Fans of Premier League clubs looking forward to the opening weekend of the 2022/23 season may be in for a surprise. Out of the ten matches scheduled August 5-7, only two of them are on television. And neither of those games are on over-the-air television. If you haven’t gotten a Peacock Premium subscription yet, now is the time to make the move unless you want to miss out.
Due to NBC’s extensive coverage of the 2022 Women’s Open golf tournament, only two games are on USA Network. The timing of the golf competition is unfortunate. That’s because the opening weekend of soccer, one week earlier than usual due to the World Cup, is NBCUniversal’s first of a new six-year TV rights deal with the Premier League. Excitement levels for the new soccer season are at a high. Thankfully, the golf tournament is short lived. Normal television service should resume in gameweek two.
World Soccer Talk reached out to NBC Sports for comment. “As in past years, the match schedule varies by week across platforms, including Peacock, which features extensive coverage of live games, studio shows, full match replays and more,” a NBC Sports spokesperson explained.
Television’s loss is Peacock’s gain
With NBCSN shuttered last year, NBC Sports have fewer options to broadcast games on television. Nevertheless, Peacock TV subscribers should be pleased at the Premier League schedule.
Some of the matches featured exclusively on Peacock include:
1) Fulham vs Liverpool
2) West Ham vs Manchester City
3) Spurs vs Southampton, and
4) Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest, among other matches.
Broadcasting on the USA Network, the two games are Crystal Palace against Arsenal and Everton versus Chelsea.
Talent appearing on Premier League opening weekend
Going into its tenth year of broadcasting the Premier League, NBC Sports have made two changes to their talent lineup. Danny Higginbotham has been hired in a more permanent role as a studio analyst alongside Tim Howard, Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe. Meanwhile, Arlo White’s contract was not renewed, with the accomplished Peter Drury taking the reins instead.
Drury, Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux call three games together during the opening weekend. Those matches are Palace vs Arsenal, Everton vs Chelsea and West Ham versus Manchester City.
Meanwhile, presenter Rebecca Lowe has renewed her contract with NBC Sports.
This season, Peacock (available for $4.99/month) will once again stream all games airing on the NBC broadcast network live. In addition, Peacock will feature studio shows, full match replays and the Premier League TV channel. All matchdays and windows exclusively on Peacock will feature NBC Sports’ Premier League studio coverage.
Coverage plans for the opening weekend of the Premier League
In the build up to the opening weekend of the Premier League season, World Soccer Talk has several exciting plans in store. Our popular World Soccer Talk Podcast will be previewing all 20 teams ahead of the new season. We also have extensive coverage plans that we will be launching next week, including our weekly schedule of commentators for Premier League matches. Plus, if you want to attend a Premier League match in person, get our free travel guide. Last but not least, play the Fantasy Premier League to compete against World Soccer Talk.
 |
Exclusive EPL gamesIncludes: Premier League + Exclusive content |
Try it Now |
200+ Channels With Sports & News
- Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
- Watch Premier League, World Cup, Euro 2024 & more
Live & On Demand TV Streaming
- Price: $35/mo. for Sling Blue
- Watch Premier League, World Cup & MLS
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
- Price: $9.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $13.99/mo.)
- Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, Championship, & more
2,000+ soccer games per year
- Price: $4.99/mo
- Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & NWSL
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
- Starting price: $4.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
- Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season
110+ channels, live & on-demand
- Price: $59.95/mo. for Plus Package
- Includes FOX, FS1, ESPN, TUDN & more
49 Comments
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
SOCCER TV SCHEDULES APP
 |
 |
STREAMING OFFERS
 Includes: Premier League + 84 Sports Channels | |
| 7-Day Free Trial | |
 Includes: Bundesliga & La Liga | |
| Sign Up |
|
Includes: Champions League & Serie A | |
| 7-Day Free Trial | |
Includes: Premier League | |
| Sign Up |
|
 Includes: USA, NBC, FOX, FS1 + more | |
| Browse Offers |
|
SteveK
August 8, 2022 at 9:20 am
So Kelly & Wrighty, one of the few very good Premier League Productions shows on the Peacock 24/7 Premier League channel is now on Monday at 9am EST this season. However, the potentially very troubling change this year that we noticed on Friday continues: no PLP shows are being archived on Peacock in the PL Hub and that means nothing is available on demand.
John Culea
August 7, 2022 at 5:31 pm
The “pick-your-pocket” Peacock Network is terrible.
