Champions League Final Saw 16.2M Illegal Streams vs. 7M Legal UK Viewers
TNT Sports chose to put the UEFA Champions League final behind a paywall to drive HBO Max subscriptions, resulting in seven million legal viewers in the UK and 16.2 million illegal streams. This decision by Warner Bros. Discovery to maximize short-term revenue highlighted the tension between subscription growth and increased piracy, impacting the long-term valuation of sports rights for UEFA.
Key Takeaways
- TNT Sports' 2026 Champions League final exclusive paywall generated 7 million legal UK viewers.
- The match saw 16.2 million illegal streams in the UK, originating from 3.7 million unique IP addresses.
- This was the first Champions League final since 2015/16 that TNT Sports (or BT Sport) did not offer free-to-air options.
- WBD declined UK government pleas for free coverage, prioritizing HBO Max subscription growth during its penultimate contract year.
- Paramount+ will hold the majority of UK Champions League rights from 2027 to 2031.
Why It Matters
The decision by TNT Sports to place the Champions League final exclusively behind a paywall highlights the escalating tension between maximizing subscription revenue and managing piracy for premium sports content. Recording over twice as many illegal streams as legal viewers suggests direct monetization strategies for top-tier sports may drive viewers to unauthorized platforms. This shift impacts UEFA's long-term rights valuation and signals a growing challenge for broadcasters seeking ROI on exclusive sports deals. Moving forward, observers should monitor how Paramount+, the incoming rights holder, approaches free-to-air distribution for the final via its Channel 5 affiliate and its impact on illegal viewership figures.
Read full article at sportspro.com
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