Story perspectives

Starmer urges free Champions League final, slams £4.99 fee

5/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

United Kingdom – Sir Keir Starmer wrote to TNT Sports urging a free broadcast of the Champions League final.
Arsenal will face Paris Saint Germain in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30, and match will stream on HBO Max for £4.99 a month.
Starmer, an Arsenal season-ticket holder, said hard-working people should not have to pay for a subscription to watch the game.
Labour MP Jon Trickett and shadow sport minister Louie French urged a free-to-air final, warning fans of extra costs.
TNT Sports said three Premier League clubs reached UEFA finals and all three are offered for £4.99 a month.

Summary

Story summary

TNT Sports will lose the UK television rights to all three UEFA club competitions from the 2027-28 season after being outbid in the media-rights auction.
Paramount secured the Champions League package, while Sky Sports won the Europa League and Conference League rights.
UEFA officials have expressed irritation, saying TNT’s pay-wall breaches the contract’s “best endeavours” clause to keep finals free-to-air.
Six years ago the UK government rejected a proposal to add the Champions League final to the “crown jewels” list, which would have guaranteed free broadcasting.
TNT Sports highlighted that its operations employ about 4,000 staff in the United Kingdom, citing this as part of its justification for the subscription model.

Summary

Story summary

Arsenal have never won the Champions League, their nearest chance being a 2-1 defeat to FC Barcelona in 2006.
They reached this final by beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final and entered as reigning Premier League champions.
Only eight clubs have ever claimed the trophy unbeaten: Marseille, AC Milan, Ajax, Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
A victory would add Arsenal to that exclusive list, delivering the club’s first flawless European campaign.

History

Historical Context

In 1992 the English First Division became the Premier League, a new competition that has since featured 51 clubs and reshaped football financing. Now Sir Keir Starmer and MPs Jon Trickett and Louie French are pressing UEFA and TNT Sports to make the 2024 Champions League final free-to-air, reviving long-standing debates over TV rights and public access.

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Story summary

United Kingdom – Sir Keir Starmer wrote to TNT Sports urging a free broadcast of the Champions League final.
Arsenal will face Paris Saint Germain in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30, and match will stream on HBO Max for £4.99 a month.
Starmer, an Arsenal season-ticket holder, said hard-working people should not have to pay for a subscription to watch the game.
Labour MP Jon Trickett and shadow sport minister Louie French urged a free-to-air final, warning fans of extra costs.
TNT Sports said three Premier League clubs reached UEFA finals and all three are offered for £4.99 a month.

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