Breaking New Ground in UK Sports Broadcasting

In a groundbreaking development for UK sports broadcasting, Channel 5 has secured rights to air two live NFL games every week during the upcoming football season. The games will be broadcast on Sunday evenings, with the first game at 6 pm on Channel 5 and the second at 9 pm on 5ACTION, which will be rebranded as 5NFL for game nights. Importantly, all content will be available free-to-air.

Comprehensive Coverage Package

The deal’s scope extends beyond regular season games, as Channel 5 will also broadcast the Super Bowl free-to-air in the UK, along with the annual NFL London and Dublin international games, Thanksgiving Day specials, and three playoff games.

The network has assembled a strong presenting team, with Dermot O’Leary leading the coverage alongside Sam Quek and Osi Umenyiora. Adding an innovative element to the broadcast, production house Hungry Bear Media will introduce a new play-along entertainment format before the 6 pm games, while Quek and Umenyiora will host the 9 pm game on 5ACTION.

Strategic Partnership and Market Impact

This partnership represents a significant step in expanding NFL coverage in the UK market. According to Gerrit Meier, Managing Director and Head of NFL International, the deal will bring “more NFL coverage on a weekly basis to the UK than ever before.” Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer at Paramount UK, has emphasized that this partnership marks a real step forward in bringing fans and families live games in primetime, all completely free-to-air.

The broader UK market has shown growing enthusiasm for American football, with Sky Sports recently extending their NFL partnership beyond 30 years. This growth was evidenced by record-breaking Super Bowl LVII viewership on Sky Sports, demonstrating the sport’s increasing appeal to UK audiences.

Future of NFL Broadcasting

The 2025/26 season marks a historic moment for NFL broadcasting, as every single NFL game will be available on streaming platforms for the first time. The season will run from the opening games through to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, making this Channel 5 deal particularly timely for UK viewers seeking accessible NFL content.