a good night,

Now that the draw for the first round of the FA Cup has been announced, one of the most enticing fixtures was Paulton Rovers being drawn against Norwich.

In an interview with a reporter from the This Is Somerset website, Paulton manager Andrew Jones said “We have been earmarked by Sky TV as one of their live games and we are having a meeting with the FA tomorrow to ensure we can host the tie. We definitely want to hold it here and we don’t see any problems.”

Eagle eyes EPL Talk reader Jeffrey Hash saw the quote and explained “As I had understood it, the FA had yet to select a partner to replace Setanta for airing the FA Cup in the UK. This would seem to indicate that Sky may have gotten it back after a one-year absence.”

UPDATE: The FA today announced that ITV1 will screen an extra live match for both the First and Second Rounds of The FA Cup – increasing the network’s existing competition commitments to two live matches per round.

A third tie in each round will be shown live and free of charge on www.TheFA.com.

UPDATE 2: The Telegraph is reporting that the Paulton Rovers against Norwich City cup tie will be on shown on ITV1, so maybe the Paulton manager was confused?