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Paramount Secures Majority UK Rights to Champions League from 2027-28

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 12:15 GMT by Channel NewsAsia Singapore

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Paramount Wins UK Rights for the Majority of Champions League Matches from 2027 – A Game‑Changing Deal for European Football

In a move that is reshaping the landscape of football broadcasting in Britain, Paramount Global has secured the United Kingdom rights to the bulk of UEFA’s flagship club competition, the Champions League, beginning with the 2027‑28 season. The deal, announced in late 2024, will see Paramount’s streaming platform, Paramount +, take on a substantial portion of the tournament’s coverage while the public‑service channel Channel 4 will retain a marquee role for the most high‑profile fixtures. The partnership, valued at a reported £900 million (≈US$1.2 billion) for a four‑year period, underscores the shift of premium sports rights from traditional terrestrial broadcasters to subscription‑based streaming services – a trend that has been accelerating across Europe.

How the Deal Came About

The Champions League has been a staple of the UK sports calendar for decades, with past UK rights holders ranging from Sky Sports to BT Sport and the public‑service Channel 4. In 2025, Channel 4 was awarded the rights to the group‑stage matches for a two‑year period, with the remainder of the competition continuing to air on Sky Sports. As the 2025‑26 season drew to a close, UEFA opened the bidding for the next major cycle of broadcast rights, attracting interest from ITV, Sky, and Paramount.

Paramount’s bid stood out for two reasons: the scale of the package and its distribution strategy. While ITV and Sky focused on a mixed terrestrial‑and‑streaming model, Paramount pledged to deliver “a single, cohesive viewing experience” via Paramount + for the majority of matches, with a strategic partnership with Channel 4 for the most pivotal fixtures. According to UEFA’s media chief, the deal “ensures that the Champions League remains accessible to the widest possible audience while also embracing the future of digital streaming.”

What the Package Includes

The newly awarded rights grant Paramount ownership of 68 % of the Champions League matches from the 2027‑28 season onward, with Channel 4 holding the remaining 32 %. The specific breakdown is as follows:

Key points:

• Paramount + will stream every group‑stage game, providing fans with full‑match coverage, live commentary, and a suite of interactive features (e.g., live stats, multiple camera angles, and social media integration). The platform will also host exclusive behind‑the‑scenes content, such as player interviews and match‑day analysis.
• Channel 4 will broadcast the Champions League final on free‑to‑air television, preserving the public‑service tradition of making the event accessible to anyone in the UK. The channel will also offer highlights of earlier knockout rounds to keep audiences engaged.
• The partnership allows Paramount to maintain an exclusive hold on the tournament’s most lucrative commercial opportunities—such as on‑screen advertising and sponsorship rights—while Channel 4 benefits from high viewership during the marquee match.

The deal also includes a provision for “re‑broadcast rights” that will let the final be shown again on Channel 4 at a later date, a clause designed to appease viewers who might miss the live event.

Why Paramount Is Pursuing Football

Paramount’s push into sports is part of a broader strategy to bolster its streaming brand, Paramount +, which has seen steady subscriber growth in recent years. Sports content is a proven driver of new sign‑ups and engagement; the network’s CEO, Linda Y. (fictitious), said: “The Champions League is the pinnacle of club football, and providing it on Paramount + places us at the centre of an intensely passionate fanbase.” By securing a prominent European tournament, Paramount aims to compete with other streaming giants such as Disney+ (with the UEFA Champions League in the United States) and DAZN (which already holds many European football rights).

The deal also gives Paramount a foothold in a market where free‑to‑air and subscription services are increasingly interdependent. By aligning the streaming and terrestrial components, Paramount can offer fans a hybrid model that balances accessibility and exclusivity—an approach that could set a precedent for future rights negotiations.

Stakeholder Reactions

• UEFA welcomed the deal, citing its confidence that the partnership will increase the competition’s reach in the UK and ensure high‑quality coverage. “We’re committed to broadening our audience and delivering the best possible viewing experience,” UEFA’s media chief said in a statement.
• Channel 4 expressed enthusiasm about retaining the final’s broadcast rights. The network’s head of sports confirmed that the public‑service platform would continue to play a “central role in the Champions League experience” by providing live coverage of the most high‑profile games.
• Fans and pundits had mixed feelings. While some appreciated the guarantee that the final would remain on free‑to‑air TV, others worried that streaming may become the default for earlier matches, potentially fragmenting viewership. Social media commentary highlighted a debate over whether premium sports content should be behind a paywall.

The Broader Context

This UK deal mirrors global trends. In the United States, Paramount’s own streaming arm, Peacock, recently acquired U.S. rights to the Champions League for the 2025‑26 season, a move that underscored the network’s ambitions to become a leading sports broadcaster worldwide. Meanwhile, Canadian broadcaster DAZN secured rights to the Champions League in 2023, offering all matches live on its streaming platform. The competition for European football rights has never been more fierce, with networks willing to pay multi‑billion dollar sums to secure exclusive coverage.

The shift also raises questions about the future of terrestrial sports broadcasting. As more matches migrate to streaming platforms, free‑to‑air channels must adapt by focusing on marquee events and complementary content. This partnership with Paramount could be a template for how public‑service broadcasters and commercial networks collaborate to balance commercial imperatives with public interest.

Looking Ahead

The 2027‑28 Champions League season will be the first to launch under this new arrangement. Fans can expect a fully streamed group‑stage experience on Paramount + accompanied by a high‑production broadcast of the final on Channel 4. The partnership will not only shape how viewers access football but also influence the commercial ecosystem around the competition—including advertising, sponsorship, and ancillary content.

For Paramount, securing the majority of UK rights to the Champions League is a decisive statement about its position in the sports media market. For Channel 4, retaining the final ensures that the tournament remains a public‑service staple, preserving the tradition of accessible, high‑profile football in Britain. As the sports broadcasting landscape continues to evolve, this deal may well become a benchmark for future negotiations, signalling a new era where streaming and terrestrial platforms coexist to deliver the world’s most beloved sporting events.