The broadcaster has reportedly irritated UEFA by opting to charge fans to watch all three European finals despite English clubs chasing a clean sweep of titles
Keir Starmer has written to TNT sports demanding the Champions League final be broadcast on free to air.
The broadcaster has reportedly irritated UEFA by opting to charge fans to watch all three European finals despite English clubs chasing a clean sweep of titles.
It will be the first time since the Champions League’s modern rebrand 34 years ago that viewers in the UK won’t be able to watch the final without paying for a subscription.
In a scathing letter, the PM said: “I was saddened to see that, for the first time since the competition started 34 years ago, TNT Sports has decided that the Champions League final will not be free to watch for football supporters here in the UK. The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country – the home of football.
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“I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not. Obviously, I want as many fellow fans as possible to be able to watch our team in this historic final for the first time in 20 years.
“However, this is bigger than that. 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. Hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude. We should be putting supporters first.”
Champions League finals were previously broadcast live on ITV, which had exclusive rights from the competition’s launch, as the rebranded European Cup, in 1992 until 2003, then joint rights with Sky Sports until 2015.
BT Sport acquired UEFA rights from the 2015/16 season and previously streamed European finals for free on YouTube.
The channel was then rebranded to TNT Sports, which made them available for free for customers who registered with its sister streaming service discovery+ since taking over the contract two years ago.
Arsenal will look to upset holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30 in Budapest. The Gunners are aiming to win Europe’s elite competition for the first time ever, having seen Tottenham lift the Europa League last year.
Aston Villa defeated Freiburg in the Europa League final earlier this week, and next Wednesday Crystal Palace meet Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final as they look to win a first European trophy in their history.
A TNT Sports spokesperson said: “It has been a privilege to bring UEFA club competitions to sports fans across the UK throughout the season. Having three Premier League clubs reach the finals shows the strength of English Football and something that we are proud to continue to support.
“We have made all three UEFA finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max that also includes the great entertainment on the service. This represents exceptional value for fans to watch the conclusion of the competitions.”