Entertainment

Why You Might Be Spending More Than Ever To Watch The Premier League This Season

The Premier League is back, sooner than ever. And with the Covid-19 pandemic still raging across the U.S., more fans will be watching from home instead of crowding into pubs, taverns and bars. More than ever, you’ll want to read our annual Premier League TV guide for how to watch and stream the EPL in the U.S.

The 2019-20 Premier League season ended on July 26. The 2020-21 Prem season begins on Sept. 12. That’s seven weeks between seasons, unusually short, but this is 2020 and Covid-19 has meant we’ve all had to make adjustments. Adjustments to U.S. Premier League TV schedules mean viewers will need to make a few changes for the upcoming campaign, and unfortunately that might mean opening up your wallet.

Here’s everything you need to know about watching the Premier League in the U.S. for the 2020-21 campaign. 

Premier League TV Guide In U.S. (2020-2021)

For the 2020-21 season, Premier League TV viewing in the U.S. will mostly be the same: Matches will be on NBCSN with some on the national NBC network and a few on CNBC. What will change is where every non-televised match will be available for streaming — and the amount of matches not available on TV.

Last year, we lamented how NBC had changed its streaming platforms to offer two distinct options, neither of which was really a great deal, including $65 for 140 matches that you probably didn’t want to watch anyway because the best games were on TV. It was another sign of a cable company’s greed and taking advantage of American soccer fans who are desperate to watch the best football in Europe. 

This year, the streaming options are cheaper and include added perks. Unfortunately, more matches than usual will be only available via streaming.

With the launch of Peacock, NBC Sports Gold is gone, replaced by NBC’s new streaming service. Peacock is cheaper and provides basically the same content as NBC Sports Gold with the added perk of a large library of NBC content (which may or may not be of interest, but it’s better than nothing). 

How To Watch Premier League In USA 2020-2021

  • English TV: NBCSN, NBC
  • Spanish TV: Telemundo, Universo
  • Streaming: Peacock

Peacock Premium costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. It will offer more than 175 matches live plus on-demand replays of all 380 matches (albeit on delay for televised games). If you’re an Xfinity subscriber, you get Peacock Premium for free. Even if you don’t want to pay for Peacock Premium, you can still access the free portion of the streaming service, which will offer Premier League news and other programming, which is a nice bonus for those who just want to stick with their cable TV subscription.

But here’s the rub: Fewer matches will be available on NBC and NBCSN this year, with many more being only available on Peacock. 

NBC is doubling down on its streaming platform. Like the failed B/R Live (and CBS All Access, for which the jury is still out), the broadcaster is putting an inordinate amount of matches on its streaming platform instead of on TV as it has in the past.

While the entire Premier League TV schedule for the U.S. has yet to be announced, 175 matches will be available only on Peacock — 35 more than usual with NBC Sports Gold. Most disheartening, the U.S. Premier League TV schedules that have been released (for September) list many big matches that normally would be on NBC or NBCSN as only available with a subscription to Peacock. NBC is hoping fans will subscribe to the service to watch some of the best matches of the year instead of just showing the best soccer to the most fans. 

On the first weekend of the season, Spurs-Everton is the type of top-half clash you’d normally expect to be a slam dunk to be on NBCSN. Instead it’s on Peacock. (While we can appreciate NBCSN showing an FA WSL match at that time, because it’s on tape delay only makes it more infuriating.) A week later, just two matches out of 10 are on NBCSN, with the rest on Peacock, including Chelsea-Liverpool. Liverpool’s match against Arsenal on Sept. 28 is also on Peacock — in fact only one of the reigning champions’ matches is on TV in September. 

What the actual fuck, NBC.

Fans who used to be just fine watching whatever was on TV might now find themselves having to pay $5 per month to watch the Premier League this season, because so many big games won’t be on TV like they have in the past. Not cool NBC, especially in this economy, where billionaires continue to grow their wealth and the average American struggles to get by.

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Then there’s the Spanish-language side, which is also run by NBC. Premier League matches will be shown on Telemundo and Universo. Those networks usually show 2-4 matches per weekend, which might be more than NBCSN/NBC this year. They also provide excellent coverage of the league, often providing a better angle than the typical British angle NBC’s English-language team provides. 

