TNT Sports finds viewers more drawn to FA Cup than Premier League matches
Manchester United v Brighton tie had highest figures
Data shows value to broadcasters of later kick-offs
The FA Cup third round generated higher viewing figures for the main rights holder, TNT Sports, than any of their Premier League games this season in an indication of the competition’s enduring appeal before the fourth round, which begins on Friday.
Data obtained by the Guardian reveals that Brighton’s third-round win over Manchester United last month attracted an average audience of 876,000, with a total reach of 2.1 million, based on viewers watching for a minimum of three minutes.
