London, November 23, 2025
Paramount has secured the UK broadcast rights for nearly all UEFA Champions League matches from 2027 through 2031, outbidding the current rights holder TNT Sports in a transformative deal that reshapes the football broadcasting landscape.
Details of the Broadcast Deal
Paramount’s new agreement covers nearly every Champions League match in the UK except the premier Tuesday night fixture, which Amazon Prime will continue to hold for the UK, Germany, and Italy. This acquisition introduces an additional subscription option for UK viewers, supplementing existing broadcasters such as Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon, and DAZN. The fragmentation of rights is set to complicate how football fans access live matches, requiring multiple subscriptions to follow the competition comprehensively.
Financial and Strategic Implications
The deal reportedly exceeded TNT Sports’ current £1 billion contract offer, signaling a substantial increase in the value UEFA assigns to its Champions League rights. Paramount’s investment reflects a significant surge in American interest and funding in European football broadcasting, dovetailing with its existing US coverage on Paramount+ and the forthcoming 2026 World Cup momentum. UEFA anticipates that the increased rights fees, combined with an upcoming revamped Champions League format, will generate a notable revenue uplift in this rights cycle.
Context and Market Impact
Paramount’s entry into the UK market marks a strategic expansion of US media influence in European sports rights, challenging established broadcasters. Amazon’s retention of the marquee Tuesday night match indicates continued competition among global players vying for premium football content. This shift underscores a broader trend of escalating rights costs and intensifying competition in the sports broadcasting sector, which will have direct consequences for consumers and industry stakeholders alike.
UK football fans will face a more complex subscription environment beginning in 2027, as multiple providers hold exclusive segments of Champions League coverage. The emerging structure may influence viewer habits, broadcaster strategies, and the commercial dynamics of football media rights in coming years.