What Else Is New?

While the Premier League TV guide is essentially the same as it was last year for those who only watch what’s on TV, viewers will notice one major change in the coverage. Tim Howard will replace Kyle Martino as a studio analysis alongside Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe. 

While Martino was a strong American voice on the almost entirely British set, Howard is already an experienced commentator, having joined Arlo White in the booth in the past calling games and joining TNT’s coverage of the Champions League. Not bad for a man who technically is still a member of Memphis 901 in the USL Championship, a club he also part owns. 

Last year, NBC Sports produced its most-watched Premier League season in four years. With folks still forced to stay at home in the U.S. because of a federal government that has been mostly non-existent in helping prevent the spread of Covid-19, expect viewership to rise even further this season.

Premier League TV USA Schedule (English)

(Courtesy NBCSports.com. All matches subject to change. TV schedule for later dates TBD.)

Saturday 12 September

  • 7:30am ET: Fulham v Arsenal – NBCSN
  • Crystal Palace v Southampton – NBCSN
  • 12:30pm ET: Liverpool v Leeds United – NBC
  • 3pm ET: West Ham v Newcastle United – Peacock

Sunday 13 September

  • 9am ET: West Brom v Leicester City – NBCSN
  • 11:30am ET: Spurs v Everton – Peacock
  • Burnley v Man Utd (Postponed to later date due to European appearance)
  • Man City v Aston Villa (Postponed to later date due to European appearance)

Monday 14 September

  • 1pm ET: Sheffield United v Wolves – NBCSN
  • 3:15 pm ET: Brighton v Chelsea – Peacock

Saturday 19 September

  • 7:30am ET: Everton v West Brom – Peacock
  • Leeds United v Fulham – Peacock
  • 12:30pm ET: Man Utd v Crystal Palace – Peacock
  • 3pm ET: Arsenal v West Ham – NBCSN

Sunday 20 September

  • 7am ET: Southampton v Spurs – Peacock
  • 9am ET: Newcastle United v Brighton – Peacock
  • 11:30am ET: Chelsea v Liverpool – Peacock
  • 2pm ET: Leicester City v Burnley – NBCSN

Monday 21 September

  • 1pm ET: Aston Villa v Sheffield United – Peacock
  • 3:15pm ET: Wolves v Man City – Peacock

Saturday 26 September

  • 7:30am ET: Brighton v Man Utd – NBCSN
  • Burnley v Southampton – Peacock
  • Crystal Palace v Everton – Peacock
  • Spurs v Newcastle United – NBCSN
  • West Ham v Wolves – Peacock
  • 12:30pm ET: West Brom v Chelsea – NBC

Sunday 27 September

  • 7am ET: Sheffield United v Leeds United – NBCSN
  • 9am ET: Fulham v Aston Villa – NBCSN
  • 11:30am ET: Man City v Leicester City – NBCSN

Monday 28 September

  • 3pm ET: Liverpool v Arsenal – Peacock

Saturday 3 October

  • Arsenal v Sheffield United
  • Aston Villa v Liverpool
  • Chelsea v Crystal Palace
  • Everton v Brighton
  • Leeds United v Man City
  • Leicester City v West Ham
  • Man Utd v Spurs
  • Newcastle United v Burnley
  • Southampton v West Brom
  • Wolves v Fulham

Saturday 17 October

  • Chelsea v Southampton
  • Crystal Palace v Brighton
  • Everton v Liverpool
  • Leeds United v Wolves
  • Leicester City v Aston Villa
  • Man City v Arsenal
  • Newcastle United v Man Utd
  • Sheffield United v Fulham
  • Spurs v West Ham
  • West Brom v Burnley

Saturday 24 October

  • Arsenal v Leicester City
  • Aston Villa v Leeds United
  • Brighton v West Brom
  • Burnley v Spurs
  • Fulham v Crystal Palace
  • Liverpool v Sheffield United
  • Man Utd v Chelsea
  • Southampton v Everton
  • West Ham v Man City
  • Wolves v Newcastle United

