Who is Televising the FA Cup Final?

The FA Cup final, a pinnacle of English football, has a rich broadcasting history. Seventy years ago, a groundbreaking event occurred: the first live television broadcast of the FA Cup final. The 1938 match between Preston North End and Huddersfield Town marked this historic moment, brought to viewers by the BBC. While concerns about tradition and devaluing the in-person experience may have existed, the limited reach of early television meant only a small audience of around 10,000 out of a potential 50,000 could even tune in.

This contrasts sharply with the massive global audience of 484 million who watched the 2005 FA Cup final, highlighting the evolution of broadcasting and the expanding reach of the event. The 1938 game itself was decided by a last-minute penalty, giving Preston North End a 1-0 victory. However, the broadcast is more famously remembered for commentator Thomas Woodrooffe’s infamous gaffe, declaring he’d “eat his hat” if a goal was scored just moments before the deciding penalty.

Woodrooffe’s commentary blunder wasn’t his only memorable broadcasting incident. A year earlier, during a radio broadcast of the Spithead Naval Review, an overindulgence in hospitality led to an incoherent on-air description of the event, famously punctuated by the repeated phrase “the fleets lit up.” This incident further cemented Woodrooffe’s place in broadcasting history, albeit for less than ideal reasons. While finding a clip of the FA Cup gaffe online proves difficult, recordings of the “fleets lit up” incident are readily available. The evolution of FA Cup broadcasting from a limited audience to a global spectacle underscores the enduring popularity of the tournament. Today, broadcasters vie for the rights to showcase this prestigious event, ensuring fans worldwide can experience the excitement of the FA Cup final.