NFL Returns to Channel 5 in the U.K.

The National Football League (NFL) and ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) have struck a deal that will see Channel 5 bring live Monday Night Football back to free-to-air television in the U.K.

Monday Night Football will be broadcast from Channel 5’s studio in Los Angeles, where presenter Kirsten Watson will be joined by former All-Pro Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew and other special guests.

Channel 5 will also air a brand-new Sunday morning magazine program that will take all the excitement of the season in the U.S. into British homes. The new Sunday morning show, titled NFL End Zone, will be presented by American actress and singer Cory Yarckin and will delve deeper into the culture behind the sport. The show will be shot and filmed on location in the U.S. each week and will air at 11:30 a.m. each Sunday on Channel 5.

The multiplatform deal, made in partnership with Velocity, VCNI’s branded content studio, will also see new and unique NFL content across MTV International’s digital platforms in the U.K.

Channel 5 was previously an NFL broadcaster from 1998 to 2009.

“We are very proud to have agreed on a new partnership with ViacomCBS and Channel 5,” said Sameer Pabari, NFL’s managing director for international media. “The range of content available across different time slots and platforms means there is something for everyone—from established fans to those new to the sport. We look forward to working with the ViacomCBS family to develop a vibrant community around their coverage of our sport.”

Lee Sears, senior VP, head of sales and partnerships at ViacomCBS Networks International, commented “We’re excited to be using our in-house expertise at Velocity to create a range of custom content that will appeal to fans of the NFL and non-fans alike. By harnessing the power of our social platforms and tapping into our reach across these platforms, we will help bring the NFL to a whole new audience.”