Saturday 31 October

  • Aston Villa v Southampton
  • Burnley v Chelsea
  • Fulham v West Brom
  • Leeds United v Leicester City
  • Liverpool v West Ham
  • Man Utd v Arsenal
  • Newcastle United v Everton
  • Sheffield United v Man City
  • Spurs v Brighton
  • Wolves v Crystal Palace

Saturday 7 November

  • Arsenal v Aston Villa
  • Brighton v Burnley
  • Chelsea v Sheffield United
  • Crystal Palace v Leeds United
  • Everton v Man Utd
  • Leicester City v Wolves
  • Man City v Liverpool
  • Southampton v Newcastle United
  • West Brom v Spurs
  • West Ham v Fulham

Saturday 21 November

  • Aston Villa v Brighton
  • Burnley v Crystal Palace
  • Fulham v Everton
  • Leeds United v Arsenal
  • Liverpool v Leicester City
  • Man Utd v West Brom
  • Newcastle United v Chelsea
  • Sheffield United v West Ham
  • Spurs v Man City
  • Wolves v Southampton

Saturday 28 November

  • Arsenal v Wolves
  • Brighton v Liverpool
  • Chelsea v Spurs
  • Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
  • Everton v Leeds United
  • Leicester City v Fulham
  • Man City v Burnley
  • Southampton v Man Utd
  • West Brom v Sheffield United
  • West Ham v Aston Villa

Saturday 5 December

  • Aston Villa v Newcastle United
  • Brighton v Southampton
  • Burnley v Everton
  • Chelsea v Leeds United
  • Liverpool v Wolves
  • Man City v Fulham
  • Sheffield United v Leicester City
  • Spurs v Arsenal
  • West Brom v Crystal Palace
  • West Ham v Man Utd

Saturday 12 December

  • Arsenal v Burnley
  • Crystal Palace v Spurs
  • Everton v Chelsea
  • Fulham v Liverpool
  • Leeds United v West Ham
  • Leicester City v Brighton
  • Man Utd v Man City
  • Newcastle United v West Brom
  • Southampton v Sheffield United
  • Wolves v Aston Villa

Tuesday 15 December

  • 2:45pm ET: Arsenal v Southampton
  • 2:45pm ET: Aston Villa v Burnley
  • 2:45pm ET: Fulham v Brighton
  • 2:45pm ET: Leeds United v Newcastle United
  • 2:45pm ET: Leicester City v Everton
  • 2:45pm ET: Sheffield United v Man Utd
  • 2:45pm ET: West Ham v Crystal Palace
  • 2:45pm ET: Wolves v Chelsea

Wednesday 16 December

  • 3pm ET: Liverpool v Spurs
  • 3pm ET: Man City v West Brom

Saturday 19 December

  • Brighton v Sheffield United
  • Burnley v Wolves
  • Chelsea v West Ham
  • Crystal Palace v Liverpool
  • Everton v Arsenal
  • Man Utd v Leeds United
  • Newcastle United v Fulham
  • Southampton v Man City
  • Spurs v Leicester City
  • West Brom v Aston Villa

Saturday 26 December

  • Arsenal v Chelsea
  • Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
  • Fulham v Southampton
  • Leeds United v Burnley
  • Leicester City v Man Utd
  • Liverpool v West Brom
  • Man City v Newcastle United
  • Sheffield United v Everton
  • West Ham v Brighton
  • Wolves v Spurs

Monday 28 December

  • Brighton v Arsenal
  • Burnley v Sheffield United
  • Chelsea v Aston Villa
  • Crystal Palace v Leicester City
  • Everton v Man City
  • Man Utd v Wolves
  • Newcastle United v Liverpool
  • Southampton v West Ham
  • Spurs v Fulham
  • West Brom v Leeds United

Saturday 2 January

  • Brighton v Wolves
  • Burnley v Fulham
  • Chelsea v Man City
  • Crystal Palace v Sheffield United
  • Everton v West Ham
  • Man Utd v Aston Villa
  • Newcastle United v Leicester City
  • Southampton v Liverpool
  • Spurs v Leeds United
  • West Brom v Arsenal

Tuesday 12 January*

  • 2:45pm ET: Arsenal v Crystal Palace
  • 2:45pm ET: Aston Villa v Spurs
  • 2:45pm ET: Fulham v Man Utd
  • 2:45pm ET: Leeds United v Southampton
  • 2:45pm ET: Leicester City v Chelsea
  • 2:45pm ET: Sheffield United v Newcastle United
  • 2:45pm ET: West Ham v West Brom
  • 2:45pm ET: Wolves v Everton

Wednesday 13 January*

  • 3pm ET: Liverpool v Burnley
  • 3pm ET: Man City v Brighton

*Matchweek 18 fixtures initially allocated to 12-13 January will be played across 12-13 January and 20 January 2021. The split of matches will be determined when the broadcast selections for January are announced.

