Uefa Anticipates Increased Viewership for Champions League Final Despite Subscription-Only Access
Uefa expects more viewers for Champions League final despite no free-to-air coverage
Image: The Guardian
Uefa expects higher UK viewership for the upcoming Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, despite TNT Sport's decision to charge for access. The match will not be available free-to-air for the first time in 34 years, yet the presence of an English club is anticipated to boost audience numbers significantly.
- 01TNT Sport will stream the Champions League final on HBO Max, which requires a subscription of £4.99 per month.
- 02The average audience for the final on free streaming platforms was about 1 million viewers in the past two seasons.
- 03TNT's viewing figures for the 2024 and 2025 finals were approximately 2.5 million, boosted by the participation of an English club.
- 04HBO Max has over 10 million potential subscribers in the UK, enhancing the reach of the final.
- 05Labour MP Jon Trickett criticized the decision, advocating for free access to major sporting events.
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Uefa is optimistic about increased UK viewership for the Champions League final on June 3, 2023, between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, despite TNT Sport's controversial choice to not provide free-to-air access for the first time in 34 years. Previously, the final attracted an average of 1 million viewers on TNT's streaming service, discovery+, over the last two seasons. The match will now be streamed on HBO Max, which charges £4.99 per month for subscriptions. TNT's viewing figures for the finals in 2024 and 2025 reached about 2.5 million, and the presence of an English club is expected to further increase these numbers. HBO Max, launched in the UK in March, has a potential reach of over 10 million households, including those with Sky Sports and Amazon Prime subscriptions. Despite Uefa's belief that this decision will enhance viewership, it has faced backlash, with critics like Labour MP Jon Trickett calling for government action to ensure that major sporting events remain accessible to the public.
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The decision to charge for the Champions League final may limit access for many fans, potentially reducing overall viewership and engagement with the sport.
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