US media powerhouse Paramount has secured the broadcasting rights for the UEFA Champions League in the United Kingdom, starting from 2027, marking a major shake-up in the European football TV landscape. The four-year deal, reportedly worth well over £1 billion, surpasses the current near-£1 billion agreement held by TNT Sports, signaling a new era for football broadcasting in the UK.

Amazon Prime Retains Tuesday Night Champions League Coverage

Despite Paramount’s entry, Amazon Prime Video will continue to air one Champions League match every Tuesday in the UK from 2027 through 2031. This means football fans will need multiple subscriptions to watch all live matches, reflecting the increasingly fragmented nature of European football broadcasting rights.

The UC3 Initiative and Paramount’s Strategic Partnership

Paramount’s deal follows the UC3 initiative, a collaboration between UEFA, the European Football Clubs (formerly the European Club Association), and commercial rights partner Relevent Football Partners. Paramount has worked closely with UEFA for the past two seasons, including producing the high-profile films shown during the Champions League draw events.

Industry sources suggest this deal may actually benefit the Premier League. Adding another major broadcaster to the market increases competition for football rights and could help maintain or even grow the overall football TV revenue pot in the UK.

Sky Secures Europa League and Conference League Rights

In related developments, Sky Sports has obtained exclusive UK rights for every Europa League and Conference League match from the 2027-28 season onwards. That’s 342 games each season, ensuring Sky remains a dominant player in European football coverage.

What This Means for Fans: More Subscriptions, Higher Costs

The arrival of Paramount in the UK football market continues the trend of fragmented broadcasting rights, meaning fans will likely face higher subscription costs to watch all their favorite competitions.

Historically, UK football fans only needed a single subscription to watch most matches. For example, Sky covered the Premier League, while ITV initially held Champions League rights. However, as the market expanded, rights deals became more complex:

• BT Sport (now TNT Sports) entered the market in 2013, taking over live Premier League coverage and later the Champions League.
• By 2027, TNT Sports will lose Champions League coverage but still offer Premier League Saturday lunchtime matches and the FA Cup.

Current costs in the UK illustrate the challenge for fans:

• TV licence: £14.54 per month
• Sky Sports with football: £50 per month
• TNT Sports: £30.99 per month
• Amazon Prime for Tuesday Champions League: £8.99 per month

That totals £89.98 per month, not including Premier Sports or Disney+ subscriptions for La Liga and Women’s Champions League coverage. From 2027, these costs are expected to rise further as rights continue to fragment, particularly if streaming platforms like Netflix or DAZN secure future football packages.

UEFA’s Strategic Shift: Streaming and Global Rights

The last Champions League broadcast tender saw BT Sport paying £917 million, a 23% drop from the previous agreement. UEFA, seeking to maximize revenues, partnered with UC3 and Relevent to target new global, digital-first platforms, conducting a simultaneous tender across major European markets including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

The result is a landmark deal with Paramount, complementing Amazon’s existing package, and signaling a complete shift away from traditional broadcasters. This move aligns with the broader trend toward streaming football rights, evidenced by Amazon’s World Cup pay-per-view coverage in the UK.

What is Paramount+ and How Will Fans Access Matches?

Paramount+ is Paramount’s streaming service in the UK, best known for movies and exclusive series. While Paramount has aired the Champions League in the United States via CBS, this marks its first entry into UK sports broadcasting.

The specifics of how fans will access matches remain unclear:

• Will matches be included in Paramount+ subscriptions?
• Will a separate football package be launched?
• Could matches air on Channel 5, Paramount’s terrestrial network, particularly for the Champions League final, which must remain free-to-air?

Current Paramount+ subscription costs are:

• Basic: £4.99/month
• Enhanced packages: £7.99 – £10.99/month

Subscribers can access Paramount+ via its website, Sky, or Amazon Prime Video. The service is compatible with dedicated apps on Sky or standard streaming platforms.

The Future of UK Football Broadcasting

With Paramount entering the market and Sky, Amazon, TNT Sports, and other streaming services already in play, the UK football TV landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented. While fans gain access to a broader range of content, the trade-off is higher costs and more subscriptions.

Looking forward, as streaming platforms continue to bid for rights and digital-first strategies dominate, football broadcasting in the UK will continue evolving, offering exciting content but requiring fans to navigate a more complex subscription ecosystem.