The FA Cup third round smashed viewing records this weekend with millions of viewers turning to the BBC for live coverage of the oldest football competition in the world on BBC TV and iPlayer.
Video game giants Arsenal and Liverpool went head-to-head on Sunday night with a peak audience of 7. 6 million on BBC One, a record figure for this level of the competition, and 2 million streams on BBC iPlayer. Another 6 million people generated a 44% turnout. The BBC’s other Sunday match, Manchester City vs Huddersfield, was also streamed 1. 3 million times on iPlayer.
The action-packed weekend kicked off with Middlesbrough taking on Aston Villa, which recorded a peak of 3. 3 million on BBC One and an average market share of 21 per cent.
Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said: “It’s seeing record viewership coming to the BBC to cover the FA Cup, a festival with so much history, drama and magic. We are committed to providing the public with a full coverage of the tournament. . “, from live matches on TV and iPlayer, to TV highlights and virtual clips on BBC Sport’s online page and social media. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the festival brings. “
The draw for the fourth round will take place tonight, Monday 8 January, and can be heard live on BBC Radio 5 ahead of the watch of the final match of the third round, Wigan Athletic v Manchester United. News and highlights from the festival are available on BBC Sport’s website and online app.
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