Schedule SNL UK Before SNL to Boost Audiences and Streaming

Saturday Night Live returns for Season 52 this autumn in its traditional 11:30 p.m. EST slot on NBC, while Saturday Night Live UK was renewed for a second season after its March debut and will return in September 2026 on Sky TV. Though the UK edition airs on subscription television with limited domestic viewing figures, it has gained significant traction online—particularly among U.S.

viewers. With Lorne Michaels closely involved and Comcast NBCUniversal’s acquisition of Sky, the two shows now sit inside the same corporate structure. Placing SNL UK in the lead-in slot before the main SNL on NBC would put the British show directly in front of the same late-night audience and reduce the steps fans must take to discover it.

That scheduling could increase viewing figures for the UK edition, strengthen its international profile, and feed back into domestic ratings through added hype and the perception of U.S. approval. The UK series also offers a faster route for performers to build international careers.

United States, United Kingdom

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