UK PM Calls on TNT Sports to Make Champions League Final Free-to-Air

For the first time since 1992, UK fans must pay to watch the Champions League final, as TNT Sports moves the match behind a £4.99 monthly HBO Max subscription.

The Champions League final has been available on free-to-air television in the UK every year since the competition’s modern format began in 1992. Broadcasters such as ITV and later BT Sport provided the match without a subscription, often simulcasting on platforms like YouTube.

During the BT Sport era, the final remained free to view, with the broadcaster also streaming the live feed on its YouTube channel to reach a wider audience. This arrangement lasted until the 2022‑23 season.

After Warner Bros Discovery acquired BT Sport and rebranded it as TNT Sports, the final remained free only if viewers signed up for the Discovery+ service, which has since been replaced by HBO Max. Now the match is offered exclusively through a £4.99 monthly HBO Max subscription.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told TNT Sports that this year marks the first time in 34 years that the final will not be free to watch in the UK. He said he was saddened to see the change after three decades of free access.

Starmer emphasized that the Champions League is the biggest club football competition worldwide and matters to fans across the country. He argued that hard‑working people should not have to pay for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude.

TNT Sports responded that the final, together with the Europa and Conference League finals, is available for £4.99 per month via an HBO Max subscription, which it describes as exceptional value. The company noted that many Sky customers already receive HBO Max at no extra cost.

The shift means that households without an HBO Max subscription must now pay to view the match, potentially limiting access for some fans. While the monthly fee is modest compared to many sports packages, it ends a longstanding tradition of free‑to‑air coverage for one of the world’s most‑watched club games.

From a business perspective, the move reflects a broader trend of sports rights migrating to streaming platforms, where operators can bundle live events with entertainment content. TNT Sports highlights the HBO Max package as offering both sport and series for a single price.

Looking ahead, TNT Sports will lose its European rights after the 2027‑28 season, when Paramount+ is set to take over the Champions League, while the Europa and Conference League will move to Sky Sports. The BBC will continue to provide highlights and radio commentary, but the live feed will remain behind a paywall unless future negotiations alter the model.

Observers will watch for any regulatory review or public pressure that could influence the next rights cycle and determine whether the final returns to free‑to‑air television.