I can’t get rid of closed captions and their “help” suggestions were lame.
You also have to wait too long to watch a replay and you are unable to fast-forward past commercials.
Last season did not have the problems of the current season. Sometimes I have to Force Quit and then return to Peacock to get the home page. The screen will often freeze on black.
Awful service, but they have you by the you-know-what if you want to see the games.
SteveK
August 7, 2022 at 5:51 pm
Probably should mention how you are watching Peacock John, because I have none of those problems with Peacock on an Apple TV 4K. The West Ham Man City replay today was put up very quickly, you can watch the 1st half completely commercial free and jump back and forth within it at will, there are 60 seconds of commercials right before the halftime show that yes you can’t skip but that’s nothing new, then there are another 60 seconds of commercials after the halftime show, then the 2nd half starts and you can again fast forward or reverse within that half at will with no commercials.
Peacock did just update their app for the aTV recently and the navigation tabs are now on the left hand of the screen rather than up top and I find it easier to get around, it’s easier now to go from the PL Hub back to the 24 hour PL Channel, just swipe left and one click and you are there.
The one thing I have noticed different from last year is that none of the PLP shows from the 24 hour channel are being archived in the PL Hub. I know there was the first Fanzone on Friday and it is not available on demand in the PL Hub this year.
John
August 5, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Good to see Rebecca & some of the chaps back today! As a former Arlo defender (until the LIV move), I wish all the best to Peter Drury, who we know is terrific, for a long relationship with NBC . I hope the chemistry with Graehm & Lee will be good, too. Here we go week 1
MIB Fan
August 4, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Any news on what is going on with PLTV? Last season, the week leading up to GW1, they started producing their regular schedule, but nothing so far (Kelly & Wrighty, Weekend Preview, FPL Show). It’s still in offseason mode of reruns of past season highlights.
Bill
August 2, 2022 at 5:09 pm
when will the studio show begin Friday and the weekend? Premier league mornings with the gang?
Its frustrating on peacock to catch the whole show before the matches start with no set schedule or channel on peacock. and worse is the 10 minute line up beginnings we got last year
Christopher Harris
August 2, 2022 at 5:18 pm
For Friday… Coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network with a special, season-opening edition of Premier League Live.
Fro Saturday: Saturday’s coverage begins at 7 a.m. ET with Premier League Mornings on Peacock
Carolyn Anderson
July 29, 2022 at 4:52 pm
From someone trying to set up Peacock, some questions: Can I watch on my dish internet connected TV? Do I need to do anything to find the channel/sign in on the TV? I will sign up on my laptop to Peacock…
SteveK
July 29, 2022 at 10:36 pm
If your TV is “smart” and can download apps and Peacock is one of those apps, then yes, you can sign up for Peacock and log in. Look in your channel or App Store. If that fails Peacock supports lots of streaming devices and gaming platforms and it plays in browsers so if all else fails you can always just use the TV as an external display from your laptop.
Ivan
July 28, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Corporate greed in football broadcasting had done me a world of good over the last 2-3 years. It has decreased my screen time in favor of more important stuff.
Not paying greedy corps a dime, cut the cord years ago, whatever is on OTA, I may catch. Whatever else I want to watch, I find ways to do so.
Which means a lot more free time to spend on my hobbies, with the family and explore stunning nature nearby. I even bought a kayak that I take on the water almost every weekend, weather permitting.
THANK you, PeaCOCK, ESPN +, CBS, and other greedy corporations. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!!!
SteveK
July 29, 2022 at 9:03 am
Hear, hear! I tried not paying greedy corporations a dime as well, starting growing my own food rather than shopping at Wegmans and Whole Foods, became a vegetarian, walked everywhere, unplugged my modem and cancelled my high speed internet, started roasting my own coffee beans and making my own wine, I started heating and cooking over a wood fired stove, I checked a book out of the local library on homeopathy and read it by candlelight, cancelled my health insurance and stopped going to my amazing internist because all of this benefited greedy corporations and I didn’t want to be a hypocrite by singling out greedy media corporations.
Then I woke up, realized I liked buying expertly roasted espresso rather than trying to roast my own, I like interesting wines from all over the world, I liked having those bottles stored in wine fridges at just the right temperatures that required electricity, I liked air conditioners and air purifiers and fans and high def TVs and music and stereo equipment, I liked driving, I liked ribeyes especially the cap and liked shopping at Wegmans and Whole Foods and Trader Joes rather than only eating what I grew, I liked paying for good healthcare, I liked the internet and Apple computers and buying books and music from Amazon. I actually liked Peacock in order to watch ALL of the Premier League and would gladly pay $5 month for it even if Comcast stopped giving it to me for free.
