UEFA has sold the rights for 2027-31 in 19 other territories: it is now certain that cup revenues, already at 4.4 billion per season, will set a new record
The Champions League confirms itself as a formidable money machine: it is now certain that revenues from the television and commercial rights of the former Champions Cup and the other UEFA competitions (Europa League, Conference League, European Super Cup) will reach and exceed 5 billion euros per year, setting a new record. With all due respect to national championships such as Serie A, because we know that the TV rights market is a market of communicating vessels: broadcasters do not have infinite budgets and, consequently, they must choose what to invest more in. In recent times they have had no doubts, Premier League aside: the Champions League has seen its value skyrocket since the format was revolutionized, with a single group of 36 teams and the guarantee for each of them to play at least two more games than in the past. In 2024 revenues grew by 25%, reaching an average of 4.4 billion per season in the three-year period 2024-27. And for the 2027-31 cycle the 5 billion barrier will be broken.
TOP MARKETS
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Last November UC3, the joint venture between UEFA and the European Clubs Association (EFC), which avails itself of the support of the Relevent agency, sold the TV rights in the five main European markets, obtaining great success, with an average growth of 20%. Values also rising in Italy, with the confirmation of Sky and Amazon, with the former ready to shell out 280-290 million compared to the 220 of the current contract, for a total of 395 million including the Ott Prime Video platform. The streaming platform, already a Champions licensee in the United States until 2030, is part of the giant born from the merger between Paramount and Skydance which, under the direction of David and Larry Ellison, is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery for 110 billion dollars.
OTHER TERRITORIES
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Well, in the latest round of sales – the one made official yesterday by UC3 – Paramount once again played the leading role, together with another American giant like Disney. UEFA has awarded Champions League rights for the 2027-31 cycle in 19 other territories, covering Europe and the Americas (excluding the United States). The increase, in these geographical areas, was as much as 40%. Paramount has acquired the rights to half of the Champions League matches in Central and South America (except Brazil) and all UEFA competitions in Canada, while Disney will broadcast live Champions League matches for the first time, making full haul in Sweden.
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