Where to watch the EPL?

For the first time, Kiwi football fans have been forced to make a decision about where and how to watch matches from the English Premier League. Photo / Getty Images.

For the first time, Kiwi football fans have been forced to make a decision about where and how to watch matches from the English Premier League.

Last year the choice was simple; if you wanted the EPL you had to get Sky. But this season the landscape has changed dramatically.

Coliseum outbid Sky for the EPL rights in June and will stream all games live online, Freeview station Sommet Sports will show delayed Chelsea fixtures, while Sky TV announced today that they will show delayed coverage of all matches from Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and one to be named.

So which platform is best? Nzherald.co.nz weighs up the pros and the cons from all three.

Sky TV:

Pros:
A trusted, proven provider, Sky will beam HD quality, delayed games directly through your TV.

If you are an Arsenal, Manchester City or Tottenham fan, you will have access to every game your team plays.

(Sky will also continue to show the Champions League on ESPN and all matches from the A-League)

Cons:

The games are delayed. If a game is played in the UK on Saturday, it won't be available on SKY till 1pm on Sunday afternoon. That's a long time to cover your ears if you don't want the result ruined.

Want to watch All Whites captain Winston Reid? You're going to have to wait till West Ham face off against Arsenal, City or Spurs.

The weekly EPL highlights package used to be a staple of the SKY footy fan's week. No more.

Cost: Basic cost of a monthly package including SKY Sport: $73.37

Coliseum:

Pros:

The freedom to watch every EPL game, how and where you want. Watch it on your phone, watch it on your computer, watch it on your TV.

Coliseum also has all Premier-League produced highlight, preview and review shows on demand.

Cons:

It's not on TV.

To connect your computer/laptop/phone to a TV you may have to buy new equipment.

You need high speed broadband internet. You may need to increase your internet data cap to stream games.

The quality of your coverage will suffer with poor internet connection.

Cost: Season pass (All 380 games live) $149.90

Sommet Sport:

Pros:

Chelsea TV. (They also claim the rights to the Scottish FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League and Bundesliga)

On free-to-air TV. (with a Freeview box)

Cons:

Not so good if you don't support Chelsea.

All EPL matches will be delayed.

Cost: Freeview receivers are on sale from $79.