In a seismic shift for British football broadcasting, US media titan Paramount Skydance has triumphed in the auction for the majority of UK Champions League rights from 2027 to 2031. This landmark deal ends TNT Sports' current tenure and signals a dramatic American incursion into the European sports media landscape.
The New Broadcast Landscape
Paramount+ will broadcast every Champions League game live in the UK, with one crucial exception. The first pick of Tuesday night matches has been awarded separately to Amazon Prime Video, which secured this premium package across five major European markets including England.
Sources close to the tender process revealed that Paramount's bid substantially exceeded the £1 billion currently paid by TNT Sports. This represents a significant victory for UEFA's joint venture UC3 and its new commercial rights distributor, Relevent Football Partners, who orchestrated the auction.
Streaming Giants Battle for Supremacy
Amazon's successful bid for the first pick of Tuesday fixtures marks a consolidation of its European football presence. The streaming giant already holds rights in Germany and Italy and will now replace Movistar in Spain and Canal+ in France from 2027.
Industry insiders confirm that Amazon saw off fierce competition from rivals including Netflix and Disney+ to secure these coveted rights. However, the deal comes with restrictions on how many times Amazon can feature individual clubs throughout the season.
Broader Implications and American Influence
The auction represents the first major test for Relevent Football Partners since replacing UEFA's longstanding sales partner Team Marketing last year. The introduction of pan-European streaming packages and an extended four-year rights cycle have proven commercially successful.
Paramount's aggressive bidding strategy extends beyond the UK market. The company, led by David Ellison with backing from Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has progressed to second-round bidding in France, Spain, and Italy, demonstrating its determination to establish a European foothold.
This development occurs against a backdrop of potential industry consolidation, with Paramount reportedly preparing a $71 billion bid for Warner Bros Discovery, which currently owns TNT Sports. The future of TNT Sports remains uncertain within this context.
UEFA is understood to be confident that the winning bid values will significantly surpass the current £2.9 billion-per-year television rights valuation, providing a substantial financial boost for European football's premier club competition as it transitions to its new 36-team league format.
