Multiple sources report that US media giant Paramount Skydance has won the rights to show live UEFA men’s Champions League, Europa League and Conference League games in the UK from 2027.
- Paramount+ set to become new football streaming destination.
- Blow to Warner Bros’ HBO Max and TNT Sports.
- Will require football fans to sign up to another streaming service for full access.
- Pending formal announcement by UEFA.
Paramount Skydance has reportedly submitted a large bid to win the Wednesday and Thursday night rights to all three main UEFA men’s football competitions from 2027. The games will be shown on Paramount+, which already screens Champions League games in the USA.
The result is pending an official annoucement from UEFA regarding the broadcast rights from 2027-31.
Multiple sources, including The Guardian, which first reported the story, say Amazon is still in the running to renew its deal for Tuesday night live games.
It would mean all live matches in the UEFA men’s Champions League, Europa League and Conference League could end up exclusively on subscription streaming services. Paramount also owns [Channel] 5, which could be used as a free-to-air outlet for selected games. Free-to-air highlights, currently with the BBC, are part of a seperate broadcast deal.
Paramount is understood to be also bidding for the UEFA rights in other European countries.
Four subscriptions!?
Football fans would need to have at least four subscriptions from 2027 to watch the top teams play in all competitions. For the top English teams, fans would need Sky Sports, TNT Sports (or HBO Max, which includes TNT Sports from 2026), Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+.
TNT Sports, previously BT Sport, has held UEFA rights for over a decade, after winning the rights Sky Sports for the rights in the mid 2010s. BT Sport also took the Champions League off free-to-air TV in the UK, with the exeption of a small number of games shown on the now defunct BT Showcase channel on Freeview. Previously, ITV carried a selection of live midweek games.
If confirmed, the news will be a major blow for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD). The company plans to launch HBO Max in the UK next year. TNT Sports and its premium sports offer will become part of the HBO Max package. The loss of midweek UEFA action a year later would be an unwelcome development.
The end of the Champions League on TNT Sports …or not?
Industry rumours continue to swirl over the future of WBD and the two companies it plans to divide into.
TNT Sports UK and HBO Max are set to end up as part of Warner Bros, while factual, reality and news brands transfer to Discovery Global.
Netflix and Paramount Skydance continue to be considered as potential bidders for at least the Warner Bros side of the business. Paramount has been associated with reports regarding buying the whole WBD organisation.
If the favoured bidders were to push things further, HBO Max and TNT Sports could be swallowed up by Netflix by 2027. On the other hand, Paramount, HBO Max and TNT Sports UK might all end up under one roof — meaning the Champions League could well stay put.
It might be better not commit to a long-term subscription to any service just yet.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: UEFA