BT Sports secures UK rights to European football until 2027
The sports channel provider also stated it will screen 533 out of a possible 550 matches – which is 113 (27%) more games than previously shown – in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
The three-year extension will also include highlights and in-match clips, and it has pledged to make the finals of each competition available for all to watch and not just those who pay for a BT Sport subscription.
Exciting competitions
A rejig of the formats means there is the possibility of a fifth English team in the Champions League and guarantees Scottish participation in both the Champions League and Europa League.
Marc Allera, chief executive of BT Consumer Division, said: “BT Sport continues to be the home of the UEFA club competitions until 2027 and we are extremely proud to have the privilege of 12 years of broadcasting one of the most exciting competitions in the world.
“It is fantastic news for our viewers that from 2024, we will be able to show more games than ever before live and exclusive on BT Sport.”
£305m price tag per year
UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein added: “Throughout 2024-27, BT will broadcast more live matches than ever before, which will be supplemented by its exceptional array of original programming.”
The costs of the rights awarded to BT Sport is about £305m per annum. BT expects to pay a deposit of about £61m in July 2022. Following the move of BT Sport into the joint venture (JV) being created by BT Group and Warner Bros Discovery, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2022, the JV would pay the rights costs of about £305m per annum less the deposit. The planned JV is subject to customary closing conditions, including CMA approval.
