For the last time before ITV loses the rights to show live FA Cup football this summer, the BBC and ITV have confirmed how they’re going to split coverage of the FA Cup third round, when Premier League teams join the competition.
- The BBC is screening games featuring teams from Greater Manchester.
- Three BBC games are iPlayer & Red Button only, two are only on BBC Wales.
- ITV will show three games, including Liverpool v Accrington Stanley.
BBC Sport will be the home of live coverage of FA Cup third round games featuring Manchester City, Manchester United and League Two side Salford.
Manchester City will host League Two side Salford in a BBC One primetime slot on Saturday 11th January. Coverage starts at 5:30pm, kick-off is at 5:45.
On Sunday 12th January, BBC One will show live coverage of Arsenal v Manchester United. The match build-up starts at 2:35pm (kick-off 3:00pm).
Both games will be live to stream in the UK via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
iPlayer and Red Button only games
Additionally, the BBC is also streaming coverage of Everton v Peterborough United, Leeds United v Harrogate Town and Newcastle United v Bromley via the iPlayer. Viewers who want to watch via traditional broadcast TV can do via BBC Red Button (details in the overview below).
BBC Wales only games
Southampton v Swansea City and Sheffield United v Cardiff City will only be shown on BBC Wales. BBC One Wales will show Sheffield United’s home game versus Cardiff, while BBC Two Wales screens Swansea’s visit to Southampton. Both BBC One Wales and BBC Two Wales are available on Sky, Freesat and Freely in England. Virgin Media offers BBC One Wales only in England. The BBC iPlayer has full coverage of the games on BBC Wales.
ITV’s coverage
Over on ITV, the commercial broadcaster will screen four games from the third round.
Coverage starts on Friday 10th January, with Aston Villa v West Ham. On Saturday, it will show Liverpool v Accrington Stanley.
Other games on ITV include Tamworth v Tottenham on Sunday and Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday evening (ITV4). All of ITV’s games will be shown on traditional broadcast TV as well as on ITVX. Viewers in central and northern Scotland can watch on STV (full overview below).
This is ITV’s final season covering the FA Cup. After May’s final, TNT Sports becomes the primary rightsholder, with the BBC securing a selection of free-to-air live games and highlights.
▶ Overview: FA Cup – 3th round 2025 – TV and streaming coverage
THURSDAY 9th JANUARY 2025
- Sheffield United v Cardiff City – kick-off 19:00, BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer.
Sheffield United fans can watch BBC One Wales in England, Scotland and NI on Sky and Freesat channel 965, Virgin Media channel 864 and Freely channel 765. BBC One Wales streams on the iPlayer when the region is set to Wales.
- Everton v Peterborough United – kick-off 19:45, BBC Red Button (Freeview 601, Sky satellite/Freesat 970, Virgin Media 991) and BBC iPlayer
FRIDAY 10th JANUARY 2025
- Aston Villa v West Ham – kick-off 20:00, ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player*.
SATURDAY 11th JANUARY 2025
- Liverpool v Accrington Stanley – kick-off 12:15, ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player*
- Manchester City v Salford – kick-off 17:45, BBC One, BBC iPlayer.
- Leeds United v Harrogate Town – kick-off 17:45, BBC Red Button (Freeview 601, Sky satellite/Freesat 970, Virgin Media 991) and BBC iPlayer
SUNDAY 12th JANUARY 2025
- Tamworth v Tottenham – kick-off 12:30, ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player*.
- Arsenal v Manchester United – kick-off 15:00, BBC One, BBC iPlayer.
- Newcastle United v Bromley – kick-off 15:00, BBC Red Button (Freeview 601, Sky satellite/Freesat 970, Virgin Media 991) and BBC iPlayer
- Southampton v Swansea City – kick-off 16:30, BBC Two Wales, BBC iPlayer.
Southampton fans can watch BBC Two Wales in England, Scotland and NI on Sky and Freesat channel 968 and Freely channel 768. It is not on Virgin Media in England. BBC Two Wales streams on the iPlayer when the region is set to Wales.
MONDAY 13th JANUARY 2025
- Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge – kick-off 19:30, ITV4 and ITVX.
*STV Player in STV’s broadcast area only.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: FA