Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases
For the third straight season, ESPN+ and ESPN are the exclusive presenter of Italy’s Serie A TIM – one of the world’s top soccer leagues – in the United States. ESPN+ will feature more than 340 matches throughout the 2020-21 season, which kicks off Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11:50 a.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+ with live streaming of Fiorentina vs. Torino.
The post ESPN+, ESPN Kick Off Exclusive Coverage of New Italian Serie A TIM Season appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
Live-Event Weekend Coverage Features Sunday Night Football, U.S. Open Golf, NHL Stanley Cup Final, NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Notre Dame Football, Premier League Soccer and Tour de France Conclusion
Big Events to Air Across NBC, NBCSN, GOLF Channel, USA Network, Peacock and NBC Sports Digital Platforms
STAMFORD, Conn. – September 18, 2020 – NBC Sports will present an unprecedented weekend of live big-event sports over the next three days across numerous NBCUniversal properties – NBC, NBCSN, GOLF Channel, USA Network, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms.
From today through September 20, NBCUniversal properties will combine to present more than 125 live event coverage hours.
Among the highlights of NBC Sports’ live event coverage for this weekend:
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.
Following is the NBC Sports’ schedule for major sporting events this week (all times ET, subject to change):
| Date | Time (ET) | Coverage | Platform |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France: Stage 19: Bourg-en-Bresse / Champagnole | NBCSN |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | 7:30 a.m. | U.S. Open – Second Round | Peacock |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | 9:30 a.m. | U.S. Open – Second Round | GOLF Channel |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | 4 p.m. | U.S. Open – Second Round | NBC |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | 6:30 p.m. | NASCAR: Xfinity Series – Countdown to Green | NBCSN |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | 7 p.m. | NASCAR Xfinity Series Racing – Bristol | NBCSN |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | 7 p.m. | Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open | GOLF Channel |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | 9 p.m. | NASCAR: Xfinity Series Post-Race | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 6:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7 a.m. | Tour de France: Stage 20: Lure / La Planche des Belles Filles | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7 a.m. | Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open | GOLF Channel |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 9 a.m. | U.S. Open – Third Round | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 11 a.m. | U.S. Open – Third Round | NBC |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 2:30 p.m. | College Football: Notre Dame v. South Florida | USA Network |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 6:30 p.m. | NASCAR America Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7 p.m. | NASCAR Cup Series – Countdown to Green | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | NASCAR Cup Series Racing – Bristol | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game 1: Dallas vs. Tampa Bay | NBC |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open | GOLF Channel |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 10:30 p.m. | NASCAR America Post-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 6 a.m. | Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open | GOLF Channel |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 8 a.m. | U.S. Open – Final Round | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 9 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 9:30 a.m. | Tour de France: Stage 21: Mantes-la-Jolie / Paris Champs-Élysées | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 10 a.m. | U.S. Open – Final Round | GOLF Channel |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 11:30 a.m. | Premier League: Chelsea v. Liverpool | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | Noon | U.S. Open – Final Round | NBC |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 1:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 6 p.m. | Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open | GOLF Channel |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 7 p.m. | Football Night in America | NBC |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 8:20 p.m. | SNF: New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks | NBC |
–NBC SPORTS–
The debut season of Bundesliga on ESPN+ will kick off Friday, Sept. 18, with coverage of the match between 2019-20 champions FC Bayern München vs. FC Schalke 04, live from the Allianz Arena in Munich at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The live match will be preceded by ESPN FC Live pregame show at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
The post Bundesliga on ESPN+, ESPN Kicks Off Friday with FC Bayern München – FC Schalke 04 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
NBCSN & Universo Feature Mid-Afternoon Matches this Saturday, Sept. 19 (Arsenal-West Ham at 3 p.m. ET) and Sunday, Sept. 20 (Leicester City-Burnley at 2 p.m. ET)
Peacock Premium is Exclusive Home to 12 Premier League Matches in Final Two Weeks of September
THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW Features U.S. Women’s National Team’s Sam Mewis & Leeds United’s Jack Harrison Next Monday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 16, 2020 – Christian Pulisic – who’s hoping to return from injury – and Chelsea host 2019-20 champions Liverpool this Sunday, Sept. 20 at 11:30 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock Premium, highlighting NBC Sports’ Premier League schedule this week. Chelsea-Liverpool is one of 12 Premier League matches exclusively on Peacock Premium in the final two weeks of September.
In their season opener, Mohamed Salah led Liverpool to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Leeds United, scoring a hat trick, including an 88th-minute, match-winning penalty. Chelsea defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 in their first game of the 2020-21 season on Monday.
Arlo White will call the match on Peacock Premium, joined by former Chelsea player Graeme Le Saux and Arsenal legend Lee Dixon, live from Stamford Bridge.
Rebecca Lowe hosts Goal Zone, Premier League Mornings, and Premier League Live, joined by former Premier League and U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard, and former Premier League footballer Robbie Mustoe. Ahmed Fareed hosts next Monday’s studio coverage alongside Howard and Mustoe.
Saturday’s coverage kicks off at 7 a.m. ET on Peacock Premium with Premier League Mornings, followed by a tripleheader on Peacock Premium – Everton v. West Bromwich Albion at 7:30 a.m. ET, Leeds United v. Fulham at 10 a.m. ET, and then at 12:30 p.m. ET, Manchester United open their season at home against Crystal Palace. At 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo, Arsenal, who won 3-0 in their opener at Fulham, host West Ham. White and Dixon will call Arsenal-West Ham on NBCSN.
Sunday’s live Premier League coverage begins at 6:50 a.m. ET on Peacock Premium, with Southampton v. Tottenham, followed at 9 a.m. ET by Newcastle v. Brighton & Hove Albion, and Chelsea v. Liverpool at 11:30 a.m. ET. Then at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo, Leicester City and Jamie Vardy, who scored two penalties in their season-opening 3-0 win at West Brom, host Burnley.
