Paramount Enters UK Football Market with Record Deal
US media conglomerate Paramount has won the rights to broadcast Champions League games in the UK for four seasons starting in 2027.
The agreement is worth well beyond the current £1bn deal held by TNT Sports, BBC Sport understands. Amazon Prime will retain its Tuesday night match slot from 2027 to 2031.
This new arrangement follows the UC3 partnership between Uefa, European Football Clubs, and Relevent, aiming to reshape the commercial broadcasting landscape. Paramount has already collaborated with Uefa on the cinematic draw videos seen over the last two seasons.
Sources suggest this move may actually benefit the Premier League, as it introduces another major player to the broadcast ecosystem—reducing fears of shrinking TV revenue.
“This could be seen as a positive sign for the football broadcast market, adding a fresh heavyweight competitor,”
according to insiders familiar with the deal.
There has also been recent speculation about Paramount potentially bidding for Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports.
On the same day, Sky confirmed it had secured exclusive rights to all Europa League and Conference League fixtures from 2027-28, totaling 342 matches per season.
Fans Face Another Subscription as Costs Rise Again
A new broadcaster entering the picture typically means one thing: higher costs for fans. This deal further fragments the landscape, shifting the Champions League away from a provider that offered multiple competitions under one platform.
Once, supporters only needed a Sky subscription for Premier League coverage, while ITV showed the Champions League. Those days are long gone.
Over the years:
- ITV held exclusive Champions League rights from 1992 to 2003
- ITV and Sky shared them until 2015
- BT Sport (now TNT) entered and took both Premier League and Champions League packages
- Live free-to-air coverage disappeared
From 2027, TNT Sports will lose the Champions League but still carry the Premier League’s Saturday lunchtime slot and the FA Cup.
The current monthly cost landscape for a dedicated football fan:
- TV Licence: £14.54
- Sky Sports: £50
- TNT Sports: £30.99
- Amazon Prime (Tuesday CL games): £8.99
Total: £89.98 per month, without including Premier Sports or Disney+.
With Paramount entering from 2027, expenses are expected to climb further—though Sky’s exclusive Europa/Conference League rights could add some value.
“The picture keeps fracturing, and with Netflix or DAZN considering future bids, fans could face even more splitting of rights,”
one industry source warned.
Uefa Cashes In on New Strategy
When Uefa last sold the Champions League rights, BT’s £917m package reflected a decline from previous years. With revenues stagnating, Uefa turned to UC3 and Relevent to overhaul its tender strategy.
The result: a massive new deal with Paramount, far exceeding £1bn.
Uefa specifically targeted “digital-first” platforms across Europe, including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK. With Amazon already extending its Tuesday night first-pick deal, the Champions League has now shifted fully toward streaming-led partners.
Streaming, however, introduces challenges—reliable internet connections and broadcast delays among them.
What UK Fans Should Know About Paramount+
Paramount operates its streaming service Paramount+ in the UK, primarily known for movies and series. While it broadcasts the Champions League on CBS in the US, this will be its first major entry into UK sports.
It remains unclear whether the matches will:
- Be shown directly on Paramount+
- Be bundled with existing subscriptions
- Or be part of a separate football-specific package
Pricing currently stands at:
- £4.99 per month (standard)
- £7.99 or £10.99 for premium tiers
Paramount+ is available via its website, Amazon Prime Video, and through Sky (with or without Sky Cinema). The Champions League final must be shown free-to-air, making Paramount-owned Channel 5 a likely option.
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