British football fans are set for a significant change in how they watch the Champions League, with US media giant Paramount+ securing the primary UK broadcast rights from 2027 in a deal that marks a major shake-up for the sports broadcasting market.
The New Broadcast Landscape
Paramount Skydance emerged victorious from this week's auction, submitting the largest bid to secure the rights for the 2027 to 2031 cycle. The company, led by David Ellison, will now broadcast every Champions League game live in the UK, with one notable exception.
In a separate tender process, Amazon Prime successfully won the rights to the first pick of Tuesday night matches. This pan-European package covers the five major markets of England, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France, marking the first time this specific bundle has been auctioned collectively.
Financial Implications and Market Impact
Sources close to the tender process revealed that Paramount's bid was considerably higher than the £1 billion currently paid by incumbent broadcaster TNT Sports. This represents a substantial financial win for UEFA's joint venture, UC3, and its new commercial rights distributor, Relevent Football Partners.
UEFA is understood to be confident of securing a significant increase on the current £2.9 billion-per-year value of the television rights across Europe. The successful auction vindicates the governing body's decision to remodel the Champions League format and appoint a new sales partner.
Broader European Context and American Influence
The deal signals growing American interest in European football, with Paramount+ already holding Champions League rights in the United States. The network demonstrated its determination to break into the European market by also reaching the second round of bidding in France, Spain, and Italy.
For Amazon, the deal strengthens its foothold in European football broadcasting. The streaming service was already the rights holder in England, Germany, and Italy, and will now replace Movistar in Spain and Canal+ in France for the prized Tuesday night fixtures. Amazon is understood to have beaten competition from other streaming giants, including Netflix and Disney+.
The tender processes in other European markets continue, with auctions in France, Spain, and Italy having gone to a second round of bidding. This landmark deal, orchestrated by US-owned agency Relevent Football Partners, introduces significant changes including the pan-European streaming package and an extended four-year rights cycle, setting a new precedent for football broadcasting in the digital age.
