British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged TNT Sports to broadcast next weekend’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for free to viewers across Britain.In a letter to TNT Sports executives, Starmer said he was “saddened” that UK football fans would, for the first time in more than three decades, need a paid subscription to watch the Champions League final.“I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal succeed or not,” Starmer wrote.
“This is bigger than Arsenal.”
Starmer, a long-time Arsenal supporter, said the issue went beyond the club’s loyalties and was about keeping major sporting moments accessible to everyone.“It’s about fans of all teams coming together in living rooms and bars in every corner of the country to watch the best players in Europe compete,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that “hard-working people should not have to worry about spending a subscription” to watch such an important match.Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final next Saturday in Budapest, marking the London club’s first appearance in the final in 20 years.
TNT Sports champions the subscription model
TNT Sports responded by saying fans can access the finals of all three UEFA club competitions with a £4.99 monthly subscription to HBO Max, Warner Bros Discovery’s streaming platform.The broadcaster described the offer as “exceptional value,” noting that it includes not only the Champions League final, but also the Europa League and Conference League finals.This season was the first time all three European club finals were placed entirely behind a paywall in the UK.
The end of a long tradition of live broadcasting
The Champions League Final has been available free-to-air in the UK every year since the modern format of the competition began in 1992.ITV broadcast the final for free from 1993 onwards, while BT Sport later continued the practice even after acquiring the rights in 2015 by broadcasting the match for free online.However, after BT Sport was rebranded as TNT Sports under Warner Bros Discovery, viewers were asked to sign up through Discovery+, and now HBO Max, which no longer offers the free viewing option.
There are no plans yet for it to obtain “crown jewel” status.
The UK government currently has no plans to classify the Champions League final as a protected “crown jewel” sporting event, a move that would legally require free-to-air coverage.As of the 2027-2028 season, TNT Sports will lose its European football rights package. Paramount+ will broadcast the Champions League, while Sky Sports will cover the Europa League and Conference League.
