Finding the right channel for premiership football matches on tv shouldn't feel like a part-time job. Honestly, it’s gotten a bit ridiculous lately. You sit down, pie in hand, remote ready, only to realize the "big game" is actually on a streaming app you haven't logged into since 2024. Or worse, it’s not being broadcast in the UK at all because of that ancient 3pm blackout rule that everyone loves to complain about but nobody actually changes.
The 2025/26 season has flipped the script more than most fans realize. We aren't just looking at the "usual" Sky and TNT setup anymore. The volume of games has shifted, the presenters have changed, and even the way we watch highlights on a Saturday night has entered a "bold new era," as the marketing departments like to scream from the rooftops.
Basically, if you’re still looking for Gary Lineker on Match of the Day, you’re already a step behind.
The Reality of Premiership Football Matches on TV Right Now
Let's clear up the biggest misconception first: the idea that "everything is on Sky." While Sky Sports remains the heavy hitter, their grip is different this year. For the 2025/26 cycle, Sky actually increased their live inventory significantly. We’re talking at least 215 live matches. That is a massive jump from the 128 they used to have.
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If a game gets moved to a Sunday—which happens constantly now because of the bloated European schedules—Sky basically owns it. They’ve got this "every Sunday game" rule in the new contract that means if you're a fan of a club in the Europa League or Conference League, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with Kelly Cates and Dave Jones.
But here is where it gets kinda messy.
- Sky Sports: They have the lion's share, including those Friday night slots, the 5:30pm Saturday kick-offs, and the bulk of the Sunday action. They also now show all ten matches on the final day of the season. No more switching to the "red button" only to find a pixelated stream of a dead-rubber match.
- TNT Sports: They’ve held onto the 12:30pm Saturday slot. It’s the one every manager, especially the ones who just played in the Champions League on Wednesday, absolutely hates. TNT gets 52 games a season.
- Amazon Prime: This is the "surprise" for some. In the latest rights cycle starting this 2025/26 season, Amazon didn't retain their previous package. If you were used to those December midweek rounds being exclusive to your Prime subscription, you'll find them on Sky Sports instead this year.
Why the Saturday 3pm Blackout Still Exists
You've probably asked this a thousand times: why can't I watch every single premiership football match on tv?
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It’s the Article 48 rule. Basically, the FA, Premier League, and Football League believe that if you could watch Man City vs. Liverpool on TV at 3pm on a Saturday, you wouldn't bother going to watch your local side in League Two or the National League. Whether that’s actually true is a source of endless debate in pubs across the country.
Most people think this is a "UK only" problem, and they're right. If you’re in the US watching via NBC or Peacock, or in the Caribbean using the newly renewed ESPN/Disney+ deal, you can often see every single 3pm kick-off. It’s a bit of a slap in the face for the local season ticket holder who can't watch their team away from home if it's a Saturday afternoon, but that’s the current legal landscape.
The New Face of Highlights
The BBC still has the highlights, but the vibe has shifted. Gary Lineker is gone. After decades of being the face of Match of the Day, he stepped down at the end of the 2024/25 season. Now, we have a rotation.
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Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, and Gabby Logan are the trio keeping the seat warm. It's actually a pretty smart move because it stops the show from feeling like it belongs to just one person. Plus, they've brought in Wayne Rooney as a regular analyst, which adds a bit of "seen-it-all" grit to the studio. Interestingly, because these guys are freelancers, you’ll see Mark Chapman hosting a game on Sky one day and then presenting the highlights on the BBC the next. It’s all a bit of a "complicated spreadsheet" of availability behind the scenes.
How to Actually Watch Without Going Broke
The cost of following premiership football matches on tv is, frankly, eye-watering. If you want every game, you’re looking at a Sky subscription, a TNT Sports add-on (usually via Discovery+), and a TV license for the highlights.
- Check your broadband bundles. Often, providers like Virgin Media or BT (EE) will bake TNT Sports into a package for significantly less than a standalone sub.
- The NOW TV "Day Pass" trick. If you only care about the North London Derby or the Manchester Derby, don't pay for a monthly sub. A 24-hour pass is often the price of two pints.
- The "Club" Apps. While they can't show live games, apps like LFCTV or SpursPlay show full match replays just a few hours after the final whistle. If you can avoid social media and spoilers for two hours, it's a way cheaper way to "watch" the game.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Fan
Stop relying on the old schedule. The "traditional" kick-off times are increasingly rare.
- Download the official Premier League app. Seriously. It’s the only place that updates the "Subject to TV broadcast" changes fast enough. If a game moves from Saturday to Sunday because of a cup clash, the app notification will hit your phone before the news reaches the papers.
- Audit your subscriptions. Since Amazon Prime is out of the Premier League game for this cycle, you might be able to cancel that if you only had it for the football.
- Watch the "rebrand." The BBC has unified Saturday and Sunday highlights under the single Match of the Day brand. If you missed the Saturday night show, the Sunday morning repeat or the Sunday night "Version 2" (which they've dropped the "2" from) is your best bet.
Keeping up with premiership football matches on tv is about being agile. The days of just "turning on the telly" and finding the game are over. You need to know who has the rights, which app you need to be logged into, and whether the 3pm blackout is going to ruin your Saturday plans. Stay updated, keep your logins handy, and maybe keep a spare remote—just in case VAR has a particularly bad afternoon.