Warner Bros Discovery will not make live coverage of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League finals to non-subscribers, despite ‘best endeavours’ commitment to free access.
- TNT Sports previously offered free streaming access
- Most Sky viewers will be able to watch at no extra cost
- UEFA reportedly unhappy with decision
The 2026 men’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint‑Germain will not have a free outlet in the UK, marking the first time in the modern era that the showpiece event will sit entirely behind a paywall.
TNT Sports today confirmed that the match, taking place on 30 May at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna, will only be accessible via its linear channels or HBO Max, both of which require paid subscriptions. Under a deal with Sky, most of its TV subscribers will have free access.
For over 30 years, the Champions League final has been freely accessible in the UK, originally on ITV, and since 2015 through free online streams provided by BT Sport and later TNT Sports.
This year’s shift ends that tradition despite the presence of an English club: Arsenal have reached only their second Champions League final and their first since 2006. The paywall will also apply to the other two European finals involving English clubs: Aston Villa (Europa League) and Crystal Palace (Europa Conference League).
How does coverage compare to previous years?
When TNT Sports’ predecessor BT Sport took over the rights to the Champions League in the mid 2010s, Digital Terrestrial TV viewers could watch selected games and the final via the short-lived BT Showcase Freeview channel. After that closed in 2018, Champions League and Europa League finals continued to be made freely available via YouTube.
In recent years, following the transition to TNT Sports, coverage was made available for free on Discovery+. Live coverage of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League finals was opened up to Virgin Media viewers on a temporary, pop-up basis.
In March, TNT Sports switched to HBO Max. Anyone who registered for a free Discovery+ account last year, won’t get access via the app this year.
Access to UEFA finals for some viewers, including most Sky subscribers at no extra cost
- If you already subscribe to HBO Max, you won’t need to pay extra to watch live coverage of all three UEFA men’s finals. This applies even if you don’t have the premium TNT Sports subscription. The games will be made available to subscribers on all plans, even the basic plan.
- Sky: Most Sky TV subscribers already have basic level access to HBO Max at no extra cost. This will be enough to access the live finals. You find out more about activating HBO Max and whether your current Sky TV subscription includes HBO Max from Sky’s website.
- NOW subscribers with a membership that includes HBO Max also get free access.
TNT Sports technically loses Champions League rights from 2027 …or not
The broadcaster recently lost future rights to the Champions League from 2027, as well as Europa League and Conference League rights.
Paramount+ will take over as the home of the men’s Champions League. But as Paramount is in the process of swallowing up Warner Bros Discovery, coverage may still continue on TNT Sports. HBO Max is expected to fold into Paramount+ in the future.
The Europa League and Europa Conference League will switch to Sky from the start of the 2027-28 season.
Why UEFA is not happy…
According to some reports, UEFA is unhappy with WBD’s decision, as the contract with WBD included a clause to make ‘best endeavours’ to make the final free. WBD occasionally showcases sport on Freeview channel Quest. UEFA has declined to comment publicly.
The move has sparked renewed debate about access to major sporting events, with critics arguing that matches of national interest should remain freely available. The Champions League final is not on the UK’s list of protected free‑to‑air events, leaving the broadcaster under no legal obligation to provide open access. In contrast, German law requires the Champions League final to be free-to-air if a German side features. In practice, the finals are routinely free-to-air, regardless of the participants.
By: Marc Thornham