The UEFA Champions League appears set to move to a different broadcaster in a ‘major shake-up’ with TNT Sports reportedly set to lose the TV rights.
American media giant Paramount Skydance has reportedly won the rights to show the majority of Champions League matches between 2027 and 2031.
Per The Guardian, Paramount+ made the largest bid at this week’s auction, in what the outlet described as a “major shake-up of the domestic rights market.”
Paramount already televises Champions League football, with a subsidiary company currently holding the rights to matches in the United States.
According to the report, Paramount’s bid was ‘considerably higher’ than the £1 billion that TNT Sports currently pays.
As such, the latest deal will reportedly see them broadcast every Champions League game, except for the first pick of Tuesday night matches.
While Amazon Prime already held the broadcasting rights in England, Germany and Italy, it is understood that Paramount beat other streaming services to secure the exclusive rights in Spain and France.
This comes as a statement of intent from Paramount, which has invested heavily in films and entertainment, and recently acquired the rights to mixed martial arts promotion UFC.
Meanwhile, for UK soccer fans, Paramount+ securing the rights to Champions League means they will need another subscription if they want to continue watching the EPL, FA Cup and European football.
