Dermot O'Leary, Sam Quek and Osi Umenyiora to host the coverage, which will include a new play-along entertainment format aimed at family audiences.
5 to broadcast Super Bowl LX as well as UK and Ireland NFL games free-to-air
Wider NFL partnership with Paramount and CBS Sports to include the return of Slimetime on Nickelodeon
5 and Paramount UK today announced a major new multi-year partnership with the NFL and CBS Sports to bring live coverage of the NFL season free-to-air to UK viewers.
Every week through the NFL season, two Sunday evening games will be broadcast; the first at 6pm on 5 and the second at 9pm on 5ACTION – which will be branded as 5NFL for game nights. Both games will also be streamed live.
The broadcaster will also show the Super Bowl free-to-air in the UK. In addition, it will broadcast the NFL London and Dublin Games, as well as Thanksgiving Day specials and three playoff games.
NFL: BIG GAME NIGHT
NFL coverage on 5 will kick off at 5:30pm on game nights, hosted by Dermot O'Leary, with Sam Quek and double-Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. 5 is partnering with leading entertainment producer, Hungry Bear Media, on a new play-along entertainment format which will air around the 6pm games, designed to appeal to a Sunday early-evening family audience.
'NFL: Big Game Night' is a completely new way to enjoy watching the greatest show on turf. Each week, Dermot will be joined by Sam and Osi in a purpose-built studio for an entertainment format that runs alongside the big NFL Game of the Week at 6pm on 5.
Whenever the NFL game stops in the US, 5 will keep going with the fun and games – in the form of the unique 'game within a game'. Two teams of friends and family in the UK will battle for prizes in a series of games that are fast, furious and fun. They will be representing the two teams playing that night and can only score points when their team has the ball – so they'd better hope their team doesn't fumble in the Big Game, or the other team could snatch up their chance to win. The winning team on the night will play one final game where they have the chance to win a holiday to an NFL city in the United States.
From Hungry Bear Media – the team behind Michael McIntyre's The Wheel and Big Show and Gladiators – 'NFL: Big Game Night' is a riotous, family-friendly mix of world class sport and world class entertainment.
At 9pm, the second game of the night – on 5ACTION which will be rebranded 5NFL – will be hosted by Sam Quek and Osi Umenyiora for football discussion, game analysis and commentary. They will be joined by special guests each week as they get into the heart of the action and give fans the games and insight they love.
WIDER SUPPORT FROM PARAMOUNT'S FAMILY OF BRANDS
In addition to the live game coverage and new entertainment format, there will be supporting programming across the wider Paramount UK family of brands. This includes the return of the industry-leading kids and family NFL show, Slimetime UK (Season 3) on Nickelodeon in 2026. The show will be produced by Paramount Brand Studio International.
Dermot O'Leary said: "I'm really excited about hosting Big Game Night – the show combines two of my big loves: entertainment television and American football. I think it will be a really fun, silly and brilliant way to watch the game so I hope people enjoy it."
Sam Quek said: "I can't wait to kick off this new adventure with the NFL on 5! Sharing that excitement every Sunday night with Dermot and Osi is going to be brilliant. The mix of top-class sport and big entertainment is the perfect way for families, fans and newcomers to get involved. I'm so excited to get started."
Osi Umenyiora said: "The NFL is growing faster than ever in the UK and I'm thrilled to continue playing a part in that expansion by bringing it to a new home on 5. These shows will give returning fans the insight they love while introducing viewers to the excitement of the game. It's incredible to see the NFL becoming a truly global sport and inspiring more fans than ever."
Watch/stream on 5 and 5ACTION from Sunday 7th September, from 5.30pm
