The English Football Association awarded the Pitch International agency European rights for the England national team’s home international games and domestic club competition the FA Cup in a six-year deal from 2012-13 to 2017-18.
The deal excludes the rights for England’s home qualifying matches for Euro 2016 and the 2018 Fifa World Cup, which will be centrally sold by Uefa, European football’s governing body.
The deal also includes rights for England national team U-21 matches, and the annual Community Shield match between the winner of the FA Cup and the English Premier League.
“[Pitch’s] expertise in the sports rights market and enthusiasm for our competitions impressed throughout a highly competitive tender process,” Stuart Turner, commercial director at the association, said.
Jon Owen, a partner at the agency, said: “England and FA Cup matches remain hugely attractive to sports broadcasters worldwide. This new, long-term contract is a great accolade for Pitch in recognition of its past work with The FA and we very much look forward to helping The FA further enhance its strong position in the overseas market in the years to come.”
Pitch International sold the association’s rights in the current cycle, from 2008-09 to 2011-12, in partnership with the Kentaro agency in the same European territories. Pitch also manages the FA’s footage archive and the technical and satellite requirements of its international broadcast partners.
Detailed coverage of this story, including the deal value and a round up of the FA’s international rights sales for the 2012-13 to 2017-18 period, can be found in the latest edition of the TV Sports Markets newsletter, published today. To access this content, contact Paul Santos, paul.santos@tvsportsmarkets.com, +44 207 954 3483.