23 Apr 2010

NZ channels won't be screening FA Cup live

5:06 pm on 23 April 2010

The FA Cup football final will not be screened live on New Zealand television this year.

Television New Zealand, TV3 and Maori Television have confirmed they did not bid for the rights to broadcast the match between Chelsea and Portsmouth, to be played at London's Wembley Stadium on 15 May.

Sky Television says its bid was rejected by the Football Association and it assumed another station had picked up the rights.

TVNZ says last year the state broadcaster was able to buy the rights cheaply.

However, spokesperson Andi Brotherston says TVNZ is now under significant financial pressure and has channelled all of its football budget into broadcasting the World Cup in South Africa in June.

Ms Brotherston says only 20,000 viewers watched Chelsea beat Everton in last year's FA Cup final.