Saturday 16 January

  • Arsenal v Newcastle United
  • Aston Villa v Everton
  • Fulham v Chelsea
  • Leeds United v Brighton
  • Leicester City v Southampton
  • Liverpool v Man Utd
  • Man City v Crystal Palace
  • Sheffield United v Spurs
  • West Ham v Burnley
  • Wolves v West Brom

Tuesday 26 January

  • 2:45pm ET: Brighton v Fulham
  • 2:45pm ET: Burnley v Aston Villa
  • 2:45pm ET: Everton v Leicester City
  • 3pm ET: Man Utd v Sheffield United
  • 3pm ET: West Brom v Man City

Wednesday 27 January

  • 2:45pm ET: Chelsea v Wolves
  • 2:45pm ET: Newcastle United v Leeds United
  • 2:45pm ET: Southampton v Arsenal
  • 2:45pm ET: Spurs v Liverpool
  • 3pm ET: Crystal Palace v West Ham

Saturday 30 January

  • Arsenal v Man Utd
  • Brighton v Spurs
  • Chelsea v Burnley
  • Crystal Palace v Wolves
  • Everton v Newcastle United
  • Leicester City v Leeds United
  • Man City v Sheffield United
  • Southampton v Aston Villa
  • West Brom v Fulham
  • West Ham v Liverpool

Tuesday 2 February

  • 2:45pm ET: Aston Villa v West Ham
  • 2:45pm ET: Burnley v Man City
  • 2:45pm ET:  Fulham v Leicester City
  • 2:45pm ET: Leeds United v Everton
  • 2:45pm ET: Sheffield United v West Brom
  • 2:45pm ET: Wolves v Arsenal
  • 3pm ET: Man Utd v Southampton

Wednesday 3 February

  • 2:45pm ET: Newcastle United v Crystal Palace
  • 2:45pm ET: Spurs v Chelsea
  • 3pm ET: Liverpool v Brighton

Saturday 6 February

  • Aston Villa v Arsenal
  • Burnley v Brighton
  • Fulham v West Ham
  • Leeds United v Crystal Palace
  • Liverpool v Man City
  • Man Utd v Everton
  • Newcastle United v Southampton
  • Sheffield United v Chelsea
  • Spurs v West Brom
  • Wolves v Leicester City

Saturday 13 February

  • Arsenal v Leeds United
  • Brighton v Aston Villa
  • Chelsea v Newcastle United
  • Crystal Palace v Burnley
  • Everton v Fulham
  • Leicester City v Liverpool
  • Man City v Spurs
  • Southampton v Wolves
  • West Brom v Man Utd
  • West Ham v Sheffield United

Saturday 20 February

  • Arsenal v Man City
  • Aston Villa v Leicester City
  • Brighton v Crystal Palace
  • Burnley v West Brom
  • Fulham v Sheffield United
  • Liverpool v Everton
  • Man Utd v Newcastle United
  • Southampton v Chelsea
  • West Ham v Spurs
  • Wolves v Leeds United

Saturday 27 February

  • Chelsea v Man Utd
  • Crystal Palace v Fulham
  • Everton v Southampton
  • Leeds United v Aston Villa
  • Leicester City v Arsenal
  • Man City v West Ham
  • Newcastle United v Wolves
  • Sheffield United v Liverpool
  • Spurs v Burnley
  • West Brom v Brighton

Saturday 6 March

  • Aston Villa v Wolves
  • Brighton v Leicester City
  • Burnley v Arsenal
  • Chelsea v Everton
  • Liverpool v Fulham
  • Man City v Man Utd
  • Sheffield United v Southampton
  • Spurs v Crystal Palace
  • West Brom v Newcastle United
  • West Ham v Leeds United

