FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 31st, 2018
SUMMER OF SOCCER CONTINUES: NBC SPORTS OPENS 2018-19 PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON ON LOCATION IN THE U.K. AUGUST 9-12
Premier League Season Opens in 10 Days: Coverage Features On-Site Studios, Pitch-Side Desks and Commentary at Manchester United’s Old Trafford for Season Opener v. Leicester City on Friday, August 10
Double On-Site Commentary Saturday, August 11: Team Travels to Molineux Stadium for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Return to the Premier League, St. James’ Park for Newcastle v. Tottenham
On-Location at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, August 12 for Arsenal-Manchester City
41 Players from the Four 2018 World Cup Semifinalists Played in the Premier League Last Season – Most of Any League
Live Premier League Coverage Begins with three-hour Premier League Live: Transfer Deadline Day show Thursday, August 9, live at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN
STAMFORD, Conn. – July 31, 2018 – Continuing its annual tradition of a trip to the United Kingdom, NBC Sports Group’s U.S.-based Premier League team will open the season on the road, as the entire announce team works together on-location in the U.K. for kickoff of the 2018-19 Premier League season, August 9-12. Immersive Premier League coverage will be presented on-site from the U.K. across the season’s opening three days from four different grounds, featuring on-site studios for pre-match, halftime and post-game shows as well as pitch-side locations just a few feet from the playing field.
There were 113 players from last season’s Premier League in the World Cup, and more Premier League players represented in the semifinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup than any other professional league (41 players from the semifinalists played in the Premier League last season). The 41 players were members of 11 different clubs. Telemundo Deportes’ complete presentation of all 64 2018 World Cup matches reached 36.6 million TV viewers.
For the kickoff of the 2018-19 Premier League season, Rebecca Lowe will return to her native U.K. to host the Premier League Live pre- and post-match show on-site at each match, joined by a revolving combination of analysts, including the U.S.-based team of Robbie Earle, Kyle Martino and Robbie Mustoe. Arlo White will call the matches, and make pre-match and post-match appearances from NBC’s pitch-side locations. Earle, Martino and Mustoe will each call a match with White. They will join NBC’s UK-based team of Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux for 21 hours of live on-site Premier League coverage across four days.
“After an incredible summer of World Cup football which saw some players cement their star status and others elevate themselves into that sphere, we now have the treat of seeing many of these faces on our screens every week with the return of the world’s most entertaining league,” said Lowe. “And what better way to begin our sixth season of Premier League coverage on NBC than by flying to the U.K. and bringing you all our coverage from right there on the ground. We will start it all at the Theatre of Dreams for Manchester United v Leicester City. We are set for another nine months to remember.”
Coverage begins on Thursday, August 9, with a special three-hour Premier League Live: Transfer Deadline Day show live from Old Trafford at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN. The program will surround the end of the summer transfer window, which closes at Noon ET that Thursday, as the team analyzes all 20 clubs’ transfer activity. In addition, the program will preview the 2018–19 season with the entire announce team, as Lowe hosts the program, joined by White, Dixon, Earle, Le Saux, Martino, and Mustoe.
In addition, THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW hosted by Roger Bennett and Michael Davies makes its season premiere Thursday, August 9, at 2 p.m. ET.
On Friday, August 10, the team will again be live at Old Trafford, when Manchester United host Leicester City at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with Lowe, Le Saux, and Earle in the on-site studio; White, Dixon, and Martino pitch side; and White calling the match alongside Mustoe. Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with Premier League Live.
On Saturday, August 11, NBC Sports Group presents 8.5 hours of live coverage from two grounds – St. James’ Park for Newcastle v. Tottenham at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN, and Molineux Stadium for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ return to the Premier League, as they host Everton at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Derek Rae and Mustoe call Newcastle v. Tottenham. Lowe will be joined in the studio at Molineux Stadium by Dixon and Martino, while White, Le Saux, and Earle provide the pitch-side perspective. White calls Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Everton with Earle. Premier League Mornings begins Saturday at 6:30 a.m. ET.
On Sunday, August 12, NBC Sports Group’s announce team travels to Emirates Stadium for Arsenal v. defending champions Manchester City at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Lowe will be joined in the studio by Le Saux and Mustoe, White hosts the pitch-side desk coverage joined by Dixon and Earle, and calls the match with Martino.
In addition, Universo and Telemundo will host Spanish-language coverage of five matches on opening weekend.
Below is the schedule for NBCUniversal’s on-site Premier League Live coverage August 9-12 (all times ET):
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Network |
| Thurs., Aug. 9 | 11 a.m. | Premier League Live: Transfer Deadline Day from Old Trafford | NBCSN |
| Thurs., Aug. 9 | 2 p.m. | THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW | NBCSN |
| Fri., Aug. 10 | 1:30 p.m. | Premier League Live from Old Trafford | NBCSN |
| Fri., Aug. 10 | 3 p.m. | Manchester United v. Leicester City | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Aug. 11 | 6:30 a.m. | Premier League Mornings from Molineux Stadium | NBCSN |
| Sat., Aug. 11 | 7:30 a.m. | Newcastle v. Tottenham | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Aug. 11 | 10 a.m. | Huddersfield v. Chelsea | NBCSN, Universo |
| Sat., Aug. 11 | 10 a.m. | Bournemouth v. Cardiff City | NBC Sports Gold |
| Sat., Aug. 11 | 10 a.m. | Fulham v. Crystal Palace | NBC Sports Gold |
| Sat., Aug. 11 | 10 a.m. | Watford v. Brighton & Hove Albion | NBC Sports Gold |
| Sat., Aug. 11 | 12:30 p.m. | Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Everton | NBC |
| Sat., Aug. 11 | 2:30 p.m. | Goal Zone | NBC |
| Sun., Aug. 12 | 1 a.m. | Match of the Day | NBCSN |
| Sun., Aug. 12 | 7:30 a.m. | Premier League Mornings from Emirates Stadium | NBCSN |
| Sun., Aug. 12 | 8:30 a.m. | Liverpool v. West Ham | NBCSN, Telemundo |
| Sun., Aug. 12 | 8:30 a.m. | Southampton v. Burnley | NBC Sports Gold |
| Sun., Aug. 12 | 11 a.m. | Arsenal v. Manchester City | NBCSN, Telemundo |
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–
