ESPN signs 35 million pounds FA Cup deal

US-based satellite broadcaster ESPN has signed a four-year deal worth some 35 million pounds (57 million dollars) to televise the FA Cup, England’s governing Football Association (FA) announced Tuesday.

The deal, which will start ahead of the 2010/11 season, will run in parallel with the FA’s existing agreement with terrestrial broadcaster ITV to cover the FA Cup and England international matches.

Both ITV and ESPN wll have the right to show the FA Cup final live.

The FA Cup is the world’s oldest senior knockout football competition and, in common with the English Premier League, attracts a global following.

ESPN entered the English football rights market by filling the gap in Premier League coverage left when Irish satellite broadcaster Setanta effectively pulled out because of financial problems.

In June, Disney-owned broadcaster ESPN was awarded the rights to 46 live English Premier League games this season after they were forfeited by Setanta.

“We are extremely pleased to have added ESPN to our list of broadcast partners,” FA chief executive Ian Watmore said on Tuesday.

“As a global broadcaster, who have already demonstrated a strong presence in the UK, ESPN will give our football great visibility and we look forward to an excellent partnership with them.”

And while the worldwide recession has had an impact on the football rights market, Watmore said the offer from ESPN was one of several received by the FA.

“Whilst it’s a very different market to two years ago, we have nevertheless taken our time and as a result have received some strong, credible bids.”

ESPN has become increasingly active in sports beyond its North American heartland and, in addition to its coverage of English football, it now owns the Cricinfo cricket website and rugby union site scrum.com.