ITV and Setanta sign up for the Cup

Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick on Friday confirmed the television rights for England and FA Cup matches have been awarded to ITV and Setanta Sports starting in the 2008-09 season.

The new deal comes after the FA's partners since 2001 BBC and Sky were outbid for the package, which takes effect from August 2008 until July 2012. It will generate £425million for the FA over the four-year term - a 30% increase from the current £300million agreement with BBC and Sky.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick said: "We are delighted to have concluded a four-year deal with the two companies."

He added: "It is a deal that starts from August 1 2008 and is worth in the region of £425million. It is an increase on our current deal of £125m and a 42% increase on that previous deal.

"It means a £31m increase for the FA which gives us chance to invest in the game again in a bigger way

"We will have in excess of £100m a year to put back into football."

Barwick added: "It gives us the chance to extend the message of football as wide as possible and give everyone a chance to enjoy the game.

"For viewers we have ensured key FA Cup and England games get free-to-air coverage. That was essential to us and we have delivered on it.

"We have been able to extend coverage - we have asked both broadcasters to look at the amateur game and make sure there is coverage of that.

"ITV are proven deliverers of good football products. They were there at the inception of the Champions League in 1992 and Setanta are new kids on the block."