Saturday 13 March

  • Arsenal v Spurs
  • Crystal Palace v West Brom
  • Everton v Burnley
  • Fulham v Man City
  • Leeds United v Chelsea
  • Leicester City v Sheffield United
  • Man Utd v West Ham
  • Newcastle United v Aston Villa
  • Southampton v Brighton
  • Wolves v Liverpool

Saturday 20 March

  • Brighton v Newcastle United
  • Burnley v Leicester City
  • Crystal Palace v Man Utd
  • Fulham v Leeds United
  • Liverpool v Chelsea
  • Man City v Wolves
  • Sheffield United v Aston Villa
  • Spurs v Southampton
  • West Brom v Everton
  • West Ham v Arsenal

Saturday 3 April

  • Arsenal v Liverpool
  • Aston Villa v Fulham
  • Chelsea v West Brom
  • Everton v Crystal Palace
  • Leeds United v Sheffield United
  • Leicester City v Man City
  • Man Utd v Brighton
  • Newcastle United v Spurs
  • Southampton v Burnley
  • Wolves v West Ham

Saturday 10 April

  • Brighton v Everton
  • Burnley v Newcastle United
  • Crystal Palace v Chelsea
  • Fulham v Wolves
  • Liverpool v Aston Villa
  • Man City v Leeds United
  • Sheffield United v Arsenal
  • Spurs v Man Utd
  • West Brom v Southampton
  • West Ham v Leicester City

Saturday 17 April

  • Arsenal v Fulham
  • Aston Villa v Man City
  • Chelsea v Brighton
  • Everton v Spurs
  • Leeds United v Liverpool
  • Leicester City v West Brom
  • Man Utd v Burnley
  • Newcastle United v West Ham
  • Southampton v Crystal Palace
  • Wolves v Sheffield United

Saturday 24 April

  • Arsenal v Everton
  • Aston Villa v West Brom
  • Fulham v Spurs
  • Leeds United v Man Utd
  • Leicester City v Crystal Palace
  • Liverpool v Newcastle United
  • Man City v Southampton
  • Sheffield United v Brighton
  • West Ham v Chelsea
  • Wolves v Burnley

Saturday 1 May

  • Brighton v Leeds United
  • Burnley v West Ham
  • Chelsea v Fulham
  • Crystal Palace v Man City
  • Everton v Aston Villa
  • Man Utd v Liverpool
  • Newcastle United v Arsenal
  • Southampton v Leicester City
  • Spurs v Sheffield United
  • West Brom v Wolves

Saturday 8 May

  • Arsenal v West Brom
  • Aston Villa v Man Utd
  • Fulham v Burnley
  • Leeds United v Spurs
  • Leicester City v Newcastle United
  • Liverpool v Southampton
  • Man City v Chelsea
  • Sheffield United v Crystal Palace
  • West Ham v Everton
  • Wolves v Brighton

Tuesday 11 May

  • 2:45pm ET: Brighton v West Ham
  • 2:45pm ET: Burnley v Leeds United
  • 2:45pm ET: Everton v Sheffield United
  • 3pm ET: Man Utd v Leicester City
  • 3pm ET: West Brom v Liverpool

Wednesday 12 May

  • 2:45pm ET: Chelsea v Arsenal
  • 2:45pm ET: Newcastle United v Man City
  • 2:45pm ET: Southampton v Fulham
  • 2:45pm ET: Spurs v Wolves
  • 3pm ET: Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

Saturday 15 May

  • Brighton v Man City
  • Burnley v Liverpool
  • Chelsea v Leicester City
  • Crystal Palace v Arsenal
  • Everton v Wolves
  • Man Utd v Fulham
  • Newcastle United v Sheffield United
  • Southampton v Leeds United
  • Spurs v Aston Villa
  • West Brom v West Ham

Sunday 23 May

  • Arsenal v Brighton
  • Aston Villa v Chelsea
  • Fulham v Newcastle United
  • Leeds United v West Brom
  • Leicester City v Spurs
  • Liverpool v Crystal Palace
  • Man City v Everton
  • Sheffield United v Burnley
  • West Ham v Southampton
  • Wolves v Manchester United

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