ESPN has acquired rights to FA Cup matches from the beginning of next season.

The deal will run for four seasons - 2010/11 to 2013/14 - and will give ESPN rights to 25 matches each season, including two quarter-finals, one semi-final and a simulcast of the final, shared with ITV. The broadcaster is believed to have paid around £60 million for the four-year deal, way down on what Setanta had paid. The deal also gives ESPN England's under 21 home matches and the forthcoming Women's Super League which launches in 2011.

ESPN EMEA vice president of TV channels Jeroen Oerlemans said: "The FA Cup is one of the great UK sports properties and will add to an already strong lineup of top-quality football on ESPN. We look forward to bringing these matches to our fans in brilliant HD. We are delighted to have been awarded these exclusive domestic rights, which are another significant step in growing our presence in the UK."

FA chief executive Ian Watmore said: "We are extremely pleased to have added ESPN to our list of broadcast partners. As a global broadcaster, who have already demonstrated a strong presence in the UK, ESPN will give our football great visibility and we look forward to an excellent partnership with them. Whilst it's a very different market to two years ago, we have nevertheless taken our time and as a result have received some strong, credible bids."

The addition of the FA Cup matches will fill the gap left by the loss of 23 Premier League matches which will transfer to Sky Sports next season.

For the remainder of this season's FA Cup, the FA will sell an additional match to ITV and will continue to show one match per round on the internet.

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