In the realm of sports broadcasting, first impressions matter. This weekend, TNT Sports is set to make theirs.
As the new sports streaming service gears up for its inaugural Premier League broadcast, the industry and fans alike are keen to see how this new player performs on the big stage.
It’s a significant step for TNT Sports, marking their transition from the sidelines to the spotlight of UK’s beloved football scene, just a month after the transition from BT Sport into TNT Sports.
This Saturday, as Arsenal faces off against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium, TNT Sports takes centre stage with presenters Jules Breach, Joe Cole, and Ally McCoist leading the charge.
Here’s what viewers can expect.
TNT Sports: The Road So Far
TNT Sports, the new name (literally) in the UK’s sports broadcasting arena, has emerged as the successor to the well-established BT Sport.
This transformation is a result of the strategic merger between BT Sport and Eurosport, a prominent formerly French sports TV network with a footprint in over 50 countries.
Launched last month, TNT Sports aims to bring about a significant shift in the UK’s sports broadcasting landscape, combining the legacy of BT Sport with the international prowess of Eurosport.
The pricing structure of TNT Sports has garnered attention, with standalone streaming subscribers being offered the service at £29.99/month.
This subscription not only grants access to the extensive sports coverage of TNT Sports but also includes the Discovery+ Entertainment and Sports package, providing a comprehensive entertainment solution for subscribers, with factual, reality and lifestyle shows – along with sports.
Existing BT Sport subscribers, especially those via platforms like Sky, BT, or Virgin Media, will find their transition smooth, with their current deals continuing, often at more competitive rates than the standalone subscription (but those usually include a long-term contract with your pay-TV platform of choice).
TNT Sports’ Premier League Debut
As the anticipation builds, TNT Sports is gearing up for a significant milestone in its broadcasting journey.
This Saturday, the network will embark on its first major live Premier League broadcast, marking a pivotal moment in its nascent history.
The iconic Emirates Stadium will play host to this event, featuring last season’s runners-up, Arsenal, as they square off against Nottingham Forest.
This match not only promises thrilling football action but also serves as a litmus test for TNT Sports’ capability to deliver top-tier live sports coverage.
Matchday Rundown
The coverage kicks off at 11 am on TNT Sports 1, broadcasting live from the Emirates.
Fans will be introduced to the new Early Kick-Off show, helmed by Jules Breach, Joe Cole, and fresh addition to the TNT Sports family, Ally McCoist.
This show promises to seamlessly transition into an hour-long pre-match build-up, ensuring fans are in the loop with real-time updates from the ground.
As the match approaches, Lynsey Hipgrave will take the reins, joined by football legends Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole.
This segment aims to provide a comprehensive preview of the match, with a special emphasis on on-ground news, fan perspectives, and key storylines surrounding the game.
Adding to the excitement, fans can look forward to an exclusive interview with Rio Ferdinand and Arsenal’s star summer acquisition, Declan Rice.
Live Action And Analysis
The main event commences at 12:30 pm, with Darren Fletcher leading the commentary, supported by Ally McCoist and with Jules Breach providing insights from the sidelines.
As the final whistle blows, the coverage will conclude with a detailed post-match analysis, featuring insights from Hipgrave, Ferdinand, Cole, and McCoist.
What’s Next On TNT Sports?
This Premier League broadcast is just the tip of the iceberg, with more live events expected later this month:
UEFA Super Cup: Manchester City v Sevilla (TNT Sports 1, Wednesday 16th August from 19:00)
Vanarama National League: Bromley v Barnet (TNT Sports 1, Saturday 12th August from 17:00)
Start of the Ligue 1 season: Nice vs Lille (TNT Sports 1, Friday 11th August from 19:45).
Start of the Serie A season over the weekend of August 19th and 20th August.
How To Watch TNT Sports
Accessing TNT Sports’ lineup of premium live sports has been made straightforward and flexible, catering to a variety of viewing preferences, across a wide range of platforms (although some Roku and Sky users are STILL facing issues).
TNT Sports On Pay-TV
Access to TNT Sports for existing BT Sport customers via BT TV, Sky, and Virgin Media has automatically commenced from launch day, offering a lineup of up to four TV channels: TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, and TNT Sports 4.
Customers who have access to the BT Sport App can continue enjoying TNT Sports via that app – until it shuts down later this year (as it’s being replaced by the TNT Sports app).
For a deeper dive into the action, up to six digital or red-button channels are available alongside the main channels, namely TNT Sports 5 to 10.
Moreover, the platform features TNT Sports Ultimate (with Ultra HD/4K content) and TNT Sports Box Office (for pay-per-view events).
Existing BT Sport customers don’t need to worry about taking any further action, as access to TNT Sports is automatically provided.
TNT Sports On Discovery+
With the launch of TNT Sports, Discovery+ has become the new streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK.
With the new Premium subscription plan priced at £29.99 per month, subscribers gained access to an unrivalled collection of TNT Sports’ and Eurosport’s live rights plus discovery+ entertainment content.
Discovery+ has an interactive timeline feature available on compatible devices, allowing fans to easily replay live video or skip through key points in the action, granting a highly personalised viewing experience.
Discovery+ is available on most of the streaming devices sold in the UK – from Amazon’s Fire TV to Roku, Smart TVs, tablets, mobile phones and more.
BT and EE customers who subscribe to TNT Sports, will get access to the Premium plan on Discovery+ via mobiles, tablets, and connected devices, once they activate the Discovery+ add-on, at no extra cost.
Somewhat ironically, the Discovery+ app is NOT available on BT TV’s own BT TV Pro 4K Box yet – but is expected to be added to it at some point in the future (we’ve been hearing ‘soon’ for a while now).
Sky TV customers subscribing to TNT Sports will also “soon” enjoy access to the Premium plan on Discovery+, through the Discovery+ app on Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q.
There’s no word yet on if – and when – the Discovery+ app will be added to Virgin Media’s TV devices (but TNT Sports is available on VM’s devices as a standalone platform).
- Premier League streaming getting too expensive? See our £850 Premier League Saving Guide.
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The only problem with TNT sports is that you should of keeped BT score program to keep fans updated with the 3pm games one big mistake fans are only going to watch the early match and the turn over to sky or the bbc for the scores I think you need to rethink and put something on even if its a little bit different from the BT score show.
Way overpriced when people out there are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table.
Why TNT if Premiership is broadcasted by Sky?
And why you wrote Eurosport as French TV while it is owned 100% by Discovery