UEFA Plans Global Champions League Rights to Attract Streaming Giants

UEFA is revamping its broadcast tender process for the Champions League starting with the 2027/28 season in an effort to attract more streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. The new process will allow broadcasters and streamers to bid for rights across multiple markets simultaneously, rather than selling rights by individual markets and staggered tenders as done previously, facilitating bundled bids. UEFA is also considering longer-term contracts beyond the traditional three-year cycles, inspired by the success of its recent six-year $1.5 billion US media rights deal with Paramount. A significant change may include offering global rights packages, potentially allowing a single broadcaster to show matches worldwide, including single-match exclusivity across major European markets. UEFA will evaluate bids based not only on financial offers but also on reach and marketing support, with tenders expected to be released soon. The process is being advised by Relevent Football Partners and UC3, aiming to streamline media rights sales while enhancing the competition's commercial reach and appeal to modern digital platforms.