Virgin Media subscribers can watch Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday evening without any extra charge. Following TNT Sports' contentious announcement that the fixture would neither be free-to-air nor free-to-stream, the cable television provider will grant its TV customers access at no additional cost.
This means that those lacking an active HBO Max or TNT Sports subscription can still view the match via Virgin. A dedicated HD pop-up channel, 526, has been launched, offering live coverage. Viewers with a current TNT Sports subscription via Virgin Media can continue to access TNT Sports 1 on channel 521. Virgin also broadcast Aston Villa's recent Europa League final success as well as Crystal Palace's Europa Conference League victory.
In past years, supporters could enjoy European finals without paying. Yet that has changed this year in a contentious decision that prompted a last-minute appeal from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. TNT, and their predecessor BT Sport, have previously made the match available free of charge every year since securing the broadcasting rights from ITV a decade ago.
Starmer has urged TNT Sports to broadcast the Champions League final free of charge, writing a letter to the broadcaster. Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: 'I just think it should be free, it's always been free every year up to this year... It's a big event, it should be free.' In response, TNT Sports stated: 'We have made all three UEFA finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max.'
The match is scheduled to take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, May 30, with kick-off set for 5pm UK time.
