TNT Sports will not offer the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League finals for free, requiring a subscription to watch.
This is the first time since the Champions League's inception in 1992 that UK viewers have had to pay to watch the final.
The cheapest option for UK fans is to subscribe to HBO Max for £4.99 a month.
UEFA is reportedly disappointed with the decision, as they advocated for the finals to remain free-to-air.
From 2027-28, Paramount+ will pick up the Champions League rights, while Sky Sports will broadcast the Europa League and Conference League.
TNT Sports' decision to put the Champions League final behind a paywall breaks a long-standing tradition of free-to-air broadcasts in the UK. Previously, BT Sport (TNT Sports' predecessor) streamed the finals for free, including on YouTube. This change comes after Warner Bros Discovery bought BT Sport and rebranded it as TNT Sports. While a basic HBO Max subscription offers a cheaper alternative to a full TNT Sports subscription, it still marks a departure from the accessibility that fans have enjoyed for decades.
UEFA anticipates high viewership despite the paywall, banking on the availability of HBO Max in over 10 million UK households and the presence of English team Arsenal in the final against Paris Saint-Germain. The match will be held on May 30 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
This decision arrives as TNT Sports prepares to relinquish its European rights in 2027-28, with Paramount+ acquiring the Champions League rights and Sky Sports securing the Europa League and Conference League. This transition signals a significant reshaping of the sports broadcasting landscape in the UK.
Q: Why is the Champions League final not free to watch in the UK?
TNT Sports, the rights holder, has decided to place the final behind a paywall, requiring a subscription to TNT Sports or HBO Max.
Q: How much will it cost to watch the Champions League final?
The cheapest option is to subscribe to HBO Max for £4.99 a month.
Q: When and where is the Champions League final?
The final will be held on May 30 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, featuring Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.
Q: Who will broadcast the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League from 2027-28?
Paramount+ will broadcast the Champions League, while Sky Sports will broadcast the Europa League and Conference League.
For the first time in 34 years, UK fans will need a subscription to watch the Champions League final.
The cheapest way to watch is by subscribing to HBO Max for £4.99, which includes access to all three European finals featuring English clubs.
This change marks a shift from free-to-air broadcasts to a subscription-based model.
UEFA expects high viewership despite the paywall, due to the availability of HBO Max and the presence of an English team in the final.
Do you think this trend of putting major sporting events behind paywalls will continue? Let us know!
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