Free day of Sky Sports to kick off biggest ever football season

Sky Sports will launch its biggest ever season of Premier League football by offering free live action from the first day of the season for every home in Britain.

From August, Sky Sports viewers can enjoy more live Barclays Premier League matches than ever before. There will be 116 live fixtures on Sky Sports featuring the big head to heads and every club at least five times across Saturday evenings, Sunday double-headers, Monday nights and bank
holidays.

To celebrate the first day of the Premier League season and Sky Sports’ new line up of football, programmes from Sky Sports 1 will replace the regular programming on Sky 2 (on Sky and other pay TV services) and Pick TV (on Freeview and You View) on Saturday 17th August. The takeover means millions of home viewers can enjoy a live Premier League match, a Football League fixture, plus a host of other football shows at no cost.

The free day will include the brand new show, ‘Saturday Night Football’, for Sky’s 5.30pm Saturday evening Premier League fixture. The show is part of Sky Sports’ new look ‘weekend of football’ which also includes the new pairing of Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville for ‘Monday Night
Football’ and a new Saturday schedule running from Soccer AM all the way through to extended evening highlights of all 3pm matches.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “It’s our biggest ever season of Premier League football and we’re inviting every home in Britain to enjoy the opening day. All fans can join the action as we launch our new Saturday schedule for the most eagerly awaited Premier League season in years. With more matches than ever before, including 116 live Premier League fixtures, there’s never been a better time to be a Sky Sports viewer. If you don’t have Sky Sports, this is a great opportunity to sample what our football coverage has to offer throughout the year.”

Sky Sports expert, Jamie Redknapp, added: “There’s so much to look forward to with the new football season including more live Premier League matches on Sky than ever before. This is a brilliant way for everyone to follow the action from first day of the Premier League season with Sky Sports.”

The new look weekend football on Sky Sports includes:

SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – A brand new show for Sky’s 5.30pm Saturday evening Premier League fixture. David Jones and Jamie Redknapp will present analysis of the match from a stunning new studio and debate all the talking points with an audience of football fans.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – For more than a decade, they competed on opposing sides of English football’s greatest rivalry and now for the first time, they appear on screen together. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher joins former United captain Gary Neville in the new look MNF studio on Monday nights. Ed Chamberlin will present this must-see show.

FL72 LIVE – The live football weekend kicks off with FL72 Live, Sky’s new showcase for the best matches from the Football League. Presented by Simon Thomas, fixtures from the Championship
and Leagues 1 and 2 will kick off in a regular slot at 12.15pm.

Sky Sports executive producer for football, Gary Hughes, said: “For over 20 years we’ve offered our viewers the best live football coverage with brilliant analysis and incredible innovations. Our new programmes and schedule will raise the bar again, providing viewers with an unrivalled weekend of
football alongside week night action from the UEFA Champions League, Capital One Cup, Football League and international fixtures.”

He continued: “Saturday Night Football will be a fantastic addition to our schedule. Our viewers will
hear David and Jamie’s thoughts with a new half hour preview show ahead of the 3pm kick offs. Then following Soccer Saturday, viewers can enjoy all the pre and post-match analysis for the 5.30pm live match with input from our studio audience"

Hughes added: “Monday Night Football is compulsory viewing for many and it’s getting even better from next season. Alongside Gary Neville, we are adding Jamie Carragher who joins us straight from the Liverpool dressing room. Our viewers can hear his insight and tactical analysis and putting him alongside Gary will make for brilliant television.”

The full weekend football line up on Sky Sports for the 2013 – 14 season will include:

SATURDAY:

10am - Soccer AM

Helen Chamberlain and Max Rushden return for another season of football fun.

12noon - FL72 - Live

New Saturday kick off time for live matches from the Football League.

2.30pm - Saturday Night Football – Team Talk

David Jones and Jamie Redknapp preview the 3pm kick offs.

3.00pm - Soccer Saturday (also 12 – 6pm on Sky Sports News HD)

Jeff Stelling and the boys return with all the news, views and analysis.

5pm - Saturday Night Football – Live

David and Jamie debate the early matches and present the live late match.

8pm - Saturday Night Football - Game of the Day

From the same studio, Sarah-Jane Mee presents full replay of the best 3pm match.

10pm - Saturday Night Football - Match Choice

45-minute highlights from all Saturday 3pm fixtures available via the red button.

SUNDAY:

9.30am - Sunday Supplement

Fleet Street’s finest debate all the biggest talking points each week.

11.00am - Goals on Sunday

Saturday’s matches reviewed by Ben Shephard, Chris Kamara and guests.

1pm - Super Sunday

Up to two live matches with analysis from Graeme Souness, Niall Quinn and more.

6.30pm - La Liga

Live coverage from Spain including regular Barcelona and Real Madrid matches.

MONDAY:

7 – 11pm - Monday Night Football

Detailed analysis of the weekend’s matches and talking points in a new look studio.

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Details correct at time of print.
Schedules will change according to fixtures.
The free day will conclude at 8pm.
Freeview reception subject to transmission coverage.
Sky 2 is available on Sky, Virgin Media, Talk Talk. Customers on other platforms should contact their provider.