Champions League Final Access
Fans will require a subscription to watch the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris St-Germain on Saturday, as TNT Sports has chosen not to make the match free-to-air. This decision comes despite mounting pressure from fan organizations and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
This final marks the first occasion since the Champions League's inception in 1992 that supporters must pay to view the event.
Public and Political Pressure
Last Saturday, Sir Keir Starmer, an Arsenal supporter, expressed his stance on the matter, stating:
"I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch"
Despite this, TNT Sports has maintained its policy for the upcoming game, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary.
On Thursday, Sir Keir collaborated with the Football Supporters' Association and other independent fan groups in a renewed effort to persuade TNT Sports to reconsider its broadcasting approach.
has learned that UEFA is disappointed by the situation and advocates for the final to remain free-to-air. However, the ultimate decision on broadcast rights lies with the rights holder.
Broadcasting History and Current Rights
All three major European finals featuring English clubs have been broadcast behind paywalls. Recently, Aston Villa secured the Europa League trophy with a 3-0 victory over Freiburg, and Crystal Palace won the Conference League by defeating Rayo Vallecano 1-0.
Six years ago, the government declined a House of Lords select committee proposal to designate the Champions League final as one of the "crown jewels" events, which would have guaranteed free-to-air coverage.
Broadcast Availability and Platforms
Highlights of the Champions League final will be accessible on the website and social media channels 15 minutes after the trophy presentation, and later in the evening on BBC and television. Live commentary will also be available on BBC Radio 5 Live.
From 1993, the final was broadcast free on ITV each year, except for 1994 when the BBC showed it live. This continued until BT Sport acquired the rights starting with the 2015-16 season.
BT Sport initially offered the final without a subscription through 2023, simultaneously streaming the match on its YouTube channel. However, after BT Sport was acquired by Warner Bros Discovery and rebranded as TNT Sports, the access model changed.
While the finals remained free to watch, fans were required to register for a discovery+ account. Discovery+ has since been replaced by Warner Bros Discovery's streaming service HBO Max, which does not offer a free viewing option.
Fans are not obligated to purchase a full TNT Sports subscription but can to HBO Max for one month. The lowest subscription fee is £4.99, covering all three European finals. Many Sky customers already have HBO Max included at no additional cost.
Future Broadcasting Rights
Starting from the 2027-28 season, TNT Sports will lose its European football rights. Paramount+ has acquired the Champions League rights, while the Europa League and Conference League will be broadcast on Sky Sports.
Warner Bros Discovery has been contacted for comment regarding these developments.
Additional Information
For ongoing updates, fans can follow Champions League scores and fixtures, listen to the latest Football Daily podcast, and receive football news directly on their phones.
Highlights of every Champions League match will be available from 22:00 on Wednesdays via BBC , the website, and app. Additionally, a Champions League Match of the Day program airs on BBC One on Wednesdays from 22:40 to midnight.
