ESPN acquires FA Cup rights in Britain

LONDON (AP) -- ESPN has signed a four-year deal to broadcast live FA Cup matches in Britain to fill the void left by collapsed network Setanta.

The contract to show 25 matches each season starting in 2010-11 is worth about $110 million over the four years of the deal.

It is the English Football Association's first deal with ESPN's British operation.

FA chief executive Ian Watmore said Tuesday that ESPN "will give our football great visibility."

Since Setanta's British network collapsed in June, the FA had been trying to find a new broadcast partner to work alongside free TV station ITV.