Football fans were surprised to discover that the Champions League will be undergoing significant changes, as two new broadcasters will show the tournament in the 2024-25 season.
Previously, the tournament was exclusively shown on TNT Sports, but now Amazon Prime Video and the BBC have also secured rights to air the tournament until 2027.
However, as Amazon will have the first pick of 17 Champions League games on Tuesday nights, TNT’s monopoly will remain practically the same, with 184 of 204 matches retained.
Moreover, it is reported that TNT will continue to air Europa League and Europa Conference League games exclusively on their platform.
The BBC will show the tournament’s highlights on Wednesdays during the match weeks on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app.
Football fans were left shocked to find out the Champions League football will also be shown by Amazon Prime Video and the BBC
However, the second and third European competitions will remain exclusives of TNT Sports
The BBC will show the Champions League highlights on iPlayer, BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app
This marks the first time the BBC will be showing the men’s competition, and the deal also includes the finals, with highlights rights set to be confirmed, according to BBC Sport.
Speaking of the shock deal, the BBC Director of Sport Barbara Slater said: ‘This package of highlights and digital content will allow football fans to follow the Uefa Champions League, wherever and however they like.
‘The Uefa Champions League is a wonderful addition to our portfolio of football output on the BBC and we can’t wait to get started in 2024.’
The new Wednesday highlights will be presented in a Match of the Day-style format.
UEFA’s marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein, said he was also ‘thrilled’ the BBC was on board. It is reported that the governing body earned £ 1.45 billion overall from its new broadcast deal, a significant increase of 20 per cent.
However, some soccer fans were surprised by the new deal upon discovering that Amazon and BBC Sports will also broadcast the beloved competition.
One said: ‘Amazon have Champions League games this season? Have I been living under a rock?’
A further fan wrote: ‘Champions League on Amazon and TNT Sports this season,’ accompanied by a thinking emoji and then added: ‘also highlights on BBC’
Another supporter said: ‘Just seen this season TNT, amazon prime and the BBC will be showing champions league games’
Meanwhile a frustrated fan wrote: ‘So are Amazon doing the Champions League in a sneaky manner for the opening rounds – Away matches only to be chosen.’
Football fans have been reacting to the new television rights deal between Amazon Prime and the Champions League
The Champions League’s new era will include 32 clubs in one group, and each team will have eight fixtures during the group stage.
However, they will be divided into four pots based on their performance determined by the coefficient ranking system.
In this way, each team will be drawn to face two teams from each pot.