Premier League - UK fans to see free-to-air Premier League match

Mon, 23 Jan 17:45:00 2012

The first free-to-air Premier League match in the 20-year history of the division will be broadcast next month.

2011-12 Premier League Manchester City James Milner David Silva - 0

League leaders Manchester City's home clash against Fulham on February 4 will be shown on ESPN on Freeview as part of a taster weekend during which the subscription channel will be available for all viewers.

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, all Premier League football has been broadcast in the UK on pay TV channels.

The weekend's coverage will also include live Serie A and Bundesliga football.

"This is a great opportunity for us to introduce that to millions more and let them sample the programming ESPN has on offer," ESPN vice president of channels Jeroen Oerlemans said.

Man City 3 Tottenham 2

Eurosport

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  1. Please shoot me down if i'm wrong here, but as far­ as i'm aware espn is not instantly available on­ your freeview digital tv. you need a vision box to­ access it as you do with skysports. So, this game is­ not free. it would only be free if was available on a­ terrestial channel such as BBC or ITV. So, correction,­ the game isn't free unless you have either­ subscibed to espn or bought a BT vision box.

    From Sam Jones, on Wed 25 Jan 7:52

  2. robin (202) ESPN is SKY - YOU PLANK

    From Mark, on Wed 25 Jan 3:08

  3. the prem wot a load of c**p, rather go and watch my­ team walsall lose, over payed and over here! to much­ money in football now days has spiolt for me, so you­ can keep your pay to view!!!!

    From N, on Wed 25 Jan 3:00

  4. Free. Still not Interested Thank-you. !!

    From gene, on Wed 25 Jan 2:31

  5. Does anyone know of a decent website to watch the­ football. Ive been a sky customer for years but have­ had to cancel recently due to becoming a father. I­ asked if there was any offers on that would help me out­ as i ahve been a loyal customer never missing a payment­ nor complaining about there year on year increases. The­ response I got was... you guessed it a big fat NO but­ you could remove the sports channels(the only reason i­ get it) and it will be cheaper.what a con they should­ at least look after the customers that abled them to­ get to were they are now its almost a mirror image of­ the football chairman. W##KERS.

    From Wayne, on Wed 25 Jan 2:24

  6. For all you wondering what the catch is well if you­ decid to subscribe you can't without giving money­ to the Murdoch Empire. I suggest you all download­ Sopcast, or something similiar and watch all of the­ games (in whatever language you want)for free.­ Including 3pm Saturday games.

    Just hook the laptop up­ to the TV and bingo - full screen viewing for free

    From Scottish Manc, on Wed 25 Jan 2:24

  7. I watch on Fox soccer in the USA - just a basic +­ chanel.

    From Parker, on Wed 25 Jan 2:08
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Luckily for me Man United is my local team :}

    From Liam, on Wed 25 Jan 1:23

  9. nov17th sky sports 1&2 & espn are available­ with bt on a freeview box with a card for £15

    From NEAL.T., on Wed 25 Jan 1:21

  10. none 208: "Support your local team, forget the­ over paid drama­ queens of the premier­ league.
    "

    But not too many of you of course, as­ that will bring them money, then success, then­ promotion and you'll be back to square one.

    From Peter, on Wed 25 Jan 0:46

  11. I think it's amusing, that here in ireland we have­ free to view 3 pm matches on Saturdays maybe 2 times a­ month and its your league. They also show England­ internationals on there too (setanta)

    From Icantsplel, on Wed 25 Jan 0:40

  12. Acclaimed as the working mans sport! Won't be many­ of us working soon.

    From fortuna, on Wed 25 Jan 0:25

  13. If Mick McCarthy thinks the team he put out against­ Birmingham were premier players then he is delusional

    ­ Wolves fan John from Wakefield

    From John, on Wed 25 Jan 0:17

  14. Support your local team, forget the over paid drama­ queens of the premier league.

    From none, on Tue 24 Jan 23:55
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Once you've seen one game the rest are all repeats­ - 22 grown men kicking a bag of wind up and down a­ field. Where is the enjoyment in that and to pay hard­ earned cash for the priviledge is just crazy.

    From peter_and_rosemary, on Tue 24 Jan 23:30

  16. Moneychester City again. I bet the Shieks paid ESPN to­ do this so as to give more promotion to their airline.­ It is farcical, we have simply got Etihad United­ against Emirates Athletic in the prem... which team is­ next??

    Why don't these Arab hoarders stop­ destroying the spirit of our game and concentrate on­ providing aid to the war torn countries in their­ region?

    There is not a hint of racism attached to this­ comment by the way, simply reality.

    From Me, on Tue 24 Jan 23:13

  17. Lets hope itsa poke in the eye for the stranglehold of­ SKY!!!

    From robin c, on Tue 24 Jan 23:13

  18. Moved house recently, then against all the odds, we­ were informed that neither Sky nor Virgin could provide­ a service to include Sports1,2 etc.Result utter­ disbelief and dissapointment. Down in dumps for at­ least 2 hours. Final outcome, saving £40.00+ per month­ and couldn'd give a tootsie.

    From nov17th, on Tue 24 Jan 23:11

  19. I would not even want to watch City for free.

    From ClashCityRocker, on Tue 24 Jan 23:07

  20. Premier football is all about greed and people sticking­ their snouts in a trough paid for by the masses.

    If­ you truly love football watch a local team, better­ still go down the park and play yourself!

    From Oz, on Tue 24 Jan 23:05
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