TNT Sports Opens Premier League Pre-Match Show to YouTube

TNT Sports will make the opening 30 minutes of its live Premier League broadcasts available free on YouTube during the 2026-27 season. The Guardian reports that the initiative will begin on Saturday, when Manchester United visit Hull City, and will give viewers outside TNT's subscription platforms access to the start of the broadcaster's match coverage.

The free segment will feature EKO, short for Early Kick Off, TNT's pre-Premier League programme. EKO will continue to appear on TNT Sports and the HBO Max streaming service while being offered free-to-air on YouTube for the first time. The Saturday edition will begin at 11am ahead of the 12.30pm kick-off between Hull and Manchester United.

Liam MacDevitt or Olivia Buzaglo will present the programme. Its scheduled content includes early team news, released 75 minutes before the match, and pre-game views from TNT's principal pundits. The Guardian identified Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole among the pundits expected to contribute to the coverage.

TNT is also expanding EKO across its Premier League schedule. Last season, the programme was used before Saturday lunchtime matches, but it will now precede every Premier League game shown live by the broadcaster. For an 8pm Saturday fixture, for example, TNT's coverage will start with an EKO edition at 6.30pm.

The 30-minute programme is intended to have a magazine-style format rather than concentrating exclusively on the match that follows. Its discussions will also cover broader Premier League subjects, including transfers and new signings. According to The Guardian, the format is designed as part of TNT's effort to extend the audience for its match broadcasts.

Scott Young, an executive vice-president at TNT parent Warner Bros Discovery Europe, said the change was intended to help the broadcaster reach football supporters earlier in the day and connect with people beyond its own platforms. The confirmed arrangement covers the preview portion of TNT's broadcasts; the live Saturday lunchtime matches themselves remain on TNT Sports and HBO Max.