UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged broadcaster TNT Sports to make next weekend’s UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain free-to-air for viewers across Britain.In a letter addressed to TNT Sports executives, Starmer said he was “saddened” that football fans in the UK 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 have made it or not,” Starmer wrote.
‘This is bigger than Arsenal’
Starmer, a longtime Arsenal supporter, said the issue went beyond club loyalties and was about keeping major sporting moments accessible to everyone.“This is about supporters of all teams coming together in living rooms and pubs in every corner of the country to watch the most elite players in Europe battle it out,” he said.The Prime Minister added that “hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription” to watch a match of such importance.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 defends subscription model
TNT Sports responded by saying fans could access all three UEFA club competition finals through a £4.99 monthly subscription to HBO Max, Warner Bros Discovery’s streaming platform.The broadcaster described the offer as “exceptional value”, noting it includes not only the Champions League final but also the Europa League and Conference League finals.This season marked the first time that all three European club finals were placed fully behind a paywall in the UK.
End of a long free-to-air tradition
The Champions League final had been available free-to-air in the UK every year since the competition’s modern format began in 1992.ITV broadcast the final free from 1993 onwards, while BT Sport later continued the practice even after acquiring rights in 2015 by streaming the match free online.However, after BT Sport was rebranded as TNT Sports under Warner Bros Discovery, viewers were required to register through Discovery+, and now HBO Max, which no longer offers a free viewing option.
No plans yet for ‘crown jewels’ status
The UK government currently has no plans to classify the Champions League final as a protected “crown jewels” sporting event, a move that would legally require free-to-air coverage.From the 2027-28 season, TNT Sports will lose its European football rights package. Paramount+ will broadcast the Champions League, while Sky Sports will take over coverage of the Europa League and Conference League.
