BBC win back TV rights to screen FA Cup They have millions of customers and are shaping up to be a heavyweight player in the broadcasting world so the FA Cup is a fantastic asset for their growing portfolio of sports. BBC director-general Tony Hall said, "Bringing the FA Cup back to the BBC was something I really wanted to do and I am so pleased that we have achieved it for football fans everywhere. Working closely with the FA, I believe we will change the way we view the FA Cup forever. The deal is thought to represent another bumper payday for the FA, which in May secured up to £100 million over four years for ITV to show England's matches for the next four years. That contract, agreed through Uefa's new central sales strategy, also saw BSkyB awarded an England highlights package and live rights for the other home nations and the Republic of Ireland's live qualifying matches. Keeping the FA Cup will be seen as crucial by BT, which has also 38 live Premier League matches but needed to buy out ESPN's UK business to secure some of its other football rights. BT Retail chief executive Gavin Patterson said: "BT Sport made a determined joint bid to retain The FA Cup rights because we believe it is one of the truly great club football competitions."