The match week concludes next Monday, September 21, starting with Premier League Live at Noon ET on Peacock Premium. At 1 p.m. ET, Aston Villa host Sheffield United, and at 3:15 p.m. ET last season’s runners-up Manchester City make their season debut at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Monday’s coverage continues with Goal Zone at 5:15 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium. Capping off the match week, THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW, hosted by Roger Bennett and Michael Davies, welcome U.S. Women’s National Team’s Sam Mewis & Leeds United’s Jack Harrison at 5:30 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium.
THE 2 ROBBIES PODCAST
Robbie Mustoe and Robbie Earle discuss and dissect the top Premier League storylines after every match day on “The 2 Robbies” podcast. The Robbies recapped the opening weekend of the season on this past Sunday’s episode and will assess Chelsea’s opening match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday’s episode before looking ahead to the key fixtures of Matchday 2. The “2 Robbies” podcast is available anywhere you listen to podcasts.
PREMIER LEAGUE PICK ‘EM
NBC Sports’ Premier League Pick ‘Em returns on the free-to-play NBC Sports Predictor games app, available in the App Store and Google Play Store. Each match week, Premier League Pick ‘Em features a $50,000 jackpot prize for a “perfect score” – predicting the correct exact results of all featured matches in that contest (information on scoring, prizing, and Official Rules here).
Matches in Play for Premier League Pick ‘Em:
Match Week 2
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NBC SPORTS PUB PASS
For commercial establishments looking to show Premier League, they can get the NBC Sports Pub Pass, the new customizable platform specifically for the retail pub/restaurant market in the USA. The NBC Sports Pub Pass offers Pubs, Bars, Clubs and Restaurants and commercial establishments nationwide all the Premier League matches and programming specifically for commercial establishments – Live, Commercial-Free and On-Demand. To subscribe or to find out more information about the NBC Sports Pub Pass go to https://www.nbcpubpass.com/.
LIVE STREAMING
Peacock – NBCUniversal’s new streaming service – features free and premium tiers across mobile, web and connected TV devices. Starting this season, Peacock Premium is the exclusive home of 175 live matches and a total of 1,500 hours of Premier League programming – the most robust offering ever available in the U.S. – including full-event replays for all 380 matches on-demand (after 9 p.m. ET) for the 2020-21 season. Premier League matches are included with Peacock Premium, which is $4.99 per month. Additionally, Peacock will feature Premier League news and other programming from Premier League Productions on its free, exclusive Premier League TV channel on Peacock, now streaming seven days a week. Visit peacocktv.com/premierleague for more information.
Premier League games on NBC and NBCSN will be streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs. Coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.
Following is the NBC Sports schedule for September Premier League matches (all times ET, subject to change):
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platform |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | Peacock Premium |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7:30 a.m. | Everton v. West Bromwich Albion | Peacock Premium |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 10 a.m. | Leeds United v. Fulham | Peacock Premium |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 12:30 p.m. | Manchester United v. Crystal Palace | Peacock Premium |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 2:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 3 p.m. | Arsenal v. West Ham | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 6:50 a.m. | Southampton v. Tottenham | Peacock Premium |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 9 a.m. | Newcastle v. Brighton & Hove Albion | Peacock Premium |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 11:30 a.m. | Chelsea v. Liverpool | Peacock Premium |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 1:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock Premium |
| Sun., Sept. 20 | 2 p.m. | Leicester City v. Burnley | NBCSN, Universo |
| Mon., Sept. 21 | Noon | Premier League Live | Peacock Premium |
| Mon., Sept. 21 | 1 p.m. | Aston Villa v. Sheffield United | Peacock Premium |
| Mon., Sept. 21 | 3:15 p.m. | Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Manchester City | Peacock Premium |
| Mon., Sept. 21 | 5:15 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock Premium |
| Mon., Sept. 21 | 5:30 p.m. | THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW | Peacock Premium |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | 7:30 a.m. | Brighton & Hove Albion v. Manchester United | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | 10 a.m. | Crystal Palace v. Everton | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | 12:30 p.m. | West Bromwich Albion v. Chelsea | NBC, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | 2:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | NBC |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | 3 p.m. | Burnley v. Southampton | Peacock Premium |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | 5 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock Premium |
| Sun., Sept. 27 | 7 a.m. | Sheffield United v. Leeds United | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sun., Sept. 27 | 9 a.m. | Tottenham v. Newcastle | NBCSN, Telemundo |
| Sun., Sept. 27 | 11 a.m. | Premier League Live | NBCSN, Telemundo |
| Sun., Sept. 27 | 11:30 a.m. | Manchester City v. Leicester City | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 27 | 1:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 27 | 2 p.m. | West Ham v. Wolverhampton Wanderers | Peacock Premium |
| Sun., Sept. 27 | 4 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock Premium |
| Mon., Sept. 28 | Noon | Premier League Live | Peacock Premium |
| Mon., Sept. 28 | 1 p.m. | Fulham v. Aston Villa | Peacock Premium |
| Mon., Sept. 28 | 3:15 p.m. | Liverpool v. Arsenal | Peacock Premium |
| Mon., Sept. 28 | 5:15 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock Premium |
–NBC SPORTS–
Tonight, Tuesday, September 15, marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, and ESPN will kick off a full slate of dedicated original content and programming built around the theme, “Somos,” to highlight the contributions of Latinos in sports. Hispanic Heritage Month-themed programming includes a mix of live events, as well as original content that will air across ESPN networks throughout the month. In addition, as part of a season-long music collaboration announced earlier with Grammy Award-winning producer DJ Khaled for Monday Night Football, DJ Khaled will also select a song specifically celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month for the Chargers-Saints game on Monday, Oct. 12.
The post ESPN Commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month with Special Programming appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
2020-21 Premier League Season Begins Tomorrow – Fulham Returns to the Premier League, Host Reigning FA Cup Winners Arsenal at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN & Universo
A Look at Two of the Newly Promoted Clubs: West Bromwich Albion & Fulham
Champions Liverpool Kick off Season Hosting Newly Promoted Leeds United Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC & Telemundo
Peacock Premium Opens Season Tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET with West Ham v. Newcastle; Peacock Premium to Feature 175 Exclusive Live Matches this Season and 1,500 Hours of Content
STAMFORD, Conn. – September 11, 2020 – NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2020-21 Premier League season kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, September 12 at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo, as newly promoted Fulham host Arsenal, who won their record-extending 14th FA Cup last month.
