The cheapest way to watch the Premier League without a Sky contract is a rolling NOW Sports Membership (for the Sky Sports games) plus discovery+ / TNT Sports for the matches on that platform. No 18-month contract, no dish, cancel any time.
Watching from outside the UK? You’ll need a VPN to reach your usual UK apps.
You do not need a full Sky TV package to watch the Premier League in the UK. In the 2025–2029 rights cycle the live games are split between two broadcasters, and both can be streamed on a rolling, no-contract basis. Here’s exactly who shows what, and the cheapest legal way to see the matches you care about.
Who shows the Premier League in the UK?
- Sky Sports – the majority of live televised games (packages B–E). You can get these without a Sky contract through a NOW Sports Membership.
- TNT Sports – the Saturday 12:30 kick-off slot plus two midweek rounds (package A). Streamed via discovery+.
- Amazon Prime Video – no longer shows the Premier League; it dropped out after the 2024/25 season.
The Saturday 3pm blackout still applies, so those kick-offs are not televised live in the UK on any service.
Option 1: NOW Sports Membership (no contract)
NOW carries every Sky Sports channel with no dish and no long contract. A Monthly Membership is the best value if you watch regularly; a Day Membership is handy for a single big fixture. Add the Boost option for 1080p/60fps and no ads.
Option 2: discovery+ for TNT Sports games
The package-A games (including the popular Saturday lunchtime kick-off) are on TNT Sports, streamed through discovery+ Premium. If you also have BT/EE broadband you may be able to add TNT more cheaply as a bundle.
The cheapest combination
If you want to see every televised game, you need both NOW (for Sky Sports) and discovery+ (for TNT). If you only want most games, a NOW Sports Membership alone covers the bulk of the season. Buy month-to-month and pause in the summer to save.
Can I watch the Premier League for free?
Not the live games – there is no legal free live stream of Premier League football in the UK. However, free highlights are available on the BBC (Match of the Day) and you can follow live text and clips on the BBC Sport and official Premier League apps.
Watching from abroad
Travelling outside the UK? Your NOW or discovery+ subscription may be geo-blocked. A reputable VPN for UK streaming lets you connect back to a UK server and watch as normal.
FAQ
Is NOW cheaper than Sky?
For sport-only viewers, yes – a rolling NOW Sports Membership avoids Sky’s 18-month contract and line rental, and you can cancel whenever the season ends.
Do I need a TV aerial or dish?
No. NOW and discovery+ stream over your broadband on a phone, tablet, laptop, games console, or a streaming device like a Fire TV Stick.
Prices and rights were checked in August 2026 and can change – always confirm on the provider’s website. Some links on this page are affiliate links; see our Affiliate Disclosure.