Paramount Just Outbid Everyone for UK Champions League Rights—And It's a Game-Changer

Paramount Skydance just dropped a massive bid in the Champions League auction and won the rights to broadcast nearly every match in the UK from 2027 to 2031. We’re talking about almost all 144 matches per season—basically everything except Tuesday’s marquee game, which Amazon Prime already locked down.

The deal is reportedly worth way more than TNT Sports’ current £1 billion contract, making it one of the biggest sports broadcasting deals in recent memory. This is Paramount flexing its muscles in European football after already dominating Champions League coverage in the US through Paramount+.

What This Means:

UK football fans are about to get subscription fatigue. To watch the full Champions League season, you’ll need access to Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon Prime, Dazn, AND now Paramount. That’s five separate platforms just for one competition.

But here’s the bigger picture: American media companies are aggressively moving into European football territory. Paramount’s confidence in the market is a signal that global sports rights are becoming increasingly fragmented and expensive.

Why Now?

UEFA’s new Champions League format (36 teams, more matches) is creating more content to sell. Plus, with the 2026 World Cup coming up, streaming giants are betting big that demand for premium football content will keep climbing. Paramount’s willingness to outbid TNT suggests the revenue potential looks solid for the next cycle.

The losers? UK viewers’ wallets. The winners? Streaming platforms consolidating power over European sports.