Throughout the 2020-21 Premier League season, live coverage continues across the networks of NBCUniversal, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, and on Peacock – NBCUniversal’s new streaming service. Peacock Premium will stream the first of its 175 exclusive Premier League matches this season at 3 p.m. ET with West Ham v. Newcastle, and the Premier League TV channel on Peacock is now streaming seven days a week.
Tomorrow’s coverage begins at 7 a.m. ET on NBCSN with Premier League Mornings and is highlighted by Premier League champions Liverpool hosting Leeds United – returning to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years – at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Telemundo. Arlo White will call the match, joined by former Premier League footballers Graeme Le Saux and Lee Dixon, live from Anfield.
New Season, Newly Promoted Teams:
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
First match: Sunday, September 13 – West Bromwich Albion v. Leicester City at 9 a.m. ET – NBCSN, Telemundo
After a two-season absence, West Bromwich Albion earned automatic promotion to the 2020-21 Premier League season for a record fifth time by finishing second in the Championship last season. This season will be West Brom’s 13th season ever in the Premier League, which included eight consecutive seasons from 2010-18. A founding member of the Football League in 1888, “the Baggies” made their Premier League debut in 2002 and have only one top-division title (1920). Since 1900, West Brom have played at their home ground, The Hawthorns, located in the “Black Country,” an area of England’s West Midlands.
FULHAM
First match: Tomorrow, Saturday, September 12 – Fulham v. Arsenal at 7:30 a.m. ET – NBCSN, Universo
After being relegated twice and promoted twice in the last seven seasons, Fulham returns for their 15th season in the Premier League after a single-season absence. Fulham return to the Premier League after winning the Championship Play-Off Final. Last season, Fulham were led by forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored a joint-Championship high 26 goals.
Despite being London’s oldest professional football club still playing today, Fulham have never won a major trophy. Fulham’s home ground is Craven Cottage, located in southwest London on the banks of the River Thames, less than two miles from Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. The club also has a connection with the American audience as they are owned by billionaire Shad Khan, who also owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
Following is the NBC Sports’ schedule for the first weekend of the Premier League season (all times ET, subject to change):
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platform |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7:30 a.m. | Fulham v. Arsenal | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 10 a.m. | Crystal Palace v. Southampton | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 12:30 p.m. | Liverpool v. Leeds United | NBC, Telemundo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 2:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 3 p.m. | West Ham v. Newcastle | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 5 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 9 a.m. | West Bromwich Albion v. Leicester City | NBCSN, Telemundo |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 11:30 a.m. | Tottenham v. Everton | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 1:30 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | Noon | Premier League Live | NBCSN |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 1 p.m. | Sheffield United v. Wolverhampton Wanderers | NBCSN, Universo |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 3 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 3:15 p.m. | Brighton & Hove Albion v. Chelsea | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 5:15 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 5:30 p.m. | THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW | Peacock |
–NBC SPORTS–
2020-21 Premier League Season Kicks Off in 2 Days – this Saturday, Sept. 12
NBC Sports Partners with Community – Fans Can Text 203-793-6716 to Communicate Directly with Premier League Lead Play-by-Play Voice Arlo White
Fans on Community Will Receive Exclusive Content, Including Behind the Scenes Coverage & Instant Reactions
Live Match Coverage Begins this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN & Universo, as Newly Promoted Fulham Host Reigning FA Cup Winners Arsenal
STAMFORD, Conn. – September 10, 2020 – With the new Premier League season kicking off this Saturday, NBC Sports and Community are partnering to launch the “Arlo White Community” today, Thursday, September 10. The Community will give fans insight into what it is like to cover the Premier League from the perspective of lead play-by-play voice Arlo White.
Fans will receive exclusive content sent directly to their phones, including behind the scenes access, instant reactions and much more. The platform will also give fans the chance to interact with White about the latest happenings and news surrounding the Premier League. To participate, fans can text 203-793-6716 and communicate with White directly.
Launched in July 2019, Community is a texting platform in which public figures, including celebrities and athletes, can communicate with fans. For more information on how to use the platform, click here.
NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2020-21 Premier League season kicks off in two days, this Saturday, September 12 at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo, as newly promoted Fulham host Arsenal, who won their record-extending 14th FA Cup last month. Peacock – NBCUniversal’s new streaming service – will stream the first of its 175 exclusive Premier League matches this season at 3 p.m. ET with West Ham v. Newcastle on Peacock Premium.
Highlighting the season’s first day, Premier League champions Liverpool host Leeds United – back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years – at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Telemundo. White will call the match, joined by former Premier League footballers Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux, live from Anfield.
Capping off the opening weekend, THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW, hosted by Roger Bennett and Michael Davies, makes their seventh season premiere featuring Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr at 5:30 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium.
Following is the NBC Sports’ schedule for the first weekend of the Premier League season (all times ET, subject to change):
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platform |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7:30 a.m. | Fulham v. Arsenal | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 10 a.m. | Crystal Palace v. Southampton | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 12:30 p.m. | Liverpool v. Leeds United | NBC, Telemundo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 2:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 3 p.m. | West Ham v. Newcastle | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 5 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 9 a.m. | West Bromwich Albion v. Leicester City | NBCSN, Telemundo |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 11:30 a.m. | Tottenham v. Everton | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 1:30 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | Noon | Premier League Live | NBCSN |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 1 p.m. | Sheffield United v. Wolverhampton Wanderers | NBCSN, Universo |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 3 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 3:15 p.m. | Brighton & Hove Albion v. Chelsea | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 5:15 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 5:30 p.m. | THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW | Peacock |
–NBC SPORTS–
A Look at One of the Promoted Clubs: Leeds United
Leeds United Return to the Premier League After a 16-Year Absence in Season Opener at Champions Liverpool – Saturday, September 12 at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC & Telemundo
Match Coverage Begins Saturday, September 12 at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN & Universo, as Newly Promoted Fulham Host Reigning FA Cup Winners Arsenal
Peacock Premium Opens Season this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET with West Ham v. Newcastle; Peacock Premium to Feature 175 Exclusive Live Matches this Season and 1,500 Hours of Content
STAMFORD, Conn. – September 9, 2020 – NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2020-21 Premier League season kicks off in three days, this Saturday, September 12. At 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Telemundo, Premier League champions Liverpool host Leeds United, who are back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years. Arlo White will call the match, joined by former Premier League footballers Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux, live from Anfield.
