Champions League final won’t be free to watch for first time in 34 years as Arsenal face PSG

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The Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain will not be available to watch for free in the UK for the first time since the competition’s modern rebrand 34 years ago.

Rights holder TNT Sports has broken with tradition by restricting all three European finals to paying customers, despite English clubs chasing a clean sweep of continental titles. According to The Guardian, the decision has irritated UEFA, with sources suggesting it breaks the spirit of a contract that states “best endeavours” should be made to ensure finals are available for free.

English clubs dominate European scene

Arsenal’s clash with PSG in Budapest caps off a remarkable European campaign for Premier League sides. Aston Villa face Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday, while Crystal Palace meet Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final seven days later.

Since BT Sport first acquired UEFA rights in the 2015-16 season, Champions League and Europa League finals have been streamed live for free. The broadcaster continued this practice even after rebranding to TNT Sports, making finals available through its sister streaming service discovery+.

New paywall frustrates fans

TNT Sports has now opted to restrict access to customers and subscribers to HBO Max, Warner Bros Discovery’s streaming platform launched in the UK in March. New sign-ups can watch the finals with the cheapest HBO Max subscription available for £4.99, while TNT Sports costs £31.99 per month on most platforms.

The move marks a significant departure from recent broadcasting history. Before BT Sport acquired the rights, Champions League finals had been live on ITV from the competition’s launch as the rebranded European Cup in 1992 until 2003, then shared with Sky Sports until 2015.

TNT Sports will lose all three European competitions from the 2027-28 season after being outbid by Paramount for the Champions League and Sky Sports for the Europa and Conference Leagues in UEFA’s recent media rights auction.

The Gunners’ journey to Budapest represents their first Champions League final appearance since 2006, when they lost to Barcelona in Paris. Mikel Arteta’s side overcame Atlético Madrid in a dramatic semi-final to set up the showdown with the French champions.