Why It’s Not Available on Live Stream in the UK
🇬🇧 1. Match Not Included in UK Broadcaster Rights
For the December 29, 2025 Championship fixture between Watford and Norwich City, UK broadcasters Sky Sports have selected only some EFL games for live coverage under the current TV deal. This particular match is not among those chosen for live broadcast on Sky or Sky Sports+ in the UK, so it isn’t shown live domestically. (Yahoo Sports)
Even though Sky Sport covers many EFL matches, only a limited number are shown live each round, and Monday evening games in festive schedules can be treated like Saturday fixtures for rights purposes — meaning this one wasn’t selected. (Yahoo Sports)
 2. UK Broadcast and Streaming Restrictions
Because the match isn’t picked up by Sky Sports for UK broadcast, the clubs are not permitted to stream it via iFollow for UK viewers. UK streaming rights for club services like iFollow are typically blocked when a broadcaster holds exclusive match rights — even if that broadcaster isn’t showing the match. (Yahoo Sports)
That means:
- UK fans cannot legally stream this game on iFollow or similar club services.
- However, fans outside the UK can watch it via iFollow if their IP address shows they’re abroad. (Yahoo Sports)
Why These Rules Exist — Context & Commentary
 Limited Live Rights and Broadcaster Deals
Broadcasters like Sky Sports pay significant fees for exclusive live rights to EFL matches in the UK. Under those deals, not all games can be shown — especially midweek or non‑prime fixtures — so broadcasters select a subset of matches each round for live coverage. Only those selected are permitted to be streamed or broadcast domestically. (Sky Sports)
This limitation means:
- Matches not chosen cannot be streamed live in the UK.
- Even services owned by clubs (like Watford’s or Norwich’s iFollow) must block UK access due to rights deals. (Yahoo Sports)
 Geo‑Blocking and Licensing
Rightsholders often geo‑block content based on commercial agreements — so while the same match can appear on iFollow abroad, UK viewers are blocked because that territory is covered by a separate broadcast arrangement. Fans travelling outside the UK can sometimes watch via the same service because their IP address shows they are in a jurisdiction without conflicting rights deals. (Yahoo Sports)
Case Examples & Comparisons
Case: Boxing Day and New Year Fixtures
Sky did broadcast other EFL matches in the festive period — for example:
- Leicester City’s Boxing Day match was streamed live in the UK.
- A January 1 game against Birmingham City will also be live on Sky Sports.
This highlights how only some games get live treatment — based on broadcaster scheduling. (Yahoo Sports)
Case: iFollow Rights Blocked
Watford were unable to make the stream available to UK IP addresses because if the clubs streamed it domestically, that would undercut Sky’s exclusivity under the rights deal. That’s why only fans outside the UK can watch on iFollow, even though the match is being streamed by the club abroad. (Yahoo Sports)
Fan & Community Commentary
 Frustration from UK Supporters
UK fans — especially those without Sky Sports subscriptions — often express frustration that local matches aren’t available to watch live, even when they aren’t chosen by broadcasters. Online threads highlight that:
- Fans without pay TV feel left out.
- Some still try unofficial streams despite legal risks.
- Club radio commentary or fan forums become alternative follow‑along options. (Community sentiment from fan discussions) (Reddit)
 Comparisons With Foreign Streams
Supporters abroad often can watch via official channels (club iFollow services). This contrast fuels commentary about the oddity of geo‑blocking — because UK rights deals make matches unwatchable at home while available overseas. (Yahoo Sports)
Some fans also talk about radio commentary or text updates as fallback options when video isn’t available. (Reddit)
Summary — Reasons You Can’t Stream It in the UK
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports Selection | Match not selected for domestic live broadcast, so not shown on TV or Sky Sports+. (Yahoo Sports) |
| iFollow Rights Blocking | Club stream services must block UK access due to broadcaster exclusivity. (Yahoo Sports) |
| Geo‑Restriction Licensing | Streaming rights vary by territory; UK rights are tied up with broadcast deals. (Yahoo Sports) |
| Fan Reaction | UK fans frustrated at lack of options; overseas fans can watch on iFollow. (Yahoo Sports) |
Final Thought
Even though the match is being played and streamed officially elsewhere, UK viewers are blocked due to commercial broadcast arrangements and rights exclusivity agreements that prioritise pay‑TV coverage. Matches must be selected by broadcasters like Sky Sports to be shown live in the UK — and since this particular fixture wasn’t chosen, there’s no legal live stream available domestically. (Yahoo Sports)
Here’s a case‑study and commentary‑focused explanation of why Watford vs Norwich City will not be available for live streaming in the UK — including real examples of similar situations, the broadcasting rules behind it, and how fans are reacting.
