Broadcaster will continue to air two games every Sunday as well as the Super Bowl
5 has tweaked its NFL coverage for the 2026/27 season, with NFL On 5 taking over from Big Game Night.
The broadcaster will continue to show two games every Sunday from the American football league, as well as all three fixtures taking place in London, a game each week of the Playoffs, a Thanksgiving Day special, and the Super Bowl. This rights deal with the NFL began last year.
NFL On 5 shares many similarities with Big Game Night, and will also be produced by Hungry Bear Media. Dermot O’Leary, Sam Quek and Osi Umenyiora stay as hosts, and the trio will be joined by a line-up of celebrity guests and NFL stars throughout the season. A studio audience will also be involved in the show, although there will be no formal game show, which had been the focus of Big Game Night.
In addition, the channels airing the action have switched around. 5Action will now show the earlier game from 5:30pm on Sundays, with the 9pm fixture then airing on 5 from 9pm as part of the revamped NFL On 5 programme.
5’s first weekend of action will get started on 13 September.
Dan Louw, commisioing editor at 5, commissioned Hungry Bear to produce NFL On 5. The executive producers for Hungry Bear are Dan Baldwin and Luke Shiach, and series producer is Jamie Kelly.
O’Leary said: “Thrilled to be back hosting NFL on 5 with Sam and Osi. We had the best time last year, and a new show is always exciting to work on. I loved making a show that appealed to and entertained new fans, whilst always respecting the established and knowledgeable fans of American Football here in the UK. Can’t wait for the season to start again. Go Dolphins! #finsup (said more in hope than expectation!)”
Umenyiora added: “I’m incredibly excited to be back with Dermot and Sam for another season. The NFL continues to grow in the UK and giving fans even more live free-to-air games is a huge part of continuing to build that momentum. We had a lot of fun last season and I can’t wait to be back with 5 for another exciting one!”
Quek said: “I’m so excited to be back for another season of NFL on 5. We had such a brilliant time last year, and I can’t wait to get back in the studio with Dermot and Osi for all the NFL action on Sunday nights. The NFL is growing so much in the UK, and it’s fantastic to be part of helping fans enjoy the game for free.”
Louw said: “NFL is the greatest show on Earth and as a lifelong fan I’m thrilled that we’re going to continue growing the game in the UK, the sport’s second home. We’ve got the best presenting team in the business, a production team that is as creative and relentless as a Seahawks defensive scheme and one of the most exciting NFL seasons in recent history.”
Dan Baldwin, managing director at Hungry Bear Media, added: “Hungry Bear is thrilled to bring fans front-row access to all the NFL coverage on 5 and 5Action this year, anchored by the sharpest, most passionate presenting team in the game. With world-class talent steering the action, we are set for the most electrifying season of NFL in history. Come join us!”
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