NFL Games Debut on UK Free-to-Air TV: A Game-Changing Move

In a significant development for NFL fans in the UK, the league's games will now be shown on free-to-air television for the first time. Channel 5, an American-owned broadcaster, has acquired the rights to air one of the NFL's early Sunday kick-offs at 6pm (1pm ET, 10am PT) on its main channel, as well as another game on its Freeview channel 5Action in the later 9pm or 9.25pm window.

This new arrangement will provide more opportunities for UK and Ireland-based NFL enthusiasts to watch the games, complementing the existing coverage on Sky Sports, which will continue to show two live games on Sunday evenings. Additionally, DAZN's Game Pass streaming service will still offer access to every game, apart from Sky's two exclusive Sunday matches.

The move by Channel 5 to significantly increase its NFL coverage is seen as a significant development, as the channel has a history of showcasing American sports leagues, including the NFL, since its inception in 1997. The channel's decision to co-host the coverage with former The X Factor presenter Dermot O'Leary and Olympic field hockey champion-turned-TV presenter Sam Quek suggests an effort to attract a wider audience to the sport.