Sky Sports has agreed a new three-year broadcast deal with the NFL, ensuring coverage of the league in the UK continues until at least 2027.
The agreement, finalised days before the start of the new season, means the partnership between the broadcaster and the NFL will stretch beyond 30 years.
Under the terms of the new deal, Sky Sports will show more NFL games than in previous years.
The broadcaster will have exclusive rights to the first-pick game at 6pm every Sunday, as well as first choice for the 9pm slot later the same day. In total, Sky’s coverage will expand by around 50 per cent compared with past seasons.
Sky Sports have announced a new deal with the NFL
| PAAs part of this, Sky will broadcast all three Thanksgiving Day games live, in addition to showing every playoff match in full, the annual Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl.
NFL RedZone, the popular highlights programme covering every touchdown from Sunday’s fixtures, will remain part of the offering.
A key element of the new arrangement is the inclusion of regular-season games played in Europe. London will again stage three fixtures this season, with two matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one at Wembley Stadium.
Dublin’s Croke Park will also host the Minnesota Vikings’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Madrid will stage its first-ever NFL game during the period of the deal.
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Philadelphia will be looking to go back-to-back after a dominant Super Bowl win last season
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Jonathan Licht, Sky Sports Chief Sports Officer for the UK and Ireland, described the announcement as a significant step in strengthening the broadcaster’s coverage.
He said: " We’re proud to extend our partnership with the NFL beyond 30 years, the sport continues to grow and captivate UK audiences, as demonstrated by record-breaking Super Bowl LVII viewership on Sky Sports. With more games than ever before, we are pleased to deliver further value to our customers and maintain world-class coverage.”
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NFL International Managing Director Gerrit Meier went on to say how important the UK is to the NFL.
"The UK continues to be a priority for the NFL internationally,” he said. “Sky Sports has played a central role in helping us reach new audiences and bring fans the best possible NFL content. We are delighted to see this expanded partnership continue.”
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs will be the focus of a lot of fans this season
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The new season is set to kick off next weekend, when defending Super Bowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Dallas Cowboys to start the season.
All eyes will also be on the Kansas City Chiefs after the crushing defeat in the Super Bowl last year, and with star tight end Travis Kelce announcing his engagement to Taylor Swift, fans will be paying close attention to how Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs get on this season.