Throughout the 2020-21 Premier League season, live coverage continues across the networks of NBCUniversal, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, and on Peacock – NBCUniversal’s new streaming service. Peacock Premium will stream the first of its 175 exclusive Premier League matches this season at 3 p.m. ET with West Ham v. Newcastle.
Coverage begins Saturday at 7 a.m. ET on NBCSN with Premier League Mornings, followed by newly promoted Fulham hosting Arsenal, who won their record-extending 14th FA Cup last month, at 7:30 a.m. ET (NBCSN, Universo).
New Season, Newly Promoted Teams:
LEEDS UNITED
First match: Saturday, September 12 – Liverpool v. Leeds United at 12:30 p.m. ET – NBC, Telemundo
After a 16-season absence, Leeds United return to the Premier League. Led by head coach Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds earned automatic promotion after they won last season’s Championship by 10 points, ahead of West Bromwich Albion. This will be Leeds United’s first top-flight season since 2003-04, when the club finished in 19th place and were relegated from the Premier League for the first time.
As one of the founding Premier League teams and widely considered to be one of England’s biggest clubs, Leeds United have won five major trophies in their history – three top-flight titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup. Known as “the Whites,” Leeds United won their last top-flight title in 1991-92, the final season before the Premier League was established.
Following is the NBC Sports’ schedule for the first weekend of the Premier League season (all times ET, subject to change):
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platform |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7:30 a.m. | Fulham v. Arsenal | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 10 a.m. | Crystal Palace v. Southampton | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 12:30 p.m. | Liverpool v. Leeds United | NBC, Telemundo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 2:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 3 p.m. | West Ham v. Newcastle | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 5 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 9 a.m. | West Bromwich Albion v. Leicester City | NBCSN, Telemundo |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 11:30 a.m. | Tottenham v. Everton | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 1:30 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | Noon | Premier League Live | NBCSN |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 1 p.m. | Sheffield United v. Wolverhampton Wanderers | NBCSN, Universo |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 3 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 3:15 p.m. | Brighton & Hove Albion v. Chelsea | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 5:15 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 5:30 p.m. | THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW | Peacock |
–NBC SPORTS–
MODERATOR: Good afternoon everybody and welcome to today’s NBC Sports’ Premier League season preview conference call. Our coverage of the 2020-21 season kicks off this Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7 a.m. ET with Premier League Mornings on NBCSN.
Joining us on today’s call are our Premier League host, Rebecca Lowe, lead Premier League play-by-play voice Arlo White, the newest member of our on-air team, studio analyst Tim Howard, and our coordinating producer, Pierre Moossa.
We’ll begin with opening comments from each and then we will take your questions. With that, I’ll turn it over to Pierre Moossa.
PIERRE MOOSSA: Hello, everybody. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us and I hope you and your families are well. We are very much looking forward to season eight of our Premier League coverage. It’s crazy to think we are entering our eighth season. Before we start talking about the upcoming season, I think it’s important to recognize the success of Project Restart both on and off the pitch.
The Premier League did a phenomenal job concluding the season in a safe manner, protecting the players from COVID-19 as well as supporting the players’ movement for social equality. Worth recognizing the job they did. As we look towards the 2020-2021 season, we are very much approaching it from an NBC standpoint of building on the success of Project Restart. We want to continue that momentum.
So it’s really a continuation of our production plan and the workflows that we created during the summer. As you may know, the season will start behind closed doors and will continue our audio offerings. On linear we will have atmospheric enhanced audio, i.e., added sound effects, and when technically possible, we will offer the natural sound-only options on digital.
We are also extremely excited about the new streaming service, Peacock, which will feature 175 exclusive matches, as well as a dedicated Premier League channel called Premier League TV.
But there is obviously so much more on Peacock when it comes to news, movies, TV shows and, of course, sport. It will have live marquee content like the Tour de France right now, U.S. Open golf, NFL Wild Card Game, Olympics, but for the Premier League fan it will super-serve them. Beside the 24/7 virtual channel, there will be original topical and timeless content, Premier League Review and Preview, Fan Zone, news, magazine shows, you name it. It will also be home to all 380 matches on-demand, as well as classic matches.
And when it comes to Peacock-exclusive match windows, we will produce the same studio coverage with the same content and the same analysis around those matches, and around those windows, as we do on NBCSN.
So in simple terms, if you’re a Premier League fan, Peacock is a must for you.
I also want to take a moment to recognize a change in our on-air studio team. Kyle Martino was a big part of the success of our broadcast over the last seven years and we wish him well, but we are thrilled to welcome Tim Howard to our team — back to our team. Tim started his television career with us when he was playing for Everton and did some part-time broadcasting with us, and now he will be a full-time member of our team.
I was remembering Tim and I had many chats when he was a player and we’d work around his match schedule, so we typically scheduled him to work on a Sunday when he had a Saturday match. And then Saturdays would be the most stressful times in the world for all of us at NBC Sports, because we were stressing about the result of the Everton match. If he had a bad match or gave up a goal or something crazy happened, his manager, Roberto Martinez, might call him into training that day.
So I don’t think I’ve been that nervous about a match in a long time, since those Saturday matches. Fortunately whenever we booked Tim to work our Sunday broadcast, his matches went well on Saturday, and we were all huge, huge Toffees fans those days.
But now we don’t have to worry about the Everton results anymore, and Tim is going to provide such an interesting new dynamic to our broadcast with his unique perspective as a goalkeeper.
He’s obviously played the highest level, not only in the Premier League, but in World Cups, and our audience is going to really enjoy his honest opinions.
