GuideHow to Watch
How to Watch Premier League in the UK
A comprehensive guide to legal Premier League viewing options across UK broadcasters.
The Premier League is the most-watched domestic football league on the planet, and yet for supporters in its home market, accessing live coverage can feel like an unnecessarily complicated exercise. Rights are split across three paid broadcasters, free-to-air options are limited to highlights, and the much-discussed 3pm Saturday blackout remains firmly in place. This guide cuts through the noise and lays out exactly what is available, where, and at what cost — so you can make an informed decision about how best to follow the season. Check our Premier League fixtures page for the latest schedule and broadcast assignments.
UK Broadcast Rights Overview
Since the Premier League began selling its domestic rights in packages, the landscape has shifted considerably. The current cycle sees live matches divided between three platforms: Sky Sports, TNT Sports (previously BT Sport), and Amazon Prime Video. Between them, they account for roughly 200 of the 380 fixtures played each season. The remaining games are not shown live in the UK at all — a deliberate protection measure that we will address shortly.
Sky Sports holds the largest share of live rights and has done so for every cycle since 1992. TNT Sports secured a significant package that includes a strong run of Saturday evening and Sunday matches. Amazon Prime Video entered Premier League broadcasting in 2019 and now shows two full rounds of midweek fixtures per season, typically across the festive period.
No single subscription gives you every live game. If complete coverage matters to you, you will need access to at least two of these three services.
If you already subscribe to Sky, adding TNT Sports via your Sky package is often cheaper than taking a standalone TNT subscription. Similarly, broadband bundle deals from Sky and BT frequently bring the cost of sports add-ons down considerably — always check the bundled price before committing to sport-only plans.
Sky Sports
Sky Sports remains the dominant force in Premier League broadcasting, showing around 128 live matches per season across their dedicated Premier League channel and the main Sky Sports channels. Their coverage spans a range of kick-off slots, with particular strength in early Sunday afternoon and Saturday lunchtime fixtures.
Sky packages are available via traditional satellite dish (Sky Q or Sky Glass), through Sky Stream (a no-dish streaming device), or via NOW TV for those who prefer a contract-free arrangement. A full Sky Sports subscription costs in the region of £40–£50 per month depending on your bundle, though this can drop significantly when taken alongside Sky broadband. The Sky Sports app is included with any subscription and allows streaming across multiple devices.
NOW TV offers Sky Sports content under a flexible pass structure. A day pass for Sky Sports is the cheapest short-term option and suits casual viewers who want access for a specific fixture. Monthly passes represent better value for regular watchers but still work out more expensive than a full Sky subscription over the course of a season.
Sky's production values are consistently high. Their studio coverage is well-resourced, and their commentary and punditry teams carry considerable experience. The Sky Sports app functions reliably, and downloads for offline viewing are supported on mobile.
TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport)
TNT Sports — rebranded from BT Sport following a joint venture between BT and Warner Bros. Discovery — holds a package of approximately 52 live Premier League matches per season. Their fixtures skew towards Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, making them a useful complement to a Sky subscription for those wanting broader coverage.
TNT Sports is available as a standalone streaming subscription through discovery+, as a channel add-on within Sky, or as part of certain BT broadband packages where it may be included at reduced cost or at no extra charge. Pricing for a standalone TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ sits at around £30 per month, though promotional rates are regularly available.
The broadcast quality from TNT Sports is comparable to Sky, and the studio output has improved markedly since the BT Sport era. Their Champions League and Europa League rights sit alongside the Premier League package, which adds considerable value for those following European competition alongside domestic football.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video shows two dedicated rounds of Premier League fixtures per season — one usually in mid-December and another over the Christmas or New Year period — with all matches across each round streamed simultaneously. This makes for a genuinely useful proposition: every single game from a given round available in one place.
Accessing Premier League coverage on Prime Video requires an active Amazon Prime subscription, which costs £8.99 per month or £95 per year and includes the broader Prime benefits (free delivery, Prime Music, etc.). There is no sports-specific add-on required.
Amazon occasionally offers free trial periods for new Prime subscribers, during which the Premier League fixtures are accessible at no cost. The streaming quality is excellent on compatible devices, and their production — featuring talent such as Alex Scott, Peter Crouch, and various co-commentators — has found a confident tone. Commentary and punditry tend towards the accessible rather than the technical, which suits a broad audience.
Free-to-Air Highlights
For viewers unwilling or unable to pay for live coverage, free-to-air options do exist — though they stop well short of live football. Match of the Day on BBC One remains the institution it has been since 1964, airing on Saturday evenings during the season with extended highlights from all afternoon and early evening kick-offs. A Sunday morning edition, Match of the Day 2, covers Sunday matches.
ITV broadcasts FA Cup coverage and, occasionally, England internationals. They also air highlight packages for midweek fixtures during certain periods. Neither the BBC nor ITV holds live Premier League rights under the current broadcasting cycle.
Channel 4 holds rights to show selected FA Cup rounds and has shown interest in expanding free-to-air access, but Premier League live games remain exclusively behind paywalls for UK viewers.
The 3pm Saturday Blackout: No Premier League matches kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon are broadcast live in the UK. This rule — formally known as the closed period — has been in place since the league's formation and exists to protect attendances at lower-league grounds across the Football League and National League. It applies only within the UK; international broadcasters routinely show these fixtures. Despite recurring pressure to abolish it, the blackout remains supported by the EFL and has survived every review to date.
Comparing Your Options
The right setup depends on how many matches you want to watch and what you are willing to spend. For the most committed supporter who wants access to the maximum number of live games, a combination of Sky Sports and TNT Sports is the practical answer. Adding Amazon Prime to this gives access to the December and festive rounds.
If budget is the priority, NOW TV's Sky Sports pass used selectively for key fixtures is a reasonable approach, supplemented by Prime Video during the festive rounds if you already hold a Prime subscription. For those who watch only occasionally, the day pass route through NOW TV avoids monthly commitments entirely.
It is also worth factoring in what else a subscription brings. TNT Sports includes the Champions League. Sky Sports covers Formula 1, golf majors, and domestic cricket. Amazon Prime includes a film and TV library alongside its football. None of these subscriptions is purely a football proposition, which can shift the value calculation considerably.
Looking for betting offers alongside your viewing? Browse current football offers from UK-licensed bookmakers.
Responsible Gambling
Gambling should always be entertaining and never a way to make money. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and never chase losses. Set limits on time and money spent, and take regular breaks.
Frequently asked questions
Selected matches are shown free-to-air on Amazon Prime Video during free trial periods, and highlight shows air on BBC and ITV. However, most live games require a paid subscription to Sky Sports or TNT Sports.
Around 200 of the 380 Premier League matches per season are broadcast live in the UK, split between Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime Video.
NOW TV's Sky Sports day pass is the cheapest single-day option. For regular viewing, comparing Sky and BT bundles with broadband packages often provides the best value.