UEFA has sold the media rights to its club competitions for just under €1.5 billion in the USA, according to reports.
Paramount Global, which is behind the CBS TV network, secured the licences for the Champions League, European League and Conference League, beating out Amazon. CBS confirmed the new agreement, which will apply from the 2024/2025 season, on Friday evening (local time). However, CBS did not give exact figures.
250 million euros per season
CBS had already broadcast these competitions in the USA before, but at much more favourable conditions. According to “The Athletic”, the new contract runs for six years and UEFA will receive 250 million euros per season. Previously, it was 100 million per season. There will be a separate sale for the Spanish-language rights.
“UEFA has been a key driver for Paramount+ from the beginning and we are thrilled to extend this successful partnership to showcase even more world-class football, building on the incredible momentum we have created over the past two years,” said Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports. The Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC (1-0) had 2.8 million viewers watching on the CBS network in May, more than ever before. In 2026, the World Cup will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Reform comes into effect in 2024
From 2024, UEFA’s long-planned reform of the top flight will come into force. Among other things, the field of participants in the Champions League will be increased from 32 to 36 teams, thus increasing the number of matches from 125 per season to 225.
In the preliminary round, each team will play eight games against eight different opponents (four home games, four away games), with the opponents drawn in advance from four seed pots. After that, the top eight teams in the 36-team league qualify directly for the round of 16. The teams in 9th to 24th place will play out the remaining eight Round of 16 winners in a new play-off round (with first and second legs).
