FA Cup 3rd round action throughout the weekend

Football: West Ham v Manchester City (Friday, 7.55pm) - BBC 1​

Thanks to the sheer number of FA Cup fixtures taking place over the coming days, the weekend gets started early for sports pubs. This is a rare opportunity for any pub with a TV – regardless of subscriptions – to be able to show sport to Friday night customers, thanks to this and some other matches over the course of the weekend being on terrestrial TV.

Rugby Union: Saracens v Exeter Chiefs (Saturday, 3pm) - BT Sport 1​

No football can be shown on UK TV at 3pm on a Saturday. That's no problem for rugby union fans with no interest in following the FA Cup scores; last year's Premiership finalists will meet in north London with Sarries sitting second in the league and Chiefs third.

Football: Preston North End v Arsenal (Saturday, 5.30pm) - BT Sport 2​

This match has all the hallmarks of being an FA Cup classic, with one of the Premier League's leading teams visiting a side with phenomenal support and a stunning history. Between them, the two sides have been in 26 FA Cup finals and the game represents an excellent chance to bring a boost in trade to Saturday evenings.

NFL: Wild Card Sunday (Sunday, 6.05pm) - Sky Sports 1​

The NFL post-season begins this weekend with eight teams hoping to join the four already in the divisional play-offs. The main chance to bring customers into the pub this weekend is by making an event of the two matches that take place on Sunday evening. Miami Dolphins make the trip to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers before New York Giants visit Green Bay Packers in a game that will finish just after midnight UK time. This represents a huge chance to draw in customers for a six-hour period that might otherwise be quiet in the pub.