TV Licensing

How to watch live sport in the UK

There’s nothing like the thrill of live sport. The excitement, unpredictability, and moments that bring people together.

From the thrill of a last-minute goal and the roar of a crowd to the drama of a tight finish, you can experience it all from the comfort of your family sofa.

Live sports are unique in their ability to unite fans across the nation, creating shared memories and sparking conversation.

To enjoy your favourite sport as it happens, on a TV, laptop, tablet or mobile, you need a valid TV Licence. It covers you to watch or record every kick, a wicket, or a try as they’re being shown on TV, or live streamed online, including BBC iPlayer. 

Where and How to Watch Live Sport

Fans in the UK can enjoy an incredible range of live sport through free-to-air subscription channels.

Here’s where you can find the biggest sporting events on the calendar:

• BBC: Broadcasts major sporting moments such as Wimbledon, The Ashes, and the Six Nations, plus live football and cricket along with extensive highlights.
• ITV: Home to the UEFA European Championships, England Women’s Football, and shared coverage of the Six Nations.
• Sky Sports: Offers comprehensive coverage of Premier League football, international cricket, rugby union, Formula 1, and ATP tennis.
• TNT Sports: Covers Champions League football, rugby union, and leading cricket tournaments.
• Channel 4: Airs selected live sport including the FA Cup and major events across football and rugby.

Big events like The Euros, The Ashes, Wimbledon, and the Six Nations bring the nation together in living rooms, pubs, and fan zones.

Remember, you’ll need a valid licence to watch live sport on any channel or any device, and if you’re streaming or catching up on BBC iPlayer.

Most Popular Live Sports

Women’s sport continues to thrive in the UK, with more live coverage than ever before across football, rugby, and cricket. You can find details on how to watch these events in the section below.

Other sports are attracting huge audiences too, such as Formula 1, which brings fans together every race weekend on Sky Sports and Channel 4, and boxing, which continues to draw prime-time viewership across multiple broadcasters.

How to Watch Your Favourite Sports

Here’s a quick guide on where you can follow your favourite sports live.

Football

Men's football

• The UEFA European Championships air on BBC and ITV
• Premier League matches are live on Sky Sports with highlights on BBC
• Champions League games appear on TNT Sports.

Women’s Football:

• Women’s Super League coverage is available on Sky Sports and BBC
• The FA Cup is broadcast on TNT and Channel 4
• England Women’s matches are on ITV
• Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland games are on BBC
• Women’s Champions League matches are on Disney+.

Cricket

Men's Cricket

• ICC tournaments, County Championship, Indian Premier League, The Ashes, and The Hundred are shown on Sky Sports.

Women's Cricket

• T20 internationals air on BBC
• Additional international matches on Sky Sports.

Rugby

Men's Rugby

Union and International Rugby:

• Six Nations matches are broadcast on BBC and ITV
• Rugby Union are aired on TNT/Discovery+
• British & Irish Lions tours and Rugby Championship are on Sky Sports.

Women’s Rugby

• Premiership Rugby and Women’s World Cup games are available across BBC, YouTube, and TNT.

Tennis

Wimbledon

• The iconic summer Grand Slam is broadcast on BBC in the UK.

Other ATP and Grand Slam tournaments:

• US Open and other events live on Sky Sports.

Be Ready Before the Big Event

Don’t let not having a TV Licence ruin the big moment. Check your setup, secure your connection, and most importantly, make sure you have a valid TV Licence for uninterrupted access to your favourite sports and enjoy every second without stress.