In a major shakeup for football broadcasting, TNT Sports will lose its rights to air the UEFA Champions League starting from 2027. The prestigious European club competition will move to streaming platform Paramount+, marking the end of an era for British football coverage.
End of TNT Sports' Champions League Era
TNT Sports, previously known as BT Sport, has been the home of Champions League football since 2015. The broadcaster originally secured the rights in 2013 through a massive £897 million deal that took coverage away from Sky Sports. During their tenure, TNT expanded their European football portfolio to include both the Europa League and the newer UEFA Conference League.
The first crack in TNT's exclusive coverage appeared in 2022 when Amazon Prime secured rights to broadcast one Champions League match per week. However, the complete loss of the tournament to Paramount+ represents a significant blow to the broadcaster's sports offerings.
Paramount+ Emerges as New Home for European Football
Multiple media outlets have confirmed that Paramount+ secured a six-year deal to broadcast the Champions League beginning in 2027. According to sources speaking with The Telegraph, the US-owned streaming platform made a "knockout" bid and paid "a very large premium" to outbid TNT Sports.
The financial scale of this acquisition is staggering, with the current package of Champions League rights valued at nearly £3 billion per season. This represents one of the most significant broadcasting rights deals in recent football history.
Paramount brings existing football broadcasting experience to the table through its ownership of CBS Sports, which already airs the Champions League in the United States. Their presentation team features familiar faces including Kate Abdo, Micah Richards, Thierry Henry, and Jamie Carragher.
Implications for Football Fans and Broadcasting Landscape
This development means football enthusiasts, including Nigerian viewers who follow European competitions, will need to add another subscription to their growing list of streaming services. Fans already juggle subscriptions to platforms like Sky Sports, TNT, DAZN, and Amazon Prime for comprehensive football coverage.
The bidding competition was reportedly fierce, with streaming giants Netflix and Disney+ also expressing interest. Netflix's confidence was bolstered by its successful sports streaming ventures, including the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight last year and the upcoming Paul vs Anthony Joshua match.
In a potentially positive development for viewers, The Telegraph reports that Paramount plans to make selected matches available free-to-air via Channel 5, which operates as a subsidiary of the company. This forms part of Paramount's broader strategy to expand its sports portfolio, having recently acquired rights to UFC events as well.
Despite this significant loss, TNT Sports maintains other important football rights, including Premier League coverage until 2029. The broadcaster also signed a new four-year FA Cup deal last year that ensures every third-round match outside the 3pm blackout will be shown live.
