Manchester United’s third round tie against Sheffield United will be shown by BT Sport, making it the 48th successive FA Cup match featuring the 11-times winners to be televised live.
The Football Association announced on Friday that five matches have been selected by BT Sport and the BBC, with Liverpool’s trip to League Two side Exeter up first on the BBC on the evening of Friday 8 January.
Wycombe Wanderers’ home tie against struggling Aston Villa will be the first game shown live at 12.45pm on Saturday 9 January on BT Sport 2, followed by United’s match against the League One side Sheffield United, which kicks off at 5.30pm. That continues the unbroken run of successive FA Cup ties featuring the Old Trafford club, which stretches back to their third round replay against Exeter in January 2005.
Chelsea’s tie against Leyton Orient or Scunthorpe United will also be shown by BT Sport 2 while the trip by the Premier League leaders, Leicester City, to face Tottenham Hotspur is the final tie to be televised.
The decision to feature four of the Premier League’s most popular sides was heavily criticised by the chairman of Eastleigh, who are the only non-league club to have guaranteed their participation in the third round.
“Superb news this morning!!! We get a rare chance to check out Man Utd and Chelsea in the FA CUP #magicofthefacup,” wrote Stewart Donald, whose side will face Bolton at home.
Superb news this morning!!! We get a rare chance to check out Man Utd and Chelsea in the FA CUP #magicofthefacup
— stewart donald (@stewartdonald3) December 11, 2015
FA Cup fifth Round ties for live broadcast
Exeter City v Liverpool 7.55pm Friday 8 January, BBC 1
Wycombe v Aston Villa 12.45pm Saturday 9 January, BT Sport 2
Manchester United v Sheffield United 5.30pm Saturday 9 January, BT Sport 2
Chelsea v Leyton Orient or Scunthorpe United 2pm Sunday 10 January, BT Sport 2
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City 4pm Sunday 10 January, BBC 1
