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Sir Keir Starmer has urged TNT Sports to reconsider its decision to restrict access to next Saturday’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, calling for the match to be made free-to-air. The UK prime minister has reached out to the broadcaster, emphasizing the importance of making the game accessible without a subscription, a departure from tradition.
Since the Champions League adopted its current format in 1992, the final has always been available for free viewing in the UK. Starmer expressed his disappointment in a letter to TNT Sports executives, stating, “I was saddened to see that, for the first time since the competition started 34 years ago, TNT Sports has decided that [the fixture] will not be free to watch for football supporters here in the UK.” He stressed the significance of the event, noting that the Champions League is the biggest club football competition worldwide and holds special importance for football fans in the UK. Though an Arsenal supporter himself, Starmer insisted that the match’s accessibility should extend beyond allegiance to any one team.
Last week it was revealed that watching all three European club finals—rights for which TNT holds—would require a subscription. This includes the Europa League final involving Aston Villa and the upcoming Conference League final featuring Crystal Palace. Starmer voiced concern that charging for access creates an unnecessary financial hurdle for working-class fans, urging TNT Sports to put supporters first. He also highlighted his encouragement towards FIFA to make World Cup tickets more affordable, displaying a consistent stance on accessibility for football fans at major events.
TNT Sports responded by highlighting their efforts to bring Uefa club competitions to UK audiences throughout the season. They pointed out that the three Uefa finals this year are available for as little as £4.99, which also includes a month of entertainment via HBO Max. The broadcaster described this as exceptional value. The current situation stems from changes following the acquisition of BT Sport by Warner Bros Discovery and the rebranding to TNT Sports, which led to the finals being placed behind a subscription model on the new HBO Max service. Though fans can subscribe for just one month, the move marks a shift away from the previous model where BT Sport made games available free on platforms like YouTube.
Historically, the Champions League final was consistently broadcast free-to-air on ITV from the early 1990s, apart from the 1994 final on the BBC. BT Sport maintained free access for subscribers until 2023, but that has changed with the transition to HBO Max and the loss of a free tier. Notably, a government proposal six years ago to include the Champions League final among “crown jewels” events, ensuring free-to-air status, was rejected. Moving forward, TNT Sports will lose its European football rights starting with the 2027-28 season, as Paramount+ and Sky Sports are set to take over the Champions League and other competitions, respectively. While live TV coverage will require a subscription, highlights and delayed broadcasts of the final will be available through the BBC’s online and broadcast platforms. Arsenal, meanwhile, were recently confirmed as Premier League champions for the first time since 2004, adding extra anticipation to their Champions League final appearance
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