BBC secures additional FA Cup rights

The BBC has secured the rights to broadcast the FA Cup from the extra preliminary stage for this season.

The corporation shares broadcast rights to the tournament with BT Sport and usually begins its coverage with the first round proper in January.

However, under a new deal the BBC will screen games from the first six rounds of qualifying, which sees teams from the fifth to 10th tiers of English football compete to reach the later stages of the competition.

One game from each of the six rounds will be streamed live on the red button and the BBC website, beginning this Saturday with a Merseyside derby between Litherland REMYCA and AFC Liverpool.

"We are delighted that audiences will be able to share in the passion of the FA Cup from the opening stage of the competition for the very first time," said Steve Rudge, the BBC's head of football.

"To highlight the tournament from first kick to last will showcase the desire for success in the famous Cup throughout the football pyramid."

Arsenal enter this season's defending FA Cup champions, having defeated Chelsea in May to secure a record 13th trophy.