The BBC has landed rights to show Champions League highlights.
A three-year deal has been struck with European football’s governing body, UEFA, which will see BBC show highlights on Wednesday night’s from Europe’s premier club competition, starting in 2024. The deal also includes the final, with details to be confirmed of those highlights.
BBC Director of Sport, Barbara Slater said: “We are simply thrilled to have won these rights. Our reach and ability to bring people together is unrivalled and we couldn't be more delighted that UEFA have recognised the value in our ability to bring the UEFA Champions League to the widest possible audience across the UK. This package of highlights and digital content will allow football fans to follow the UEFA Champions League, wherever and however they like.
“The UEFA Champions League is a wonderful addition to our portfolio of football output on the BBC and we can’t wait to get started in 2024!”
Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Marketing Director, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the BBC in the UK for 2024-27, as it broadcasts UEFA Champions League Wednesday highlights for the very first time. The BBC brand is synonymous with premium sport, and it will apply its extensive expertise in delivering wide-reaching UEFA Champions League coverage for fans in the market”
It comes as Amazon has secured live UK rights to the Champions League for the first time.
The technology giant will split the rights with BT for the 2024-27 cycle, a period which marks the start of a new format for UEFA’s men’s European club competitions.
The UK deal is understood to be worth around £500million a year to UEFA and the clubs – £1.5billion in total – an increase of 20 per cent on the current cycle.
Alex Green, the managing director of Amazon Prime Video Sport Europe, said: “The addition of UEFA Champions League football is a truly momentous moment for Prime Video in the UK.
“Since 2018, we’ve seen millions of Prime members in the UK enjoy live sport on Prime Video, and it’s that passion and energy that has led us to this exciting next step. We can’t wait to bring fans the headline fixture of European football’s most prestigious competition every Tuesday and we’ll have more details to share about our broadcast in the future.”
