Champions League ultimate is free on one TV channel after Arsenal vs PSG controversy
Arsenal will face defending European champions PSG in the Champions League final on Saturday
Customers of one UK broadcaster can enjoy the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for free on Saturday night.
This comes after TNT Sports’ contentious announcement that the match would not be available free-to-air or free-to-stream, prompting Virgin Media to offer its TV subscribers access at no additional charge. This means that even those without an active HBO Max or TNT Sports subscription can still tune into the game on Virgin.
A dedicated HD pop-up channel, 526, has been activated to provide live coverage. Viewers with an existing TNT Sports subscription on Virgin Media can continue to access TNT Sports 1 via channel 521. Virgin also broadcast Aston Villa’s recent Europa League final win as well as Crystal Palace’s Europa Conference League victory.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
In past years, fans could watch European finals for free. However, this year saw a controversial change, leading to a late appeal from the Prime Minister.
TNT, and their predecessor BT Sport, have traditionally aired the game for free every year since taking over the television rights from ITV a decade ago. They initially did so by simultaneously streaming the final live on YouTube.
More recently, they have made the coverage accessible for free on Discovery+. However, following their move to HBO Max, they are not offering this service. The decision has sparked controversy and ignited an international debate.
Watch the UEFA Champions League final on HBO Max
Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League final where they face Paris Saint-Germain on May 30. Fans can watch the game without a TNT Sports subscription by signing up to the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan via Prime Video’s HBO Max channel.
Sir Keir Starmer has urged TNT Sports to broadcast the Champions League final free of charge. The Prime Minister has already penned a letter to the broadcaster, encouraging them to make their coverage accessible to everyone.
Starmer expressed his views on talkSPORT about the situation, stating: “I just think it should be free, it’s always been free every year up to this year, and I say this not as an Arsenal fan, all fans want to watch the Champions League final.
“It’s a big event, it should be free, and that’s why I wrote to them to say ‘please make it free’, I renew that actually, I really do think they should do that, I think it’s the right thing to do.”
Starmer previously posted on X: “Football should bring people together, not shut them out. For the first time since the competition began, fans won’t be able to watch the Champions League final for free. That’s not right. This is bigger than wanting to watch Arsenal in this historic final. It’s bigger than one club.
“Hardworking people shouldn’t have to pay for a subscription to watch this match. I urge TNT Sports to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch.”
TNT Sports responded: “We have made all three UEFA finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max.” PSG vs Arsenal will be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, May 30. Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm UK time.
