Why isn’t Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest on TV in UK? How to watch Premier League clash

Arsenal and Nottingham Forest are set for a nail-biting contest for third place this Saturday afternoon, but UK fans will be left disappointed as the match won’t be televised. Currently sitting in fourth place in the Premier League table, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have had an impressive start to their campaign with five victories, four draws and only two defeats in their first 11 matches.

The Gunners are hoping to mount a serious title challenge this season, having narrowly missed out to Manchester City in the previous two seasons. The North London club kicked off their season with a 2-0 triumph over Wolves, followed by another win of the same margin against Aston Villa, giving their supporters plenty to celebrate. However, a 1-1 stalemate with Brighton raised doubts about whether 2025 would be their year for Premier League glory.

A narrow 1-0 victory over local rivals Spurs quickly restored optimism, before a 2-2 draw with City at the Etihad left fans feeling satisfied. Since then, Arsenal have claimed wins over Leicester City and Southampton, drawn with Liverpool and Chelsea, and suffered losses to Bournemouth and Newcastle United.

Arteta will be hoping that the international break has provided his squad with a chance to regroup as they prepare to return to Premier League action. Meanwhile, Forest have also had a successful season so far, currently sitting in fifth place with stats almost identical to those of the Gunners.

Forest have managed to secure five wins, four draws and only two losses this season. However, they sit one position behind Arsenal in the league table due to a goal difference of one. Nuno Espirito Santo has done an exceptional job with the midlands team this season, securing victories over Southampton, Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Leicester, as well as drawing matches against Bournemouth, Wolves, Brighton and Chelsea.

The only times Forest have stumbled this season were during their 1-0 and 3-1 defeats to Fulham and Newcastle respectively. Nevertheless, they are hopeful of returning to winning ways when the match kicks off at 3pm. Despite the anticipation surrounding the game, UK residents who haven’t secured tickets will not be able to watch it from home. Here’s why….

Why isn’t the Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest match being televised in the UK?

Neither Sky Sports nor TNT Sports will broadcast Saturday’s clash between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. This is because the match is one of five fixtures kicking off at 3pm. Due to this time slot, the Premier League blackout rule applies, meaning the game will not be televised.

Football enthusiasts are well-versed with the rule that prohibits live broadcasting of any match played between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday on terrestrial television. Leicester’s face-off with Chelsea has been scheduled for the 12.30pm kick-off, and will be aired on TNT Sports, while Manchester City’s match against Tottenham at 5.30pm will be broadcasted on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

However, Arsenal’s encounter with Forest, Fulham’s clash with Wolves, Everton’s match-up with Brentford, Bournemouth vs Brighton, and Aston Villa’s game with Crystal Palace will not be available to watch outside of the stadiums where they are being played. Super Sunday returns this weekend, with Southampton hosting Liverpool at 2pm, and Ipswich welcoming Manchester United to Portman Road at 4.30pm. Both games will be aired on Sky Sports, as will Newcastle’s Monday night game with West Ham at 8pm.

Where can I watch Arsenal vs Forest?

Although Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest won’t be broadcasted live on UK TV, fans residing in or visiting other territories will still have the opportunity to tune in. In Australia, the match will be aired on Optus Sport, in Canada it can be viewed on fuboTV, and in Qatar fans can catch the action on beIN Sports Connect.

Other broadcasters include SuperSport, Disney+, Viaplay, DsTv Now, Astro Go, iQiyi, U-NEXT, and Vidio, among others. UK fans can also follow the game through BBC Radio 5 Live, while Match of the Day and MOTD2 will show highlights from all of the weekend action.

Despite years of criticism, the Premier League blackout is set in stone until at least 2029 due to a new TV rights package. A Premier League spokesperson told Mirror Football last year that the strict rule is in place to “protect attendances throughout the English football pyramid” and that the English Football League (EFL) would need to be consulted before it is diminished.