TNT opts not to make European finals free to watch

TNT opts not to make European finals free to watchTNT Sports has been broadcasting the Champions League since 2015 but will lose the rights in 2027

Fans will need a subscription to watch the finals of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League after TNT Sports decided against making them free-to-air.

It will be the first time since the Champions League was launched in 1992 that supporters have had to pay to watch it.

The three showpiece events will all feature English clubs.

Aston Villa meet Freiburg in the Europa League on Wednesday (20:00 BST), before Crystal Palace face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League on 27 May (20:00 BST) and Arsenal take on Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on 30 May (17:00 BST).

BBC Sport understands that Uefa is disappointed, and argued that the finals should remain free-to-air.

But ultimately the decision about how to show the games remains the choice of the rights holder.

Six years ago, the government rejected a House of Lords select committee proposal to add the Champions League final to the list of "crown jewels" events, which would have ensured it would always be free-to-air.

Highlights of the Champions League final will be available on the BBC Sport website and across social media channels 15 minutes after the final whistle, and on BBC iPlayer and television later in the evening.

Live commentary of all three finals will be on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The Champions League final had been free on ITV for the first 23 years until BT Sport won the rights, starting from 2015-16.

BT Sport continued to make it available without a subscription through to 2023, simultaneously broadcasting the game on its YouTube channel.

This changed after BT Sport was bought by Warner Bros Discovery and rebranded as TNT Sports.

While the finals remained available without cost, fans needed to sign up for a discovery+ account to get access.

Discovery+ has been replaced by Warner Bros Discovery's new streaming service, HBO Max, which has no free option.

Fans will not need a full TNT Sports subscription, and can instead sign up for HBO Max for one month.

The cheapest subscription starts at £4.99, which would include all three matches, though most Sky customers already get HBO Max at no extra cost.

From 2027-28, TNT Sports will lose its European rights.

Paramount+ has picked up the Champions League, while the Europa League and the Conference League will move to Sky Sports.

Warner Bros Discovery has been approached for comment.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

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