Paramount+ secures UEFA Champions League rights in significant shift
British football supporters face another subscription burden as Paramount+ emerges victorious in securing UEFA Champions League broadcasting privileges from 2027 onwards, reports BritPanorama.
The American streaming service outbid TNT Sports for the prestigious European tournament rights, marking a significant shift in UK sports broadcasting. Multiple reports confirm that Paramount+ submitted substantial offers for various UEFA club competition packages, surpassing rival bidders in what insiders describe as an extraordinarily complex auction process.
The winning proposal reportedly exceeds the considerable sum of £1 billion that TNT Sports previously committed for exclusive coverage. This development ends TNT’s lengthy association with Europe’s premier club tournament, which began over a decade ago.
Paramount’s triumphant offer surpasses the £1 billion investment made by TNT Sports in their current arrangement. Previously operating as BT Sport, TNT secured the rights in 2013 through an £897 million agreement that wrested coverage away from Sky Sports. Since the 2015/16 season, TNT has delivered comprehensive coverage of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League to British audiences.
The bidding process, managed by agency Relevent Football, encompassed simultaneous negotiations across Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France. The acquisition represents yet another financial obligation for devoted followers of the beautiful game, as viewers already maintain multiple subscriptions to access comprehensive football coverage across various platforms.
Current arrangements divide matches between Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon Prime, and the BBC’s free-to-air service. Paramount’s entrance into the market necessitates an additional monthly payment for those wishing to follow European football’s elite competition. This fragmentation of broadcasting rights has drawn criticism from supporters who face mounting costs to watch their favourite teams compete.
Paramount’s victory ensures British audiences will require four separate paid services to access all Premier League, FA Cup, and European fixtures from 2027. TNT retains broadcasting privileges for select Premier League fixtures and FA Cup matches through to 2029’s conclusion, while Amazon Prime’s existing arrangement continues, securing preferential selection of Tuesday evening Champions League encounters.
With its comprehensive package encompassing all Champions League matches broadcast in Britain, save for one Tuesday fixture per matchweek, Paramount’s offer underlines the growing complexities within football broadcasting. In a landscape where subscriptions multiply, one thing is certain: the beautiful game will demand a premium from its passionate following.
