Full Draw: http://thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/2010/third-round-draw We know the following: FSC HD will have 4 games and FS+ HD will have 4 games 3 of the 8 televised games to be made available to "international" TV viewers by CSI Sports will kick off on Saturday January 8 at 10am ET (1500 London Time). These 3 games will be for TV viewers outside the UK only. In the UK market, ITV1 and ITV4 will combine to have 2 games while ESPN UK will have 3 games. Manchester United vs Liverpool will likely be on Sunday January 9, quite possibly in the "early" time slot (i.e. 8am or 8:30am ET) in order to accomodate TV viewers in most of Asia (except Japan and Thailand), where NewsCorp controls the TV rights (as the managing partner of ESPN STAR Sports Ltd.) (FSI should put Man Utd vs Liverpool on FSC HD. )
2 FA Cup 2nd Round matches will be played on December 8 and 9: Wednesday December 8 2:40pm ET - FC United of Manchester vs Brighton - FOXsoccer.tv (Time TBA on FS+) Thursday December 9 2:30pm ET - Luton vs Charlton - FSC or FS+ (TBC)
I'd have to assume the 5 best games to air on TV in the UK are Arsenal-Leeds United Sheffield United-Aston Villa Chelsea-Ipswitch Town Manchester United-Liverpool (an obvious ITV game) Leicester City-Manchester City I'd think FSC would want Arsenal-Leeds and Manchester United-Liverpool for sure.
The might want to broadcast a match featuring interesting Football League or non-League teams as well (maybe for Friday evening), Brighton & Hove Albion or FC United of Manchester v Portsmouth Blackburn Rovers v Queens Park Rangers Stoke City v Cardiff City Tottenham Hotspur v Charlton Athletic or Luton Town The Arsenal-Leeds and Man Utd-Liverpool ties seem to be certainties.
The first official schedule changes to accomodate TV have been announced. Four matches moved (all times local): Saturday, 8 January 2011 12:45 Arsenal v Leeds United (ITV1) 17:30 Stevenage v Newcastle United (ESPN UK) Sunday, 9 January 2011 13:30 Manchester United v Liverpool (ITV1) 16:00 Leicester City v Manchester City (ESPN UK) SA www.socceraction.info
Not too surprised about Stevenage-Newcastle United getting picked, that scenario (League 1/2 or lower at home to an EPL team) is fairly common for the 3rd/4th round UK TV games when available. Arsenal has a League Cup semifinal the following week, so they were probably pleased to get an early Saturday game.
English FA Cup 3rd Round Saturday January 8 7:25am ET - Arsenal vs Leeds United - FS+ & FOXsoccer.tv 10am ET - Teams TBA - FSC & FOX Deportes 10am ET - Teams TBA - FS+ & FOXsoccer.tv 10am ET - Teams TBA - FOXsoccer.tv (SDD 5pm ET on FSC) 12:25pm ET - Stevenage vs Newcastle United - FSC Sunday January 9 8:25am ET - Manchester United vs Liverpool - FSC & FOX Deportes 10:55am ET - Leicester City vs Manchester City - FSC & FOX Deportes One additional live telecast on FS+ (NOT involving Chelsea) is to be announced. In past FA Cups, CSI did NOT provide HD video to international broadcasters until the Semifinals.
The 5th and final televised match for the UK has been announced. So here is the UK TV schedule: Arsenal v Leeds United Saturday 8 January 2011 12.45pm kick-off Live on ITV1 Stevenage v Newcastle United Saturday 8 January 2011 5.30pm kick-off Live on ESPN Manchester United v Liverpool Sunday 9 January 2011 1.30pm kick-off Live on ITV1 Leicester City v Manchester City Sunday 9 January 2011 4pm kick-off Live on ESPN Crawley Town v Derby County Monday 10 December 2011 8pm kick-off Live on ESPN SA www.socceraction.info
The FA has also announced 2 matches (out of 3 total) on Saturday January 8 at 1500 London Time for international TV distribution by CSI. (U.K. viewers will be able to watch highlights after the matches are over at thefa.com): Burton Albion v Middlesbrough Scunthorpe United v Everton == One would expect FSC (and FOX Deportes) to take Scunthorpe United vs Everton (live at 9:55am ET) unless the match "to be announced" were more compelling. Because the matches to be hosted by Chelsea and Tottenham had to be moved on Sunday January 9 due to police staffing issues (Fulham and Arsenal will both play on Saturday January 8), neither of those matches will have live TV coverage in the U.K. or to international TV markets. == Burton Albion held Manchester United scoreless during the 3rd round of the 2005-2006 FA Cup to earn a lucrative replay match at Old Trafford: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/4565036.stm
I suspect that ESPN UK waited for the FC United of Manchester vs Brighton replay to see whether FC United could advance. Once FC United was eliminated, ESPN UK went to "Plan B". Crawley Town v Derby County should end up on FS+ in the U.S. The viewership for such a match would have been way too small for FSC.
lol Though I think winning silverware is a top priority for Wenger this season so I wouldn't be surprised if he fields a full team against Leeds. sshhh... some people in here want to cling to the belief that European leagues base decisions on kick-off times with Asian viewers in mind.
The FA couldn't select Chelsea vs Ipswich or Tottenham vs Charlton because their matches have been moved to Sunday due to police staffing issues. Everton has national team players from 3 English-speaking international TV markets (Pienaar from South Africa, Howard from the U.S., Cahill from Australia) to justify the selection. Burton Albion still has name recognition from its 0-0 draw vs Manchester United 5 years ago.
For lower league and Conference intrigue, I would have picked Huddersfield-Dover over anything involving Boro. Burton were more interesting as a non-league club, now they're just an ordinary League 2 side in a new ground. Championship leaders and 2nd place clubs @ Premier League opposition seem like better picks to me. Even West Ham-Barnsley would have been better. Ah well, no biggie, it's just nice to get some many matches over here.
The 3rd match on Saturday January 8 at 1500 London Time for international TV distribution by CSI will be: Sheffield United v Aston Villa Aston Villa has several players from the Republic of Ireland, which is one of the key international TV markets targeted by the FA. == FSC and FS+ should have Scunthorpe United v Everton and Sheffield United v Aston Villa live. Burton Albion v Middlesbrough will probably be the match that will only be live on FOXsoccer.tv.
English FA Cup 3rd Round Saturday January 8 7:25am ET - Arsenal vs Leeds - FS+ & FOXsoccer.tv 10am ET - Sheffield United v Aston Villa - FSC & FOX Deportes 10am ET - Scunthorpe v Everton - FS+ & FOXsoccer.tv 10am ET - Burton Albion v Middlesbrough - FOXsoccer.tv (SDD 2pm ET on FS+) 12:25pm ET - Stevenage vs Newcastle - FSC Sunday January 9 8:25am ET - Manchester United vs Liverpool - FSC & FOX Deportes 10:55am ET - Leicester vs Manchester City - FSC & FOX Deportes Monday January 10 2:55pm ET - Crawley v Derby - FS+ & FOXsoccer.tv