Champions League final still not free to air despite pressure

Champions League final still not free to air despite pressureImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, TNT Sports has been broadcasting the Champions League since 2015 but will lose the rights in 2027ByDale JohnsonFootball issues correspondentPublished19 May 2026Updated 11 minutes agoFans will need a subscription to watch the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris St-Germain on Saturday after TNT Sports decided against making the match free-to-air.This is despite growing pressure from fans' groups and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.It will be the first time since the Champions League was launched in 1992 that supporters have had to pay to watch the final. Last Saturday, Sir Keir - who is an Arsenal fan - wrote that he was "a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch".But TNT Sports has shown no sign of changing its policy for the game, which is being played in Budapest, Hungary.On Thursday, Sir Keir joined forces with the Football Supporters' Association, external and independent fans' groups in another attempt to get TNT to reconsider its position. BBC Sport understands Uefa is disappointed, and argued that the final should remain free-to-air.But ultimately the decision about how to show games remains the choice of the rights holder. All three showpiece European finals, which have each featured an English club, have been behind a paywall.Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 last week to lift the Europa League trophy, while Crystal Palace won the Conference League on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.From non-league to Champions League final - Raya's fairytale risePublished8 hours agoCovid era gave Arteta space to revive Arsenal, says KroenkePublished23 hours agoEvery VAR error: How Arsenal escaped red cards and penaltiesPublished1 hour agoSix 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 trophy lift, and on BBC iPlayer and television later in the evening.Live commentary will also be on BBC Radio 5 Live.The Champions League final had been free on ITV each year from 1993 - with the exception of the 1994 final, which the BBC showed live - 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.Latest Champions League tableChampions League scores & fixturesFollow the latest Champions League newsListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phonePublished1 day agoWatch 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.Related topicsEuropa LeagueCrystal PalaceAston VillaArsenalUEFA Champions LeagueFootball