It’s finally arrived — the FA Cup quarter-finals will be taking place this weekend. After a thrilling campaign, only eight teams remain to battle it out for that top spot; Coventry, Wolves, Newcastle, Leicester City, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and the biggest team in the world: Man United (That’s debatable — Ed).
And if you’re at all worried about the seedy pub around the corner favouring the weekend’s sparse Premier League fixtures rather than the clash between Liverpool and Man United, stop it. Showmax has just announced that it’ll be broadcasting the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend – with no disruptions to its Premier League broadcasting and at no extra cost.
FA Cup: not without some sacrifice
Obviously, streaming the matches through Showmax’s Premier League tier means there are a few caveats to keep in mind. For one, the streamer’s Premier League tier is a mobile-only option, meaning you’ll be forced to watch Man United’s thrashing of Liverpool through a 6in display, or if you have one handy, a tablet.
And two, there’s currently no way to access Showmax’s Premier League tier without sacrificing the R70/m fee. There is currently no ‘free trial’ option available that would unlock access to the matches for free.
Showmax’s announcement only details this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-finals and doesn’t mention the tournament’s subsequent semi-finals or final match. Stuff spoke with a Showmax representative, who confirmed the streamer will only be showing the quarter-finals for now, though it didn’t rule out the possibility of broadcasting the semi-final and final matches down the line.
Not a fever dream
Fortunately, Showmax is sweetening the deal in the hopes of getting new football fans through the door. Alongside the FA Cup broadcast announcement, the streamer unveiled Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League – a four-part documentary “that takes viewers on a mesmerising journey through the inception and evolution of the English Premier League.”
It is said to feature the likes of David Beckham, Alan Shearer, and Eric Cantona and “unravels the gripping tale of how the Premier League transformed into the global powerhouse it is today.”
If documentaries aren’t your thing, a trip to the UK might just be. Showmax is hosting a competition that’ll send four subscribers and their partners to the UK to watch a Premier League match live. To enter, customers — new and returning — must subscribe to the R70/m Showmax Premier League tier between 8 March 2024 to 31 March 2024.
For more information and the competition’s Ts & Cs, go here.