Sky Sports to launch dedicated NFL channel

In a year where sport has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, it’s good news for American Football fans as Sky Sports has announced it will launch a dedicated NFL channel on 3 September.

Support for NFL (National Football League) has been growing considerably over the past decade or so in the UK, with London hosting 28 international series games since 2007.

So much so that Sky feels now is the right time for the sport to have its own permanent slot on the TV guide.

The five-year deal between Sky and the NFL is the first time the league has joined with an international broadcaster to launch a dedicated channel.

It marks the 25th anniversary of live NFL coverage on Sky Sports so the days of late-night games on Channel 5 are long gone.

Sky Sports NFL (Channel 407) will arrive on 3 September, a week before the scheduled 2020 season opener between the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Houston Texans.

Here’s a rundown of what content the channel will broadcast:

• Minimum of five live games each week
• First-pick exclusive game on Sky Sports NFL in the 6pm and 9pm slot every Sunday
• Every Thursday Night, Sunday Night, and Monday Night Football
• NFL RedZone
• Every minute of every playoff game, Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl live
• Flagship programming from NFL Network, including the popular Good Morning Football and Total Access shows
• Award-winning documentaries and other content from NFL Films and NBC Sports
• Brand new weekly shows to review the action and discuss the stories of the league, including original Sky Sports programming
• Increased coverage across Sky Sports News, Digital and Social platforms

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said: “This new five-year agreement and the launch of a dedicated Sky Sports NFL channel will undoubtedly continue our rapid growth in the UK and Ireland.”