In short, I accepted that most corporations are in business to make a profit.
Azer
July 29, 2022 at 12:41 pm
@SteveK Peacock on Comcast is not free. It’s included in your cable/internet bill, but Comcast wants you to believe otherwise. I remember a local TV commercial a couple of years ago where they tell you if you buy car from us, you’ll get TV, a gift card or concert/sporting tickets free of charge. Who would believe such a thing? You’d a fool to believe anything Comcast says about Peacock being free of charge. I’ve been with the company for a long time. I know what I’m talking about.
Efrain
July 29, 2022 at 3:55 pm
@Azer
You mention you work for Comcast. Would you happen to know why they don’t offer select matches in 4k? Youtube and Directv have them and since Comcast owns NBC I don’t understand why they no longer offer that option like they used to. Thanks. (I’ve written them and just get the run around, no straight answer)
Azer
July 29, 2022 at 4:17 pm
@Efrain
I don’t work for Comcast. I said I’ve been with them for a long time as a customer.
I should’ve included the word customer in my previous reply.
Buckles
July 29, 2022 at 1:20 pm
I think a lot of people are doing the same thing as you thanks, in part, to these corporate greed heads. Another thing is that younger people don’t seem as invested in sports. They aren’t die hards. For example, nobody young is watching baseball on tv. But the younger generation doesn’t seem to mind giving up sports if it means not spending extra money on a streaming service.
I love watching MLS, but if apple makes the cost too high, I could easily skip it. It’s also annoying to switch in between programs on streaming. That’s one of the biggest disadvantages of streaming. I like to flip between games and programs, especially during breaks.
It will be interesting to see where we are at 5-10 years from now concerning streaming.
dave
July 29, 2022 at 2:17 pm
@Buckles, I think you hit on a trend that should give heartburn to leagues and their partners. Data suggest in general that the younger a person is, the less likely they are to invest time and money in watching live sports. There are theories and business models, but I am not convinced anyone has figured it out. Preferences evolve over time, and perhaps society will be less live-sports-focused in a few decades. I agree it will be interesting to see the evolution
JP
July 29, 2022 at 2:46 pm
@dave, it’s probably much more complex that this, but I think boils down to many leagues pushing more and more games to “primetime” so the younger audience never builds that bond in their formative years. When I was growing up it was common to see big games in the middle of the afternoon during weekends, and even weekdays for MLB playoffs. NBA finals, All Star games, (and of course NFL) all afternoons on a Saturday or Sunday. Now it’s rare to have any “big” game starting before 8pm. Even college sports embraced that change. Used to be the 1st NCAA Final Four game was afternoon and the “late” game was well before 8PM.
–
Something like an NBA All Star game (and skills challenge day before) are obviously more of interest to a younger audience, older viewers don’t give a F about that stuff. But they put all that on primetime.
–
So unless they have a parent who’s pushing/encouraging the child to watch, it’s hard for them to naturally “stumble” upon sports and fall in love with it early in life. American children have a better chance of becoming diehard EPL fans than most other non NFL sports due to the timing and OTA coverage.
Mercator
August 4, 2022 at 7:52 pm
I have a younger nephew who thinks I’m an idiot for paying to watch soccer games when all the “good parts” (highlights) are free on Youtube. He entertains himself with soccer videos for hours on TikTok, for free, so genuinely has no clue why I would pay money to watch the game.
I also think, if a lot of us are honest, that sports can be a bit of an addiction and to a non-addict this all looks silly and expensive. Kids never get the opportunity to get addicted unless their parents are addicted, because no child can afford to watch any of this stuff without a parent footing the bill. They don’t stumble onto sports anymore because everything is behind a 3 figure paywall – because sports are now priced for the addict adults and not for the masses. It wasn’t like this even quite recently – I watched almost every Cubs game for free on WGN (in Florida!) when I was a kid, and still like them today. But today, you need MLBTV or a super premium cable package to watch the Cubs, which I wouldn’t have had because my parents don’t like baseball. I would have just gone on TikTok instead.
