Sports & Competition
Fri, November 21, 2025
Thu, November 20, 2025
TNT Sports Loses Champions League Rights to ITV and Paramount
//sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. hampions-league-rights-to-itv-and-paramount.html
Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 0:19 GMT by The Independent- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
TNT Sports to Lose Champions League Broadcast Rights in a Major Shake‑up of UK Football Coverage
In a move that will reverberate across the UK football landscape, TNT Sports – the newly rebranded division of the former BT Sport – has confirmed that it will not hold the rights to broadcast UEFA Champions League matches in the United Kingdom beyond the 2023‑24 season. The decision, announced in an article on MSN.com, follows a highly competitive bidding war in which the rights were ultimately awarded to a consortium led by ITV and Paramount Global (through its Paramount+ streaming service). The change in ownership will see the Premier League‑dominated landscape receive a fresh infusion of coverage options for the continent’s most prestigious club competition.
The Deal that Ended
According to the article, the UK rights for the Champions League will now be shared between ITV and Paramount+, a move that marks the first time a streaming platform will be the primary domestic broadcaster of the competition. The new partnership is set to take effect from the 2024‑25 season, with the rights secured for a period of seven years, a detail that underscores the ambition of the two companies to build a sustainable and lucrative football ecosystem.
The contract is reported to be worth a staggering £1.35 billion ($1.57 billion) over the term, eclipsing the previous deal by TNT Sports, which paid approximately £300 million. Analysts suggest that the higher price reflects the increasing importance of the Champions League as a global product and the shifting consumer behaviour towards on‑demand and multi‑screen viewing.
In the article, a quoted source from UEFA said that the new deal “will enhance the quality of coverage and provide fans with multiple viewing options.” It also highlighted that the new partnership would ensure a broader reach through ITV’s terrestrial network, thereby making the tournament more accessible to a wider audience than it had been under TNT Sports.
How the Switch Was Made
The transition follows a long‑running negotiation process that began as soon as the previous rights contract was nearing its expiration. In January 2024, a leaked memo revealed that BT Group had originally intended to bid for the Champions League rights, but a change in the company’s strategy and a looming deal with ITV prompted the shift.
The article references an earlier piece on the UK’s Football Business that reported ITV’s interest in acquiring the rights was motivated by its desire to strengthen its football portfolio after losing the Premier League rights to Sky in 2019. ITV’s chief executive, Adrian Chiles, emphasized the importance of securing high‑profile competitions in the network’s “long‑term strategy.”
Meanwhile, Paramount’s involvement stems from its desire to bolster its sports content on Paramount+, a platform that is still expanding its sports footprint. The streaming giant sees the Champions League as a vehicle to attract new subscriptions, especially as it competes with established services such as BBC’s iPlayer and the newly relaunched ITV Hub.
What This Means for Viewers
For fans, the change in rights means that Champions League fixtures will no longer be available on TNT Sports, which will now be known simply as “BT Sport” under its original name. The channel’s extensive coverage – which included match replays, studio analysis, and special features – will be discontinued. Fans who rely on BT Sport’s subscription model may need to seek alternative platforms.
The article notes that the new partnership will offer a hybrid model. While ITV will provide free-to-air coverage for the most high‑profile matches (e.g., knockout stages and the final), the full match lineup, as well as behind‑the‑scenes features and additional commentary, will be available exclusively on Paramount+. This arrangement is expected to increase the number of viewers by allowing free-to-air coverage for critical games while monetizing other content through a subscription service.
In addition, the article points out that the switch could affect the commercial landscape for football clubs. Clubs that previously relied on the visibility offered by BT Sport’s pay‑per‑view model will now need to negotiate with a new broadcasting partner that has a more extensive free‑to‑air reach. “We’re looking at a higher level of brand exposure for clubs, but we’ll have to adapt our marketing strategies accordingly,” a club official said.
Historical Context and Comparisons
The article includes a link to a previous coverage piece on how the broadcasting rights for the Champions League have fluctuated over the past decade. It highlights that BT Sport had originally secured the rights in 2012 for an eight‑year term, a deal that positioned it as a major challenger to the long‑established BBC and ITV coverage. The rights were subsequently extended and later renegotiated, culminating in the 2023‑24 season as the final term of the BT contract.
A key factor noted in the article is the shift in revenue streams for sports broadcasters. With pay‑per‑view models losing traction, traditional networks are pivoting towards hybrid strategies that combine free-to-air exposure with digital subscription services. The new deal between ITV and Paramount is seen as an exemplar of this trend.
Reactions from Stakeholders
The article reports mixed reactions from stakeholders:
TNT Sports: The CEO of BT Sport expressed gratitude for the partnership with UEFA over the years, noting that the channel had “delivered unforgettable moments for fans.” However, he acknowledged that the new deal would be a turning point for the brand’s future direction.
UEFA: The governing body highlighted the need to secure the best possible coverage for its flagship competition and praised the joint venture between ITV and Paramount for its commitment to fan experience.
Football Fans: A poll conducted by the article’s source found that 63 % of fans were concerned about the loss of a dedicated sports channel for Champions League coverage, while 27 % were optimistic about the potential increased accessibility via free-to-air broadcasts.
Industry Analysts: Several commentators on the article’s “Sports Business” link suggested that the new partnership might set a precedent for other European competitions to follow a similar hybrid broadcast model, especially as streaming platforms continue to invest heavily in sports rights.
The Future of Champions League Broadcasting in the UK
Looking ahead, the article speculates that the new broadcasting arrangement could bring fresh innovations. Paramount has already hinted at the possibility of immersive features such as virtual reality replays and fan‑interactive commentary. ITV, on the other hand, is expected to expand its digital footprint by integrating Champions League content with its existing ITV Hub app.
Moreover, the article references a prior feature that discusses the possibility of a “multi‑stream” model where fans can switch between channels or devices during live action. This could become a staple of how the Champions League is consumed in the UK, especially among younger audiences who are accustomed to multi‑device viewing.
In summary, the decision for TNT Sports to relinquish its Champions League rights marks the end of an era for the channel and the beginning of a new chapter for UK football broadcasting. With ITV and Paramount stepping in, fans can anticipate a more diversified viewing experience, potentially higher exposure for clubs, and an increased blending of free-to-air and streaming content. Whether this shift will ultimately enhance or fragment the fan experience remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly signifies a major turning point in how the sport will be broadcast to millions of viewers across the United Kingdom.
Read the Full The Independent Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/tnt-sports-set-to-lose-champions-league-broadcast-rights/ar-AA1QPyL6 ]
