THE BBC’s decision not to televise Blyth Spartans’ third-round FA Cup match is a terrible display of how the BBC has lost touch with its role as broadcaster for the people (Echo, Dec 12).

When the BBC won back the rights to show FA Cup matches, it promised it would also reintroduce its ‘Route to the Cup’ and follow one team’s progression. Blyth Spartans were the BBC second- round winners and as such it should be their match that the BBC shows to continue this path to glory. Instead, the BBC has wimped out and chosen a match – Arsenal versus Hull City – which, let’s be honest, has very little excitement or cup magic outside of the two teams playing.

With the new Premier League deals bid process about to start again, and the expected £4bn windfall for Premier League teams, surely this was a time for the BBC, funded by British licence payers, to buck the trend of lining the pockets of mega wealthy Premier League clubs and support the true grass roots.

After all, the suggested £150,000 TV fee represents less than half of one home match’s takings for Manchester United; for Blyth it could have been years of financial safety.

Patrick Church, Bishop Auckland