Sky Sports awarded NFL’s MNF in new broadcast agreement

SKY SPORTS has won the rights to the ‘Monday Night Football’, as part of a new five-year agreement for even more live American Football from the NFL.   

From 2015, Sky Sports viewers will be able to enjoy over 80 live fixtures a season, including up to five games each week of the regular season, the playoffs and Super Bowl. 

Sky Sports’ coverage will also include all matches from the NFL’s International Series as teams travel to the UK for regular season match ups, including sell out games at Wembley. 

The new deal – the 22nd live rights agreement announced by Sky Sports this year - offers viewers:

• Monday Night Football: More regular season matches than before including Thursday and Saturday nights, Sunday double-headers and Monday Night Football.
• International Series: Live coverage of every match as American football continues to bring regular season games overseas including match ups at Wembley.
• Super Bowl: Every playoff fixture live as the NFL season reaches the dramatic knockout stages, including the hugely anticipated Super Bowl and Pro Bowl.
• NFL RedZone: All the drama and scores from around the NFL each Sunday of the regular season from RedZone, available via the red button.

Viewers can also enjoy NFL shows throughout the season, including NFL Total Access, keeping fans informed as the stories develop in between the live games.

Sky Sports Managing Director Barney Francis said: “We’re delighted to be awarded the rights to Monday Night Football as part of this fantastic new deal for even more live American Football.  The agreement means Sky Sports viewers can enjoy all the drama, excitement and unpredictability from the NFL until at least 2019.  Our partnership with the NFL spans two decades and we look forward to helping the sport continue its huge growth in popularity in the UK and Ireland for years to come.”  

Managing Director of NFL UK Alistair Kirkwood said: “Sky Sports has been a fantastic partner for 20 years and we are delighted to have agreed a deal that will extend that partnership to a quarter of a century. Sky’s coverage of the NFL and their support for the sport in this country has been an important element of our growth and we look forward to seeing their coverage expand and develop over the next five years. It is fantastic for our fans to have long-term certainty about where they can watch so many NFL games and I am sure they will welcome this exciting news.”

Sky Sports’ live NFL coverage is presented by Kevin Cadle, joined in the studio by Neil Reynolds as well as other special guests throughout the season. This season will see triple header days with three live games shown on 26 October to coincide with the second Wembley match, and Thanksgiving in November.

Sky Sports News HQ will also provide up to date NFL news, views and previews from its brand new studio, while skysports.com/NFL has the big news, Fantasy Football advice, previews and big game reports, along with six episodes a week of NFL Total Access available to watch online.

-ENDS-

About Sky:
Sky is Britain and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company, providing services to more than 40% of homes. 

Sky invests more on screen than anyone else in Britain and Ireland – more than £2.6 billion a year, around two thirds of which is invested in the UK – with the aim of offering the best and broadest range of programming for everyone in the family.

Sky’s ability to innovate across multiple technologies also gives customers the very best viewing experience wherever and whenever they want, through Sky+, High Definition and connected services such as Sky Go and On Demand. Sky also offers an over-the-top streaming service, NOW TV, giving customers a flexible and easy-to-use way of accessing a wide range of Sky’s content.

Sky makes a positive and growing social and economic contribution. Acting responsibly day-to-day is fundamental to the way Sky does business, alongside inspiring people to take action through the Sky Academy, Sky Rainforest Rescue and Sky Cycling. Sky employs over 25,000 people, has annual revenues of £7.6 billion and is estimated to support a £6.0 billion contribution to UK GDP.  Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).