NFL Monday Night Football rights granted to Sky Sports in the UK

Oct 27, 2013; London, United Kingdom; General view of fans in the tailgate zone before the NFL International Series game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2013; London, United Kingdom; General view of fans in the tailgate zone before the NFL International Series game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL’s popularity overseas is often overlooked in America, but with the success of the international series games in the past few years, it’s becoming obvious that “American Football” has a strong following in England.

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On Thursday, Sky Sports announced a new broadcasting rights agreement with the NFL. Part of that agreement included the rights to broadcast ‘Monday Night Football’ for the first time.

According to a press release from Sky Sports:

“Sky Sports has won the rights to the “Monday Night Football,” as part of a new five-year agreement for even more live American Football from the NFL.”

Not only does Sky have the rights to “Monday Night Football,” but it also has a virtual monopoly on coverage of the game in the UK.

The new agreement includes the exclusive rights to broadcast Thursday night games, Saturday night games, Sunday double-headers and MNF of course.

Additionally, customers in the UK get the international series games live, exclusive broadcast rights to the Super Bowl and the NFL Red Zone package that is also available here in the United States.

If there is any doubt about the appetite for the NFL in England, the fact that there is virtually the same coverage available in the UK as there is for American fans should put that to rest.

Sky Sports, a sister company to Fox, getting those rights shouldn’t be all that surprising given the long-standing relationship between Fox and the NFL either.

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