Champions League Rights tender Launched, Opening Door for Streaming Giants Like Netflix
UEFA, through its joint venture with the European Football Clubs (EFC) – UC3 – has initiated a tender process for the rights to broadcast Champions League matches from 2027 onwards, launching the first tender on October 13. The move potentially opens the door for major streaming platforms like Netflix to enter the European football broadcasting market.
A key element of the tender is the introduction of a “global pick” option, which could see rights sold to a single broadcaster for worldwide coverage, excluding the United states where CBS holds a deal running until 2030. This could lead to increased subscription costs for UK viewers,as existing rights holders TNT Sports and Amazon may face increased competition and a fragmentation of broadcasting rights.
For the first time, UEFA is considering offering the rights for all five of Europe’s biggest television markets – the UK, germany, Spain, Italy, and France – in a single package. Sources indicate UEFA is also exploring deals extending beyond the traditional three-year cycles in European markets.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized the commercial potential of the move, stating, “Through this joint venture, the game will grow. And with (marketing agency) Relevent at our side,we have the strongest team to make it happen.” He added, “To expand our core revenue streams…to drive engagement with new audiences, especially in an ever-changing media and streaming rights landscape.”
The upcoming rights cycle will be the second since UEFA expanded its club competitions,including the introduction of a 36-team league phase in the Champions League.