To summarize, I know it’s a really crazy time in the world, but we look forward to providing and bringing the Premier League Mornings weekend routine back to our audience.
REBECCA LOWE: It’s funny, I remember where I was this time, a little bit longer ago than this time last year, 13 months ago when we did this press call and goodness me, would be nice if we could turn back the clock on what’s happened in the last 12 months, but we can’t.
Project Restart when we returned on June the 17th, I think unique is the only word I can use for it. It kind of stood alone. As Pierre mentioned, everything around it, including the broadcast partners across the world, managed to do the best they possibly could in difficult circumstances, and this gave the fans something in a hard time.
Now there’s really nothing like the eve of a brand new season. It’s a bit strange that it’s in September and not in August, and we feel like we are playing catch up a little bit, but the excitement levels, I already can sense them already from the fans of our show, on social media, everybody is so excited about transfer window being open for a little bit longer and we’ve had some brilliant names come in already so far this summer.
Also, I think the Premier League is going in the right direction and I would say the United Kingdom seems to be going in the right direction in terms of moving through this pandemic and hopefully the plan is to get supporters back in the stadiums in the beginning of October.
Even if it starts out at 25 percent, I think that still makes a huge difference to the people in the U.S. on their sofas watching our show to gauge and get the atmosphere. 25 percent of 60,000, about 15,000, that’s still a lot of people. We will still get the atmosphere, which will be great.
Lastly, Tim Howard, I mean, finally somebody to help me keep The Robbies in line. For goodness sake, he’s about twice their height, which is great news. So I’m hoping that he can, you know, hammer them a little bit and we can have some extra banter at their expense. That’s basically why we brought him on.
No, I’m so excited, and I have a million questions about everything that a goalkeeper does do, doesn’t do, shouldn’t do. But Tim is not just a goalkeeper, he’s a player. His expertise, his experience, the list goes on what he’s going to bring to our studio, let alone the player perspective and dynamic between the other three of us, it’s going to be invaluable and I think it’s going to take this show in a slightly different direction. Change sometimes is feared by people. I think change is a good thing and let’s embrace it.
So I’m super excited for Tim to come on in and bring it on Saturday morning, 7:00 AM. Tim is excited for the alarm going off at 3:00 AM. We are ready to go and excited for the new team.
ARLO WHITE: Hi, everyone, from England, echoing what the guys have said already. I mean, Season 8, it’s hard to believe that so much time has passed so quickly.
It was an absolute honor and pleasure to be involved in Project Restart. It went better than I think any of us could have imagined in the circumstances where you don’t have crowds inside the grounds, and the crowds are really what genuinely sells the Premier League, the atmosphere, rivalries, the banter you get from the crowds.
But without that, I think people were still enamored with what they were seeing. And when I think of Project Restart, I think of Liverpool sealing the title for the first time in 30 years, delighted for them to be able to get over the line when there was talk during the lockdown of a null-and-void season and the wait would go on. So that was pretty spectacular seeing them lift the trophy on The Kop, as well, is quite special. You’re looking roundabout 300 people being present for such an incredible moment in Premier League and Liverpool’s history, and we were very fortunate to have been there.
But when I also think about Project Restart, I think about the exciting reemergence of Christian Pulisic, and that excites me to see the level he was playing at for Chelsea just before he got injured in that game against Liverpool, but hopefully he’ll be fit fairly soon.
But he produced some moments that were genuinely breathtaking and his elevation into one of the league’s brightest players just continued. He was magnificent, and hopefully he can keep that momentum going when he comes back from injury in a very exciting Chelsea side. I genuinely believe that this season is potentially one of the most exciting that we have ever covered. You look at the clubs that are involved, Leeds United being back is absolutely huge for the Premier League.
Look at the managers: Klopp, Bielsa, Ancelotti, Mourinho; the list is endless. Some of these guys are the best at what they do in the entire world and they see a lot of players being signed for good money by these clubs. The depth of quality in the Premier League I think this year is going to be incredible, and it remains a lifetime high of mine to be the lead announcer for this project that we have been on for the last eight years.
So just to echo the welcome for Tim, as well. I’ve called games with him for NBC. I’ve watched his broadcasting career flourish. We are very fortunate to have him. Hopefully I can drag him across the Atlantic when things settle down and get him back in the gantry. It’s going to be wonderful to have Tim as part of the team. So very, very excited for what is to come.
THE MODERATOR: A perfect setup for Tim.
TIM HOWARD: Thanks everybody. I share the excitement and am delighted to be back with NBC. I got my start in television. I was reluctant, I was still playing, I thought it wasn’t the right time — and boy, was I wrong. It was such an incredible team that I got to start with, of course, over there in the U.K. I was with Arlo and Lee and Graeme, and so I got to know those guys very well, and I’ve watched from afar and got a chance to chat with Rebecca and Robbie and Robbie.
So I went from a part-time employee to a massive fan of the show and now I’m full-time, and just excited to learn with this crew and grow with them. It’s season No. 8. I was a part of a few of the ones early on, so this is exciting times for me, exciting times for the football fan.
The storylines leading into this year’s Premier League are some that we have never seen. So to be able to be a part of that and help articulate it is pretty special. Again for the 15th time, I’m over the moon at this opportunity and very much looking forward to it.
Q. With adding Tim to the studio, what added perspective do you think he gives being a goalkeeper in terms of analysis for you guys?
REBECCA LOWE: Yeah, let’s talk about some of that detail because I’ve thought about this a lot and I won’t be able to fully understand his perspective and what he brings to the show until we are actually live.
What my thoughts are, for example, we have got highlights at halftime. Something happens in the half, and the goalkeeper we think is at fault, and let’s say Robbie feels that the goalkeeper made an error. At halftime, he can say that and Tim can explain to us from a goalkeeper’s perspective — and I know Tim is part of the goalkeeper’s union, that forever will be something that will never be broken — but he’s also going to be totally down the line and brutally honest.
So he will be able to explain to us whether or not the goalkeeper really is at fault. We also, of course, all have our own opinions, but we’ve never stood between the sticks. We might have done it in the past. We haven’t done it at Old Trafford. To have that chance to find out once and for all whether conceding a goal to the near post from 20 yards out is actually a terrible error, or whether that can happen and why, is really the perspective I think that viewers haven’t had, and you can’t have, unless you have a top-of-the-line former keeper in the studio, which we are going to be so lucky to have.
