For the fourth round of the 2024/25 FA Cup season, two games billed as being iPlayer only will be shown on regular TV.
- Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers and Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace will be available on all major TV platforms.
The BBC will once again be offering an unadvertised back door to watch two FA Cup fourth round games.
Blackburn Rovers and Doncaster Rovers respective home games will be shown on the BBC RB1 channel, available to all Freeview, Freesat, Sky satellite and Virgin Media cable TV homes.
The games are widely advertised as being on the iPlayer only, similar to three games in the third round last month. However, for football fans with poor internet connectivity or those who prefer the simplicity of a regular TV channel, the additional Red Button coverage will be a welcome sight. Some viewers prefer to watch football on a traditional broadcast TV platform due to the delay on some online services.
Watch the following fourth round FA Cup games on BBC Red Button
- Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Sunday 9th February, coverage starts at 12:20)
- Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace (Monday 10th February, coverage starts at 19:35)
How to watch BBC Red Button
Viewers with Freeview, Sky satellite, Freesat or Virgin Media can access the action on BBC RB1 (Red Button One):
- Freeview channel 601
- Sky satellite & Freesat channel 970
- Virgin Media cable channel 991
Viewers in the Republic of Ireland will need to manually tune Sky to access BBC RB1.
Freeview is standard definition only, so watching via BBC iPlayer will offer potentially better picture quality. This is subject to your broadband connection. On Sky satellite, Freesat and Virgin Media, BBC RB 1 is distributed in full HD.
TV Platforms where the FA Cup games are iPlayer only
If you’re watching TV via a streaming platform like Sky Stream or Freely, you’ll be directed to the iPlayer stream when pressing red on BBC channels. You won’t find the BBC RB 1 channel listed on these platforms. Here, the iPlayer is the only option, but you’re streaming all TV channels anyway.
If you’ve got a Freeview Play TV (if channel 100 loads a Freeview Play app, that’s you), Sky Q or a modern Freesat receiver, you’ve got a choice. You can either press red to watch on iPlayer. Or you can select relevant channel number listed above to watch via a traditional broadcast.
A lack of promotion of BBC RB1 broadcasts means some people might be unaware certain games are available on their TV. Additionally, pubs and clubs using a Sky satellite receiver may not realise they can offer the game.
The BBC Red Button channel will also show replays of selected FA Cup games. Leyton Orient v Manchester City will be shown as a replay at 23:55 on Saturday 8th February. Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanders will be repeated at 21:00 on 9th February.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: BBC