NFL Playoffs & Super Bowl: How UK Fans Can Watch the Action
It’s football season in the United States right now, with the NFL Playoffs taking place and Super Bowl LX on the horizon. Over here, the growth of the NFL’s popularity has been remarkable, with millions of confirmed fans choosing to watch the action. In Exeter, pubs like the Black Horse will be showing the action, including Super Bowl LX on Sunday, 8th February.
The race to make it to the big game is an open contest, with DraftKings latest Super Bowl odds suggesting that the Seattle Seahawks are the slight favourites. But while we don’t know exactly who will be there, we do know that millions of UK NFL fans will be watching the action on television. If you aren’t watching down the pub, then we have a guide for you on who exactly will be showing the NFL postseason action across January and February:
Channel 5
Channel 5 is now your home for free-to-air NFL games in the UK. The broadcaster signed a multi-year deal with Paramount in the summer, guaranteeing weekly live games, including three Playoff games and Super Bowl LX. The games are often (but not always) shown on 5Action, so flick around if it is not on the main Channel 5 station. The broadcaster sees the acquisition of the NFL as a feather in its cap, and it is making a good fist of it with its coverage. We may live in an age of multiple subscriptions and streaming services, but free-to-air sports coverage is still important. Channel 5’s presence in the NFL market should be celebrated.
Sky Sports NFL
If the game is not on Channel 5, then it is likely to be on Sky Sports. Sky has the lion’s share of NFL action on UK television, which includes its dedicated NFL channel. To be fair, Sky has done a great job in providing comprehensive coverage, including Red Zone broadcasting during the heavy Sunday fixture list. It does a good job of blending UK insights with US coverage. It will be broadcasting a large chunk of the Playoff games live, and its Super Bowl LX coverage will go out live at the same time as Channel 5.
NFL Game Pass/DAZN
Most football fans would tell you that they would jump at the chance at a Premier League or EFL game pass, allowing you to watch every game without blackouts. In effect, that’s what NFL Game Pass offers through the DAZN platform. You’ll need a smart TV, of course, or you can watch on your computer or smartphone, and it does require a subscription. If you are an avid fan and want to watch every game, an annual pass usually costs about £120, but here’s a little tip: the Game Pass can be heavily discounted as the season progresses. You might be able to get a pass from January onwards, covering all Playoff games and the Super Bowl, for as little as £29.99 (prices correct at time of writing).
Social Media
The NFL increasingly sees social media as complementary to its broadcasting rather than a challenge to it. So, if you don’t want to watch entire games, you get clips of important plays and highlights soon after they happen. Many people are consuming sports games in this manner, especially on platforms like Twitter/X. The NFL’s official accounts are good to follow, as well as those from different broadcasters and pundits.