What’s Happening With This Game
For the Championship fixture between Watford and Norwich City (29 Dec 2025), the match is not available to stream live in the UK on iFollow or other club/league services because:
1. It isn’t included in the UK live broadcast schedule by Sky Sports, the domestic rights holder for EFL matches. Sky Sports can only show a select number of games per season, and under the current EFL broadcast deal, this match wasn’t chosen for live coverage in the UK. (Yahoo Sports)
2. Because of that broadcast exclusivity, clubs cannot stream the match live in the UK — even on their own services. That means iFollow (or similar club services) must block UK IP addresses from watching live video. If you’re outside the UK, the same match can be available via iFollow. (Yahoo Sports)
Why This Happens — Broadcast Rules & Rights
Rights Deals and Exclusivity
The English Football League’s domestic media rights are licensed exclusively to broadcasters such as Sky Sports under a multi‑year deal. This contract gives Sky the right to broadcast selected live EFL games in the UK and, importantly, prevents clubs from streaming those matches themselves domestically. (Sky Group)
When Sky doesn’t select a particular game — as with Watford vs Norwich — the league and broadcasters still enforce the exclusivity clauses, meaning no club‑run livestream can be offered in the UK for that fixture. This is similar to what happened with other clubs following the abolition of the old iFollow domestic streaming service — with club streaming now restricted by Sky’s broadcast agreement. (gillinghamfootballclub.com)
Transmission Blackout Rules
Beyond broadcaster contracts, English football also employs a “blocked hours” policy (sometimes referred to under Article 48 rules), which prevents live broadcasts of matches kicking off between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on Saturdays to protect grassroots attendance. While this match isn’t within that traditional blackout window, the broader logic of protecting exclusive broadcast rights still applies — clubs cannot fill in the gap with their own streams domestically. (nwcfl.com)
Case Studies — Similar Streaming Situations
Oxford United Streaming Post‑Rights Deal
When Oxford United replaced its iFollow service with “OUTV,” they made it clear that no live video of matches would be available in the UK on that platform because of the new domestic TV rights deal with Sky Sports and the EFL. Fans in the UK were limited to audio streams only, whereas international supporters could still see live video where rights allowed. (oufc.co.uk)
➡ This mirrors what is happening with the Watford vs Norwich match — clubs can’t stream video domestically because of broadcast exclusivity, even if they want to offer it.
Non‑Selected EFL Matches on iFollow Abroad
Historically, when EFL games aren’t televised domestically, official club iFollow streams have been available to fans outside the UK, but blocked for UK and Ireland users due to rights restrictions. Clubs and fan support platforms (like Norwich Support’s help pages) reference how UK restrictions apply because of these licensing rules. (Norwich)
➡ That’s why many UK fans see the match available to overseas viewers, but not here at home.
Fan & Community Commentary
UK Fan Reactions
Online fan communities often express frustration that matches aren’t available live, even on paid club services, when they aren’t selected for live TV. This pattern shows up in forums where supporters share streaming experiences, such as:
- Fans commenting that local matches can’t be watched live via official club channels when they’re not televised. (Reflecting discussions seen on Reddit from past fixtures where iFollow or club services are IP‑blocked for UK users). (Reddit)
- Supporters sometimes resorting to listening to radio or text updates because video streaming options are blocked domestically. (Reddit)
International vs UK Differences
There’s often commentary that overseas fans can watch the same match on iFollow or club streams, while UK viewers cannot, which many see as counterintuitive — especially when Sky isn’t televising the game. This is because broadcast rights are sold by territory, and club services must respect those commercial boundaries. (Norwich)
Summary — Why You Can’t Stream It Live in the UK
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| UK Broadcast Rights Held by Sky | Sky Sports has exclusive domestic rights to EFL matches; only selected games are shown live in the UK. (Sky Group) |
| Clubs Cannot Stream Live in UK | Due to those rights, club streams (like iFollow) must block live video for matches not selected for broadcast. (Yahoo Sports) |
| International Viewing Differs | Fans outside the UK may watch the match via club or iFollow streams where local rights allow. (Yahoo Sports) |
| Fan Frustration | UK supporters often complain about lack of live access even when matches aren’t televised. (Reddit) |
Final Commentary
This situation highlights a broader reality of modern football broadcasting: commercial broadcast agreements and territorial rights often determine whether fans can watch live matches at home, even if the clubs themselves are technically capable of streaming them. While this protects the value of TV contracts, it can leave local fans without official live video — pushing many to follow via radio, text, highlights, or fan commentary instead.