The Barclays English Premier League (EPL) kicks off this Saturday on NBC Sports Network and mun2, with Manchester United set to host Swansea City at Old Trafford, in what is the network's second year of a three-year deal worth $250 million of broadcasting English matches.

NBC Sports generated healthy numbers, with 31.5 million fans tuning into the EPL during the 2013-2014 season, more double the 13.3 million viewers who watched on ESPN, ESPN2, and Fox Soccer during the 2012-2013 season, with the Feb. 8 match between the Cardiff City and Swansea City drawing 1.2 million viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. NBC Sports' coverage averaged 438,000 viewers -- a 99 percent increase from ESPN, ESPN2 and Fox Soccer's 220,000 combined average viewer.

The television ratings for NBC Sports coverage of the EPL were fairly strong despite the fact that longtime powerhouse club Manchester United, who draw audiences in much the same the manner the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Duke University men's basketball team draw fans and haters to view their respective games, struggled most of the year under David Moyes.

Man U finished a disappointing seventh place, missing out on Champions League for the first time since the 1995-1996 EPL season as well as Europa League.

"I don't think it necessarily hurt," said Jon Miller, president of programming at NBC and NBC Sports, regarding Manchester United disappointing finish under David Moyes. "If they're doing better, it obviously helps."

One key aspect to NBC Sports' successful first season showcasing the EPL was keeping the telecast authentic for fans who are more soccer savvy, preaching to the choir while making new converts along the way, rather than trying to shoehorn U.S. talent not up on the sport or attempt to "Americanize" the broadcast to appeal to a new audience.

For starters, NBC Sports hired BBC "Match of the Day" veteran Rebecca Lowe to host the studio pre-game and post-game shows, giving the shows a distinct yet natural English feel to it.

"There are a lot more Americans watching than I thought," said Lowe to Hollywood Reporter. "It's a generational thing as the kids are playing in school and growing into the sport. There's a fan base that has been growing steadily over the years and you are now just seeing it."

NBC's other key move was moving former BBC commentator Arlo White from their Major League Soccer (MLS) coverage to their EPL team, partnering him up with Kyle Martino, Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe, giving the broadcast its main voice that American fans have grown to enjoy.

"I think the team really compliments the broadcast and does an exceptional job, but number one is that they're soccer fans," said NBC coordinating producer Pierre Moossa. "When the games are going on, you can tell they're getting giddy, they're elbowing each other. I say this with affection, but they're soccer nerds. All of them are. It's infectious."

Despite the strong numbers and positive reviews from finicky soccer fans that demand a certain sense of authenticity from their soccer coverage, NBC Sports refuses to sit on their laurels, bolstering this upcoming season's coverage. Eleven games will air on NBC's flagship station in the first three months of the season compared to just 10 matches the entire 2013-2014 season. The network will air a total of 68 EPL matches -- five a week in the first three months -- across the NBCSN, NBC and CNBC platforms - with 47 matches scheduled for Telemundo and mun2 during that time span. All EPL games are available on "NBC Sports Live Extra" Web site and app.

NBC is stepping outside the box as they continue to expand their coverage, signing a deal with Fathom Events to air 10 a.m. matches in 33 movie theaters around the country. The deal also would give movie theaters a new source of revenue at a time their facilities are usually not open. NBC also retained the services of U.S. men's national team and Everton keeper Tim Howard, who will return this season to do color commentary for 10 matches this season, with NBC accommodating his Everton schedule. Howard became a sensation overnight during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

NBC recently added a sense of humor to their EPL coverage, signing the duo of Michael Davies and Roger Bennett away from ESPN and Grantland.com after their successful "Men in Blazers" run they had during the World Cup. Their "Men in Blazers'" video and popular podcast will air exclusively on NBC's Web site, airing Fridays on match week, while Bennett will provide on-site coverage as well as make monthly in-studio appearances alongside Lowe. And NBC even brought back American coach Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, to help promote the league and the network to fans coming off the highs of the World Cup.

"We set a very high level, but every show has to be better. There's going to be no drastic changes and no crazy additions," said Moossa. "Ultimately, could we perform better? Absolutely. We spent the whole summer evaluating what we did, critiquing it, and discussing what we could do better."

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