This is why I shout from the rooftops about making things available to stream, at a low price. No one wants to invest in building a fanbase or an audience anymore, they just want to skip to the part where you are addicted and will pay hundreds of dollars to watch grown men run around. That’s not how it works – almost every sport except the NFL has failed to build their fanbase or audience, instead they maximize dollars today by throwing everything behind very high paywalls that only superfans will pay for and watch.
Ra
August 4, 2022 at 9:09 pm
That is probably for the best. I enjoy watching soccer, but it is hard not to argue that it is time wasted. Every time I am working on a deadline, it is the first thing I cut.
JP
July 29, 2022 at 1:47 pm
@Ivan, I get what you’re saying. Just confused though where you say cut the cord but against streaming? Having all these leagues on streaming makes it better for you as a cord cutter, vs the alternative of them being exclusively on a cable package.
–
Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga, UCL, EPL, and more for just $170 a YEAR when that is a MONTHLY bill for a cable/internet bundle if you’re lucky.
John
July 28, 2022 at 4:33 pm
Very glad Rebecca, both Robbies, Graeme &Lee will be back! With Danny and Tim coming back as well, I wish they could let those guys host the weekday matches when Becks is in California. I understand the boys are pundits, not hosts, but at least two of them could do it very well, I think.
If the EPL is back soon, Fighting Talk with Colin Murray on BBC Sounds can’t be far behind. Best things about the waning weeks of summer…
Yespage
July 28, 2022 at 2:41 pm
It is unfortunate, but this isn’t something to expect every week. And with EPL on USA and Peacock, getting the EPL hasn’t been this inexpensive since the FSC days.
Mike
July 28, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Will Peacock show matches that are also on USA/NBC?
KW
July 28, 2022 at 12:20 pm
NBC, yes. USA, 24 hours later.
jim
July 28, 2022 at 11:04 am
just sayin’, i’m obstinate in not paying for peacock. getting 10 hrs of my weekend back might actually be a good thing – ha!
Kate
July 28, 2022 at 9:00 am
Unfortunately, the originally published schedule had many television games that got changed to Peacock. That type of change happens way too often.
Carolyn Anderson
July 28, 2022 at 10:14 pm
yes. Internet is not always reliable where I live,so TV matches are better for me than Peacock.I can also record TV,but not internet matches.
Nosferatu
July 29, 2022 at 8:18 pm
Peacock is very good about getting replays of games up soon after they end, so there’s that, at least. And they now have live DVR in case you need to pause the game you’re watching.
Jordy S
July 27, 2022 at 10:26 pm
Does anyone know if Peacock will ever give the ability to concurrently stream more than 3 games at a time? I ask as I would like to keep an eye on all 5 games at 9AM without having to get a second account.
Don
July 28, 2022 at 10:01 am
Goal Rush ⚽️
David
July 27, 2022 at 8:58 pm
For the Gaffer,
It would be very helpful if you could list the matches to be shown in 4K on DirecTV. There will be very few, I know, but hopefully more than previous seasons.
Christopher Harris
July 28, 2022 at 10:19 am
Every Friday in our EPL Commentators Schedule article, we include which games are available in 4K. We’re planning to do that throughout this season too. Hopefully that number will continue to increase 🙂
Gerard
July 28, 2022 at 2:45 pm
Hello Chris,
Following on to the Goal Rush question: any chance Sky Sports News will be streamed on Peacock? Seems the best spot for hard-core football supporters in the US
Christopher Harris
July 28, 2022 at 3:07 pm
Peacock does have Sky News, which it broadcasts 24/7, but there are no plans as of yet to broadcast Sky Sports News.
John
August 5, 2022 at 5:38 pm
Interesting. I would love to get Sky Sports News on peacock too, there used to be an hour or two simulcast on weekdays on NBCSN, but only with coverage of EPL and Cricket, pretty much. I think the reason NBC/Peacock can’t give us Sky Sports news in the US, even though they are part of the same Global corporation, is because other networks own US rights to sports/ leagues Sky covers in the UK. Am I wrong?
SteveK
July 27, 2022 at 6:25 pm
“And at the risk of starting an argument, I think Peacock has a better picture than my satellite compressed USA on DirecTV”
Peacock picture quality really improved right before the last Olympics. I got my USA through Sling Blue last season and Peacock was easily superior to it using an Apple TV.
Kj
July 28, 2022 at 10:31 am
Wondering if we’ll be in store for any studio set changes with the contract recently renewed.
dave
July 27, 2022 at 6:00 pm
I missed that Lowe and NBC extended. NBC would have been crazy to lose her, but large bureaucracies sometimes make dumb decisions. Glad they worked it out
.
