Record-Breaking Media Rights Deal for UEFA Club Competitions

UEFA’s joint venture UC3 announced that the 2027-31 media-rights auction for its men’s club competitions – the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League – covered 19 territories in Europe and the Americas. The contracts lift expected annual media-rights revenue above $5 billion, a 20 percent rise on the current cycle, and include exclusive rights for Paramount+ in Canada and shared rights for Disney+ and ESPN in Mexico and South America.

New York TimesSports Business Journal

UC3, with sales agency Relevent Football Partners, sold rights to Paramount Skydance/Paramount+, Disney+ and ESPN, Canal+, DAZN, Sky, Viaplay and Netflix. U.S. media giants Walt Disney Co. and Paramount Skydance Corp. were noted as drivers of higher bids.

New York Times

UC3 has secured over $3.8 billion (£2.8 billion) in annual revenue, including $910 million (£670 million) from the 19-territory package – a 40 percent increase over the 2024-27 cycle. Sources say 75 percent of the $5 billion target is locked; Bloomberg cites total broadcast and commercial rights revenue above $5.9 billion.

New York Times

UC3’s media release said the tender “generated strong interest from a broad range of media organisations” and that the result “validates the bold, new commercial strategy adopted by UC3,” highlighting the “global appeal and commercial strength” of UEFA’s men’s club competitions.

New York Times

Observers noted that replacing TEAM Marketing with Relevent raised eyebrows and prompted questions about the long-term stability of the new commercial model, though no formal opposition or regulatory challenge has been reported.

New York Times

UC3 projects annual media-rights revenue just above $5 billion, while Bloomberg cites $5.9 billion. Terms for pending Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa auctions remain undisclosed, and the exact UEFA-club revenue split for the new cycle is not public.

New York Times

• “By running such a large number of markets concurrently, UC3, together with its agency Relevent Football Partners, created a unique, highly competitive tender process that generated strong interest from a broad range of media organisations,” — UC3, media release

New York Times

• “Once again, the global appeal and commercial strength of (UEFA’s men’s club competitions) were underlined, with multiple bidders – including Canal+, DAZN, Disney+, ESPN, Paramount+, Sky and Viaplay – selected across multiple territories, alongside a wide range of market-specific broadcasters.” — UC3, media release

New York Times

• “bought rights for the men’s competition and demonstrates the widening appeal of the Champions League to broadcasters and streamers.” — Bloomberg News source

Sports Business Journal

UC3 will hold the remaining auctions for Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa later in 2026. Completion could push total annual media-rights revenue well beyond $5 billion, expanding the pool shared with clubs.

New York Times