In a surprising turn for football broadcasting, the FA Cup has demonstrated stronger viewer attraction than Premier League matches on TNT Sports this season. Data obtained by the Guardian reveals that the FA Cup third round generated higher viewing figures for the main rights holder than any of their Premier League games, underscoring the competition's lasting popularity as the fourth round commences.
Manchester United vs. Brighton Leads the Pack
Brighton's third-round victory over Manchester United in January emerged as the standout event, drawing an average audience of 876,000 viewers. This match, which kicked off on a Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford, achieved a total reach of 2.1 million based on viewers watching for at least three minutes. Impressively, it captured nearly 10% of the TV viewing audience at that time, highlighting its broad appeal.
In contrast, TNT Sports' live Premier League fixtures this season have primarily been scheduled for Saturday lunchtimes and midweek evenings, which may have impacted their viewership numbers. The FA Cup's performance suggests that timing and competition format play crucial roles in attracting audiences.
Broadcasting Shifts and Viewer Trends
This season marks the first year of TNT Sports' four-year deal to broadcast FA Cup matches, following criticism over the FA's decision to move the rights from free-to-air channels BBC and ITV to the subscription-based service. Under this agreement, TNT Sports holds the rights to air every FA Cup tie live, except those kicking off at 3pm on Saturdays due to Uefa's Article 48 TV blackout restrictions.
Despite concerns about accessibility, viewing figures have remained robust. A total of 22 third-round ties were broadcast live on TNT Sports or its streaming platform, discovery+, attracting almost five million viewers collectively. For the upcoming fourth round, 11 ties will be broadcast, starting with high-profile matches like Hull City versus Chelsea and Wrexham against Ipswich.
Sub-Licensing and Free-to-Air Coverage
TNT Sports has entered into a sub-licensing arrangement with the BBC, allowing the free-to-air channel to share coverage of 14 FA Cup ties. This includes two matches per round from the third round through to the semi-finals, ensuring broader audience reach.
The BBC's most-watched third-round fixture was Aston Villa's triumph over Tottenham, which peaked at 3.1 million viewers and had a three-minute reach of 6.5 million. Earlier in the day, Macclesfield Town's historic upset against holders Crystal Palace drew an average audience of 1.8 million and a reach of 4.2 million, further emphasizing the value of later kick-off times for broadcasters.
Implications for Future Broadcasts
The BBC has selected Villa versus Newcastle for a Saturday evening slot and Chelsea's visit to Hull as its live fourth-round broadcasts, indicating a strategic focus on prime-time scheduling to maximize viewership. These decisions reflect ongoing efforts to balance commercial interests with audience accessibility in football broadcasting.
Overall, the FA Cup's strong performance on TNT Sports challenges assumptions about viewer preferences and highlights the competition's unique appeal in the crowded football calendar. As broadcasting deals evolve, these trends will likely influence future rights negotiations and scheduling strategies across the sport.