Add into that, talk about the characters — Pierre mentioned this. Tim is not long out of the Premier League, so he’s going to have come up against some of those strikers. So what we want to get into with him before a game is if he’s played against the striker that’s going to be bearing down on the goal, how have you structured your week in training based on this striker; what homework have you done; how do you know which way he is going to shoot. Tell us about what it looks like from your perspective and then in the moment, as well, when that player really is bearing down on you in goal.
Like I said, I have a million questions and I know the viewers will, as well, and a goalkeeper in the house is such a huge thing, they have exported so many great keepers from Europe. I know he’s a very, very popular man and he is somebody that will take our broadcast to another level without a doubt and have that sort of relevance, in terms of, well, I played with this player who may not be a goalkeeper but made a mistake or has done something brilliant in a that game. He can tell us about the personality of that player in the dressing room. That’s what we want to delve into — the managers, David Moyes of West Ham, he’s going to know him better than anybody.
There are so many levels to what Tim is going to be able to bring that it’s going to change the show in a positive way and it’s simply going to change it by adding layers and perspective and insight and that is what you want from a sport broadcast.
Q. Arlo: You got to be witness to and be a voice of presenting the Black Lives Matter solidarity protests at the games last season and word is they are going to continue and I wonder what that — what that means for you, and what it’s been like and what your hopes are with that? You’ve talked about the excitement in the Premier League and I wonder if you could offer a quick word about the women’s league. Obviously there’s been a lot of buzz and excitement with American players going over there.
ARLO WHITE: Yes, I think when Project Restart began, I think it was a Thursday night, we were at Manchester City — more the primetime game if you like. But the whole thing started with Aston Villa against Sheffield United.
We were concentrating on getting into the ground safely and all of the protocols that we had to go through to get into the ground, but we had the monitors on before the game, and everybody looked around and I remember looking around the press box and people were — it was a jaw-dropping moment, you remember where you were when all 22 players, all the officials, all the coaching staff all dropped to one knee for that moment just after the whistle had blown to start the game. It was extraordinary.
You got from that sense and I think I mentioned in our call before Project Restart, that I had a sense that the players had something up their sleeves; that there was something coordinated that was going to happen. I had no idea it would be quite that powerful, and it lasted until, of course, the end of Project Restart and the eventually end of that season.
I do hope that continues, if there’s another development and another way that they could show solidarity with the movement, then I’m sure that will be welcomed, as well.
To me, it is symptomatic and representative of a group of footballers who have been much maligned in the past and I know we have seen a couple of incidents real recently involving players on vacation and players on the England squad not adhering to COVID protocols as they should; young lads who have made some big errors early in their careers, but that are socially aware, they have a social conscience and they understand how important they are as role models in terms of supporting causes that they believe very firmly in.
And Tim will attest to this much better that I can, as well as The Robbies and Lee and Graeme. I think that sports locker rooms over here, football changing rooms are the most multi-cultural places to work in the country and in the world. And it’s great that those guys that are very, very comfortable working alongside each other, shoulder-to-shoulder, going out to battle for three points every week, they, I think can lead by example of what multiculturism and what the eradication of racism actually looks like.
Hopefully they will continue, and I would like to see them even amplify it further if they have something up their sleeves for the start of the new season.
As for the Women’s Super League, I think the BBC announced the other day that one of the opening games at the weekend attracted an audience of over 2 million people. It’s extraordinary how quickly the Women’s Super League has caught on this in country. I think it makes a huge difference that big clubs Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea are all investing heavily in their women’s teams. The signing of players, U.S. internationals, coming over to this country — have had a stronghold on the champions, much like in a competitive sporting environment, the Women’s Super League wants to be the best and they are starting way behind a lot of their rivals but they are catching up remarkably quickly.
So you are getting to the point now where if you’re watching a top Women’s Super League game, you are watching amongst the best football in the women’s game the world over. So I think it’s very exciting that [matches] are going to be on NBC Sports this season and it’s certainly getting an enormous amount of traction here, so long may that continue.
Q. Will Peacock allow you and your talent to do anything different this season that you normally wouldn’t be able to do due to restrictions of television time, etc.?
PIERRE MOOSSA: There’s some exciting parts about Peacock. The first part is there is less commercial obligations, so ultimately, it’s about five minutes per hour versus about 15 minutes per hour. So that lends us to a lot more time to be able to build up, so you have less time constraints building up to a match, so we are able to — The 2 Robbies [under] time constraints [would say] please can we have 30 more seconds or an extra minute to chat or discuss to get into some meatier topics. This will allow us more time to build up and get into deeper discussions, more time to hear manager sounds and more time to be on the pitch when the players warm up. The buildup is really key.
The second part is when the match is over, there’s no time constraint of getting off the air. We are obviously not going to stay on forever, but Goal Zone can go over the allotted time, if necessary, especially if there’s something key or breaking news or something we want to get into. The time constraints to me are really probably the first quarter of what Peacock allows us to do.
I haven’t told The 2 Robbies and Tim this yet, but the halftime is going to be a lot more time to break things down, so you will find meatier and more in-depth halftime analysis. So the viewer will benefit.
And then post-match we’re really not going to — I know it may not be off the air — but we won’t end our stream until we put a button on everything the viewer needs to know about the match. The options on Peacock are endless for us when it comes to a studio coverage.
Q. We have Project Restart in the rear-view mirror and you’re obviously going for the new season. Curious from a production perspective, what were some of the lessons learned from the Project Restart and potential excitement for having fans back in the stands hopefully and how it will help each production of each of the matches.
PIERRE MOOSSA: Let’s start off with the fans in the stands. The Premier League is very much looking to do that and they have tentative dates planned and they have done some experimental matches in Brighton.
To me, the fans are such a part of the fabric of the Premier League, and Tim can attest to this, I think I used the term the soundtrack of a football match.
