Premier League returns to Sky Sports with dedicated channel and brand new programming

The Premier League returns to Sky Sports this weekend, with a new dedicated channel, a range of brand new programming, and more of the biggest names in football.

The live action kicks off with the first Friday Night Football of the season, Kelly Cates will present live from the Emirates as Arsenal take on Leicester City. Expert analysis will be provided by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.

The clash at the Emirates will be the first on Sky Sports Premier League, a new dedicated channel that will bring fans of the most-watched league in the world even closer to the action, with a range of features and programming, including:

• A new nightly debate show, The Debate - Live, featuring Ian Wright, Craig Bellamy and Alan Pardew alongside Sky Sports’ regular experts
• A revamped Soccer AM, with former Hull and Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard and comedian Lloyd Griffith joining Fenners in presenting the new format
• A new Premier League prediction show previews the season then Gillette Soccer Saturday, Sunday Supplement and Goals on Sunday provide the best coverage across the weekend

A new Sky Sports app will also allow fans to follow their team, with news, clips and the ability to watch live, with an enhanced live player offering the ability to catch up on the action.

Gary Hughes, Sky Sports Head of Football, commented: “As well as the best coverage of the biggest games, we know that fans want more analysis, more debate and more behind the scenes access to their clubs. With our new dedicated channel, Sky Sports Premier League, along with a range of new programming, more big names and 24 hour coverage on Sky Sports News, we’re offering viewers just that. Just like the fans, we can’t wait for it to get started.”

The Premier League kick-off follows on from strong opening weekend in the EFL, with Bristol City on top of the Championship after just one match, and Celtic successfully kicking off the defence of their title and unbeaten domestic record in Scotland last season with a comprehensive win over Hearts.

A second dedicated channel, Sky Sports Football, bring fans all the action from the EFL and Scottish football, as well as the kick-off in La Liga from 18 August. Sky Sports Football also offers a range of dedicated programming, including weekly chat shows EFL Matters and SPFL Matters, as well as Revista de La Liga, rounding up the week’s Spanish football.

The two channels are part of a new look Sky Sports, sitting alongside Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Gold and Sky Sports F1, and two channels, Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Arena offering rugby union rugby league, boxing, netball, darts, GAA, WWE, NFL and more. Sky Sports Main Event hosts the biggest sporting events in one place, Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Mix are available free to all Sky TV homes.

For the first time, customers have the flexibility to subscribe to individual channel packages. Or they choose to get it all, with an unrivalled schedule of sport across 10 channels.

Premier League schedule – opening weekend

The Debate – Live (nightly from 7 August)    Mon 7 Aug 10pm

Premier League Prediction Show  Fri 11 Aug 5.30pm
Premier League Kick-Off  Fri 11 Aug 6pm
Arsenal v Leicester Fri 11 Aug 7.45pm

Soccer AM  Sat 12 Aug 10am
Watford v Liverpool Sat 12 Aug 12.30pm
Gillette Soccer Saturday  Sat 12 Aug 3.15pm
Premier League Saturday Review Sat 12 Aug 6pm
Game of the Day Sat 12 Aug 8.30pm

Sunday Supplement Sun 13 Aug 9.30am
Goals on Sunday  Sun 13 Aug 11am
Newcastle v Tottenham Sun 13 Aug 1.30pm
Manchester United v West Ham United Sun 13 Aug 4pm

For more information, please contact:

Sky Sports PR
020 7032 1445

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