Premier League fixtures free on TV: How to watch free-to-air games on Sky and Amazon Prime
The Premier League is (almost) back, great news for football fans and certainly a welcome relief for clubs and broadcasters.
The English top-flight season will resume on Wednesday June 17 with the juicy prospect of Manchester City vs Arsenal and the less-mouthwatering-but-welcome-nevertheless Aston Villa vs Sheffield United both televised.
There are 92 matches still to play and fans will be pleased to hear that an unusually high proportion of them will be available either on free-to-air TV, or on non-paywalled versions of subscription channels.
It looks almost certain that viewing figure records for a live Premier League game will be broken: that record is currently held by the "Aguerooooo!" Manchester derby in 2012 which was watched by 4.04 million. But which match will break it?
Here is what we know so far about the resumption and what will be watchable for free.
Which broadcasters have got games?
Sky Sports will show 64 games: that's the 39 they would already have had and an additional 25.
BT Sport will show 20 matches, picking up a further 12 games.
Amazon Prime has four matches.
The BBC also has four matches.
What is available for free on the Beeb?
For its first foray into live top-flight football since 1992 the BBC might or might not have chosen Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace, but you have to go with what you've got don't you? That looks likely to be at 7.45pm on Saturday June 20 and it will obviously be free at the point of contact.
The details of the BBC's three other games are still being horse-traded among the broadcasters and football authorities.
And what is the first game back?
Telegraph Sport can disclose that the first Premier League fixture back following the coronavirus crisis is likely to be Aston Villa v Sheffield United on Wednesday June 17.
Again, not necessarily a fixture that the neutral had circled on their calendar at the start of the season, but there will be plenty tuning in to Sky Sports for that at 6pm, ahead of Manchester City v Arsenal at 8pm.
Will Sky be making games available for free?
Yes, it will. It has announced that the Merseyside Derby match will be available free-to-air: that occasion could see Liverpool crowned Premier League champions for the first time. It will take place on the first weekend (June 20 and 21) but is still TBC.
Sky will put it on the free-to-air ‘Pick’ Channel and simulcast on Sky Sports. Pick is 159 on Sky and 144 on Freeview.
25 games on Sky will be free-to-air.
Is BT following suit?
No, at time of writing BT Sport is not going to make any games available for free.
What about Amazon?
The newest entrant to the Premier League right landscape, Amazon Prime has got four matches and they are going to make all four of them available for free, i.e. you will not need to be a paying member of Amazon Prime. Gawd bless ya Mr Bezos.
However, it's not yet quite clear if you will need an Amazon account or to give your details - because Amazon is not on any TV channel it will require either a smart TV or a laptop/tablet/mobile so you would be surprised if there was not some email address required at the least.
What we know so far (will be updated)
June 17
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United (6pm Sky)
Manchester City vs Arsenal (8pm Sky)
Weekend of June 19, 20, 21
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (BBC, Free)
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Arsenal
Everton vs Liverpool (Sky Sports, Free)
Manchester City vs Burnley
Newcastle United vs Sheffield United
Norwich City vs Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United
Watford vs Leicester City
West Ham United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
