UEFA announces bid results for rights to broadcast men’s Champions League matches live in 19 markets from 2027 to 2031, with Disney+ participating
Disney+ continues its shift to live soccer streaming (Image: Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Disney+ has bought the rights to broadcast men’s Champions League matches live for the first time. Streaming giants have been named preferred bidders in TV markets around the world.
UEFA’s Commercial Department has carried out a bidding process for Champions League rights for the 2027-31 cycle in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central America, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, South America, Sweden and Switzerland.
Disney+, the paid subscription streaming service owned by The Walt Disney Company, announced Thursday that it has successfully bid for rights in Brazil, Central America, Mexico, South America, as well as Denmark and Sweden.
The news follows an announcement in November that another streaming company, Paramount+, had acquired rights in the UK and Germany from 2027 to 2031. The announcement marks a clear shift from traditional broadcasters to streaming giants.
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UEFA said it had carried out a “very competitive bidding process which attracted strong interest from a wide range of media outlets”. The group also noted that “the evolution is being driven by the continued growth of digital-first platforms globally.”
Once the current tender is complete, UEFA’s total television rights are expected to exceed 5 billion euros (approximately 430 billion yen) a year. The process is being overseen by UC3, a joint venture between UEFA, European football club lobbying group and commercial rights sales company Relevent Football Partners.
Disney already owns the rights to the Women’s Champions League across Europe until 2030, as well as the Europa League and Conference League in Sweden and Denmark. Also featured are the Spanish cup competition Copa del Rey, which was played in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, and the German cup competition, DFB Pokal, which was played in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
Champions League broadcast rights show clear trend towards streaming platforms (Image: Getty Images)
It secured rights in 19 markets where a wide range of companies bid, including Sky, DAZN, Warner Bros Discovery, Canal+, Paramount+, Premier Sports and Viaplay.
“UEFA Club Football brings some of the most exciting nights in sports – midweek matches, knockout ties and the biggest match energy – moments that stay with you long after the final whistle,” said Carl Holmes, General Manager, Disney+ EMEA.
“We are particularly proud to be able to offer our Swedish customers the UEFA Champions League men’s and women’s competitions for the first time ever, alongside the renewal of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League in Sweden and Denmark.
“As we continue to expand our sports offering in Europe, fans can now enjoy the biggest night of football across the UEFA Champions League men’s and women’s competitions, alongside the stories they already love on Disney+.”
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