Paramount+ lands UK Champions League rights in major shakeup
Paramount+ will broadcast the majority of the Uefa Champions League in the UK from 2027 to 2031, with Amazon Prime renewing its package of first pick Tuesday night games and Sky Sports taking over responsibilities for the Uefa Europa League and Uefa Conference League. The Times reports the combined deals are worth UK£1.9 billion, up from the current three-year deal worth UK£1.36 billion. Paramount will air every single Champions League match, excluding Amazon’s exclusive fixture, taking over from TNT Sports, which currently airs all three of Uefa’s club competitions.
Paramount+ already streams the competition in the US as part of a US$1.5 billion deal and has won critical acclaim at home and abroad for its coverage. The acquisition will accelerate Paramount’s bid to crack the UK market, where it also owns commercial free-to-air broadcaster Channel 5 and the free ad-supported television platform Pluto TV. The Champions League is TNT Sports’ flagship property, providing a large volume of premium content. TNT Sports was keen to retain the rights, but Paramount’s bid was significantly higher than TNT was prepared to pay.
Paramount+ will broadcast the majority of the Uefa Champions League in the UK from 2027 to 2031, with Amazon Prime renewing its package of first pick Tuesday night games and Sky Sports taking over responsibilities for the Uefa Europa League and Uefa Conference League.
Summary details note that the Times cites a combined deal value of UK£1.9 billion, marking a substantial increase from the current UK£1.36 billion three-year arrangement. Paramount’s strategy includes expanding presence in the UK market with Channel 5 and Pluto TV alongside the new sports rights.
In the background, TNT Sports’ rights to Uefa’s club competitions are being superseded by Paramount+, signaling a notable shift in UK football broadcasting hierarchy.
Авторское резюме: Paramount+ обгоняет TNT Sports в правах на Лигу чемпионов в UK на фоне пакета и повышения общей стоимости сделок до UK£1.9 млрд.