You're sitting there, scarf on, beverage in hand, ready for the 3:00 PM kickoff. You open the app. Nothing. You check the other app. Still nothing. If you feel like finding the premier league tv schedule has become a part-time job lately, you aren't alone. It’s a mess of rights, "packages," and last-minute flexes that can drive even the most dedicated supporter crazy.
Honestly, the days of just turning on one channel and seeing every match are long gone. We're in the middle of a massive shift in how football is broadcast. This season, 2025/26, has seen the biggest shake-up in UK and US rights in years. Whether you're trying to catch the Manchester Derby or a gritty Monday night clash between Everton and Leeds, here is what is actually happening with the schedule right now.
The Mid-January Madness: What’s on This Week?
Right now, we are deep into the winter grind. Matchweek 22 is where things get interesting. If you are looking for the immediate premier league tv schedule, the big one is the Manchester Derby.
On Saturday, January 17, Manchester United hosts Manchester City at Old Trafford. For those in the UK, it’s the early 12:30 PM slot on Sky Sports. If you’re in the States, you’re waking up early for a 7:30 AM ET start on USA Network.
But wait, there’s a catch.
Later that same day, Nottingham Forest takes on Arsenal. That’s an evening game (5:30 PM UK / 12:30 PM ET). In the UK, you’ll need TNT Sports for that one. In the US, it’s a split broadcast between NBC and Peacock. Basically, you've gotta keep your remote handy because the "standard" channels change by the hour.
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Why the Premier League TV Schedule Keeps Changing
You’ve probably noticed games moving from Saturday to Sunday or even Monday at the very last second. It's annoying. It ruins travel plans. But from the league's perspective, it's all about "The Narrative."
TV companies like Sky and NBC pay billions—literally billions—to make sure the biggest games don't overlap. This means if Liverpool is playing Manchester City, it will never be at the same time as a North London Derby. They want your eyeballs on the screen for six hours straight, not three.
The European Hangover
Another reason the premier league tv schedule looks like a jigsaw puzzle is European football. If Aston Villa or Newcastle plays in the Champions League on a Wednesday, they aren't playing a Premier League game on Saturday morning. It’s physically impossible for the players. So, the game gets bumped to Sunday or Monday.
Take the upcoming January 25 fixtures. Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest and Newcastle vs. Aston Villa have both been shifted to the Sunday 2:00 PM (UK) window specifically because of those mid-week European commitments. If you see an asterisk next to a fixture on the official site, that's usually why.
Watching in the UK: The 2025/26 Power Shift
In the UK, the "3 PM Blackout" is still a thing. For the uninitiated: no Premier League football is shown live on TV between 2:45 PM and 5:15 PM on Saturdays. It's an old rule meant to protect stadium attendance for smaller clubs, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
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However, the number of televised games has actually increased this year. Sky Sports now has the lion's share, showing over 215 live matches. They’ve basically taken over most of the Sunday slots.
TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) usually handles the Saturday lunchtimes and some mid-week rounds. And remember Amazon Prime? They are mostly out of the picture for the big live rights this cycle, with their traditional December "all-games-live" rounds being absorbed into other packages.
The Key Channels for UK Fans:
- Sky Sports Main Event / Premier League: The heavy hitters.
- TNT Sports 1 & 2: For the early Saturday games and European qualifiers.
- BBC iPlayer / Match of the Day: Still the king of highlights, but no live games.
Watching in the US: The Peacock Problem
If you’re a fan in America, you actually have it better than the Brits—sort of. You can technically watch every single one of the 380 matches live. The problem? You need a subscription to both cable (or a cable-cutter like Sling/Fubo) and the Peacock streaming service.
NBC likes to play a game of "Where’s the Ball?" They’ll put the biggest match of the day on the USA Network to keep cable subscribers happy, but then they’ll put four other simultaneous matches exclusively on Peacock.
If you want to follow the premier league tv schedule without losing your mind, you basically need to check the Peacock app every Saturday morning at 9:00 AM ET. That’s when the "Goal Rush" whip-around show starts, which is honestly the best way to keep up with the 10:00 AM window if your team isn't the "featured" match on USA.
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Common Myths About the Schedule
I hear people say all the time, "The schedule is set in the summer!"
No. It really isn't. The "Draft" schedule comes out in June, but that is just a placeholder. The actual premier league tv schedule—with confirmed times and channels—is usually only finalized about 6 to 8 weeks in advance.
If you are booking a flight to London for a game in April, do not book your return flight for Sunday evening. There is a very high chance that the "Saturday 3 PM" game you bought tickets for will be moved to Sunday at 4:30 PM for TV.
How to Stay Ahead of the Flex
If you want to actually plan your life, you need to look at the "Announcement Dates." The Premier League usually announces the TV changes in batches:
- October: They announce December and January games.
- December: They announce February games.
- January: They announce March games.
Right now, we are looking at the February 2026 schedule being fully locked in. Huge games like Liverpool vs. Manchester City (Feb 8) and the North London Derby (Feb 22) are already set in stone for Sky Sports. If you haven't marked your calendar for those, do it now.
Actionable Steps for the Modern Fan
Don't just rely on a Google search five minutes before kickoff. To stay on top of the premier league tv schedule, do these three things:
- Download the Official App: The Premier League's own app has a "Sync to Calendar" feature. Use it. It updates automatically when the TV companies move a game.
- Check the "Broadcaster Picks" Page: The league maintains a specific page that lists exactly when the next announcement will be made. If you're a traveling fan, this is your bible.
- Audit Your Subs: If you're in the US, check if your cable provider includes "USA Network" or if you need a standalone Peacock sub. In the UK, look into "NOW" passes if you don't want a full Sky contract; it’s usually cheaper if you only care about specific months of the season.
The schedule isn't going to get simpler. With the 2026 World Cup looming and the new Champions League format adding more games to the midweek, the "Saturday 3 PM" kickoff is becoming a rare species. Adapt or miss the goals.