For sports itself, we all miss fans. We all miss being there as fans. We all miss the fan experience and we all miss hearing the crowds and the cheering.
So to me, it’s going to not only enhance the viewer experience but enhance the coverage of the match and enhance the experience of the players. Ultimately, when fans do return to Premier League, it will just make it a better, better experience. So I think we all deeply, deeply miss them.
I think from that standpoint, how we get back to a more normal coverage will be next steps, whether it’s less-enhanced audio or more crowd shots or whatever it is. But ultimately one of our philosophies is not many people can be at these sporting events right now so we have a responsibility to document the game and document what it’s like, their experience of being there, and so that’s something that we really focus on. We focus on the Kentucky Derby, Notre Dame, all our other sports, ultimately documenting the experience; when fans do return, we are going to document what the experience is for the fans themselves.
With regard to Project Restart, I think the first most important one is just the support from NBC’s health and safety team to be able to put us in a safe working environment and to allow us to be able to do our jobs, all be it we did it a lot differently. I think that was the most important thing.
Right now, most of us are learning new ways of working and I have to tell my five-year-old to stop streaming YouTube Kids when I’m working. But ultimately, to be able to put ourselves in a safe working environment was probably the first thing.
I just think it ultimately — and I think this goes for anybody in any walk of life in any business: When you’re facing challenges, it’s awesome to see the team rise to the occasion and the collective production and technical team to be able to allow us to do things differently and to be able to allow us to do our job socially distanced and to be able to do it with less people, etc. Ultimately every part of the work flow has worked well and we are all continuing it.
So I think the people that deserve the credit are really our health and safety team and technical team to allow us to be able to do our jobs.
Q. Tim, we know you worked in the gantry with Arlo before. What excites you about working in the studio with Rebecca and The Robbies?
TIM HOWARD: It was trial-by-fire a couple years ago. Again it was exciting because all the best in the business and they quarterbacked for me and that part was fun, the learning.
I’ve since gained more experience and as I’ve mentioned, I’ve been watching this show as a fan for a long time. I’m one of those people who gets up bright and early to watch the games and I’ve developed friendships with Robbie, Robbie and Becks.
So I’m excited. I see myself — I see myself on the desk and hoped that I would get there, and now it’s time to go to work.
Obviously their expertise is pretty amazing. It’s pretty awesome. And so I believe I have things that I’d like to add and kind of work into their flow and to their cadence and as I said before, I just think this season is setting up to be one of epic proportions. So tons of exciting things to talk about.
Q. Tell us about how logistically it’s going to work for you with travel and Memphis and everything else going on to get from here to there and back.
TIM HOWARD: Yeah, it pretty easy logistically. Like some of the other talent, I’ll be travelling in and putting to work — this is, you know, my main focus and priority.
I’ve been talking to Pierre over the last few weeks and this has been something I’ve been hoping to get a chance at, and I’m going to put everything into. This isn’t something I’m just hoping to be good at. This is something I want to flourish in, so it will take all of my time and effort and energy.
Q. Pierre, in terms of the logistic and safety and everybody flying in and out, how comfortable are you with the setup?
PIERRE MOOSSA: Very comfortable. I mentioned it before: It takes entire company effort because everybody has to be respectful and responsible in every aspect of our leadership and every aspect of the individuals that are executing the plan to follow the rules to a tee, and if anybody coming into the building is over the temperature limit or exhibits any sort of signs of not being well, they are not allowed in the building and we have plans in place to cover people, and if for some reason one day somebody is traveling in isn’t comfortable or isn’t feeling right, then they don’t come in and we adjust the show.
I’ve already joked a million times over that I, too, expect — and this is not for anything more than just, you know, travel delays, not anything else, that some day the two Robbies might take over a show one day just because maybe Rebecca has some travel issues.
Joking aside we take it all very seriously and we feel very comfortable with the plan in place and trust the experts and the senior management that everything we have done properly, and Tim is very responsible. Tim can attest to it with his work in Memphis, he and I have had many conversations and he’s been very involved in the plan, the health and safety plans for his team.
So ultimately he’s very familiar with it and understands and appreciates the importance of it. All of us love what we do. All of us really enjoy what we do. We feel a huge responsibility to it, and the last thing we would ever do, any member of our team would jeopardize that by being irresponsible. I think that’s the most important point. Everybody respects each other and is in respect much the rules.
Going back to your original comment for Tim, he’s pretty humble but the last few weeks, I mean, he has been putting in the work, whether it’s calls with The 2 Robbies or calls with Rebecca or a million meetings that I’ve dragged him into and a million presentations and show reviews everything. And he has this notebook, I have no idea what he’s writing — probably “I hate meetings with Pierre” — but he’s taking detailed, detailed notes and he’s going to be awesome when it comes to the broadcast. He is putting in the work so there is no doubt in my mind that he’s going to be successful because it’s his singular focus and he’s really got the right approach to the broadcast.
4 Days Until Premier League Season Kicks Off — Live Match Coverage Begins this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN & Universo, as Newly Promoted Fulham Host Reigning FA Cup Winners Arsenal
Peacock Premium Opens Season this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET with West Ham v. Newcastle; Peacock Premium to Feature 175 Exclusive Live Matches this Season and 1,500 Hours of Content
New-look Chelsea Open Season at Brighton & Hove Albion Next Monday at 3:15 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium
THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW Kicks Off Their Seventh Season, Featuring Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp & Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr, Next Monday, Sept. 14 at 5:30 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium
STAMFORD, Conn. – September 8, 2020 – NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2020-21 Premier League season kicks off in four days, this Saturday, September 12, at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo, as newly promoted Fulham host Arsenal, who won their record-extending 14th FA Cup last month. Highlighting the season’s first day, Premier League champions Liverpool host Leeds United – back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years – at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Telemundo.
Rebecca Lowe hosts Goal Zone, Premier League Mornings, and Premier League Live, joined by former Jamaica National Team player Robbie Earle, and former Premier League footballer Robbie Mustoe. Lowe hosts next Monday’s studio coverage, alongside Earle and former Premier League and U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard, who joins the NBC Sports team after serving as a match commentator during the 2013-15 seasons while playing for Everton. For more information on Howard joining NBC Sports, click here.
