A significant change is coming for football fans in the United Kingdom. Starting in 2027, the majority of UEFA Champions League matches will be broadcast by the American media group Paramount Skydance, following a successful auction for the domestic rights.
The deal, which covers the four seasons from 2027 to 2031, represents a major shift in the UK’s sports broadcasting landscape. Paramount’s bid is reported to have substantially exceeded the value of the current agreement held by TNT Sports.
Under the new arrangement, Paramount will hold the rights to show every Champions League fixture live, with one key exception. The first-choice match each Tuesday night will be shown on Amazon Prime Video, which secured that specific package for the UK, Germany, and Italy.
This auction marks the first tender process managed for UEFA by Relevent Football Partners, a new commercial rights distributor. The organisation, along with the joint venture UC3, introduced several changes to the sales process, including offering a pan-European streaming package and extending the rights cycle.
The lucrative outcome is seen as a validation of the Champions League’s recently expanded format, which now features a single 36-team league stage.
In related news, Sky Sports has separately secured the exclusive UK rights to broadcast all UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League matches from 2027 onwards.
A statement from TNT Sports indicated the broadcaster chose not to match the financial terms of the winning bid, citing a commitment to a responsible approach for its business and customers. TNT noted it retains a strong football portfolio, including Premier League and FA Cup rights.
The successful bids are expected to deliver a considerable increase in the annual value of UEFA’s television rights for its premier club competition.