EPL is a lot like other major sports in the US. You need OTA channels, cable channels, and an add-on such as streaming to lawfully watch everything live. The mix changes a bit week by week. I hope NBC is planning an integrated EPL (or sports) app where you enter credentials once and then watch any game
SteveK
July 27, 2022 at 6:43 pm
“I hope NBC is planning an integrated EPL (or sports) app where you enter credentials once and then watch any game”
Me, too, dave, that’s probably the single most legitimate gripe from the Comcast naysayers around here and I hoped the Peacock powers that be were going to solve that this season. Pretty much every other Peacock complaint has been dealt with: much better reliability and picture quality, full DVR controls within live games like pause and rewind to start and very logical and quick menu access to the PL Hub. All within 2 years.
I’m glad Higginbotham earned a more regular gig, glad Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux return, love those guys, really the only thing that pisses me off is why no Goal Rush when 5 games are on at 10am?
Michael F
July 28, 2022 at 11:36 am
@SteveK How do you know for certain that Goal Rush will not be on Peacock come Saturday Aug 6? I realize that its not showing up yet for “Live and Upcoming” on Peacock.. but I don’t think that’s a given it won’t be… come matchday. It’s early yet.
SteveK
July 28, 2022 at 6:21 pm
I do not know for certain, merely expressing my disappointment. Let’s hope someone on the Peacock team reads of our disappointment and rectifies this.
Sports TV Guru
July 28, 2022 at 3:12 pm
Higginbotham’s primary gig with the MLS Philadelphia Union expires in early October.
AFAIK MLS is NOT interested in his services for the new contract cycle.
MLS exec Gary Stevenson has already announced MLS (Apple) will hire 14 English-language commentary teams, but up of 12 broadcast teams will call matches off monitors from Vista WorldLink in Dania Beach, Florida.
I project only 2 broadcast teams will call MLS games on site (for the new Apple app): one team based in the Northeast Corridor to call games in DC/Philly/Red Bulls/NYCFC/NERevs, and one team based in LA to call LAFC & LAGalaxy home games. Inter Miami home games will also been called onsite by one of the 12 teams based in South Florida.
Efrain
July 29, 2022 at 6:48 am
@SteveK
What did Peacock do to improve picture quality? As of last season they were still at 30 frames per second compared to others like ESPN at 60 frames per second. Can clearly see the the better PQ on ESPN. Something change for the upcoming season? Thanks.
SteveK
July 29, 2022 at 8:36 am
Right before the Olympics some enterprising Mac folks downloaded Xcode and enabled the Developer menu in settings for the aTV and reported that live PL matches were now 1080p 60fps with a higher average bitrate. The improvement was very noticeable to the naked eye and was discussed here at WST so we already knew something improved. They also determined at the time that Peacock PL replays remained at 30fps. I’m sure someone with Xcode will try again once this season starts.
Efrain
July 29, 2022 at 3:46 pm
@SteveK
Guess I missed that, but that’s great news, sort of. Only works on Apple TV as in an Apple TV device or Apple TV+ streaming service? Hopefully they will work on the replays since that’s most of what I’m able to watch. Thanks.
SteveK
July 29, 2022 at 10:07 pm
Efrain, yes for an aTV since many of the frequent posters here use one and I can’t really comment on other devices because even if they are mentioned I tend to gloss right over them because I don’t really care. There are some Peacock and ESPN+ value adds that were unique to the aTV and not made available to the less expensive Roku and Amazon devices but this was last year, the situation may have improved by now.
Nacho
August 1, 2022 at 8:59 am
Games on Peacock also broadcast with 60fps on shield and my iPad Pro. The biggest complain I have is why matches(USA)on NBC Sports app and Sling are still 30fps…
cmasia
July 27, 2022 at 5:35 pm
For those with subscriptions to both USA and Peacock, the more matches on Peacock the better.
Replays available within a couple hours of completion, instead of next day on USA.
The 10 minute lead – in from IMG on many matches.
And at the risk of starting an argument, I think Peacock has a better picture than my satellite compressed USA on DirecTV.
NBC’s only headache here is potential pushback from cable / sat operators asking why USA should cost so much, when it carries less and less content.
The opening weekend schedule shows the headache was a minor one.
TK
August 4, 2022 at 9:56 pm
If you have a “subscription” to USA just remember to record it.