Saturday’s coverage kicks off at 7 a.m. ET on NBCSN with Premier League Mornings, followed by matches on NBCSN and Universo – newly promoted Fulham v. reigning FA Cup winners – and London rivals – Arsenal at 7:30 a.m. ET and Crystal Palace v. Southampton at 10 a.m. ET. Peacock – NBCUniversal’s new streaming service – will stream the first of its 175 exclusive Premier League matches this season at 3 p.m. ET with West Ham v. Newcastle on Peacock Premium.
At 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Telemundo, Saturday’s match coverage concludes as Liverpool and 2019-20 Premier League Manager of the Season Jurgen Klopp return to the pitch this season after they won their first-ever Premier League title and first top-flight title in 30 years. In the season opener, Mohamed Salah and 2019-20 Young Player of the Season Trent Alexander-Arnold will look to lead Liverpool over Championship title winners Leeds United, who will play in the Premier League for the first time since the 2003-04 season. White will call the match, joined by former Premier League footballers Graeme Le Saux and Lee Dixon, live from Anfield.
Premier League Mornings begins this Sunday, September 13 at 7 a.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by West Bromwich Albion v. Leicester City at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Telemundo. Newly promoted West Bromwich Albion will look to challenge 2019-20 Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy and Leicester City, who narrowly missed out on a top-four spot last season, finishing in fifth place.
Coverage continues on Peacock Premium at 11:30 a.m. ET, as Harry Kane and Tottenham host Everton, followed by Goal Zone at 1:30 p.m. ET. White and Le Saux will call the match from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Opening weekend concludes next Monday, September 14, starting with Premier League Live at Noon ET on NBCSN. At 1 p.m. ET, NBCSN and Universo presents Sheffield United v. Wolverhampton Wanderers, while coverage switches to Peacock Premium at 3 p.m. ET with Premier League Live, followed by Brighton & Hove Albion hosting Chelsea at 3:15 pm. ET.
After their fourth-place Premier League finish and FA Cup Final appearance last season, the Blues enter the season led in part by U.S. Men’s National Team star and Hershey, Pennsylvania native Christian Pulisic, who starred during last season’s Project Restart with four goals, two assists and two penalties won in nine Premier League appearances. Pulisic, who’s currently recovering from a hamstring injury, will be joined in West London this season by several new signings, including Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Monday’s coverage continues with Goal Zone at 5:15 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium. Capping off the opening weekend, THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW, hosted by Roger Bennett and Michael Davies, makes their seventh season premiere featuring Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr at 5:30 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium.
“INSIDE THE MIND” OF FRANK LAMPARD
NBC Sports kicks off a new season of Inside the Mind as Arlo White speaks with Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard to discuss lessons learned from his first season as a Premier League manager and expectations for his new-look Chelsea team. The interview can be seen on the Premier League on NBC Sports YouTube channel Sunday, September 13.
THE 2 ROBBIES PODCAST
Robbie Mustoe and Robbie Earle discuss and dissect the top Premier League storylines after every match day on “The 2 Robbies” podcast. On the first episode of the season, the Robbies will be joined by special guest, Tim Howard, to preview the 2020-21 season, answering their five burning questions heading into the Premier League campaign. Earle and Mustoe will also recap the key results from the weekend with another new episode on Sunday. The “2 Robbies” podcast is available anywhere you listen to podcasts.
PREMIER LEAGUE PICK ‘EM
NBC Sports’ Premier League Pick ‘Em returns on the free-to-play NBC Sports Predictor games app, available in the App Store and Google Play Store. Each match week, Premier League Pick ‘Em features a $50,000 jackpot prize for a “perfect score” – predicting the correct exact results of all featured matches in that contest (information on scoring, prizing, and Official Rules here).
Matches in Play for Premier League Pick ‘Em:
Match Week 1
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NBC SPORTS PUB PASS
For commercial establishments looking to show Premier League, they can get the NBC Sports Pub Pass, the new customizable platform specifically for the retail pub/restaurant market in the USA. The NBC Sports Pub Pass offers Pubs, Bars, Clubs and Restaurants and commercial establishments nationwide all the Premier League matches and programming specifically for commercial establishments – Live, Commercial-Free and On-Demand. To subscribe or to find out more information about the NBC Sports Pub Pass go to https://www.nbcpubpass.com/.
LIVE STREAMING
Peacock – NBCUniversal’s new streaming service – features free and premium tiers across mobile, web and connected TV devices. Starting this season, Peacock Premium will be the exclusive home of 175 live matches and a total of 1,500 hours of Premier League programming – the most robust offering ever available in the U.S. – including full-event replays for all 380 matches on-demand (after 9 p.m. ET) for the 2020-21 season. Premier League matches are included with Peacock Premium, which is $4.99 per month. Additionally, Peacock will feature Premier League news and other programming from Premier League Productions on its free, exclusive channel Premier League TV. Visit peacocktv.com/premierleague for more information.
Premier League games on NBC and NBCSN will be streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs. Coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.
Following is the NBC Sports’ schedule for the first weekend of the Premier League season (all times ET, subject to change):
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platform |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7:30 a.m. | Fulham v. Arsenal | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 10 a.m. | Crystal Palace v. Southampton | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 12:30 p.m. | Liverpool v. Leeds United | NBC, Telemundo |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 2:30 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 3 p.m. | West Ham v. Newcastle | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 5 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 7 a.m. | Premier League Mornings | NBCSN |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 9 a.m. | West Bromwich Albion v. Leicester City | NBCSN, Telemundo |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 11:30 a.m. | Tottenham v. Everton | Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 13 | 1:30 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | Noon | Premier League Live | NBCSN |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 1 p.m. | Sheffield United v. Wolverhampton Wanderers | NBCSN, Universo |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 3 p.m. | Premier League Live | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 3:15 p.m. | Brighton & Hove Albion v. Chelsea | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 5:15 p.m. | Goal Zone | Peacock |
| Mon., Sept. 14 | 5:30 p.m. | THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW | Peacock |
–NBC SPORTS–