Netflix Bidding For Champions League Rights; UEFA Chases Record €5 Billion Annual Deal

You might be watching the UEFA Champions League very differently soon. Get this: Netflix is reportedly jumping into the ring, preparing a bid to broadcast top-tier Champions League matches globally starting with the 2027-28 season. This isn’t just a small shift. It’s a potential earthquake in sports broadcasting, all part of UEFA’s ambitious plan to rake in a staggering €5 billion every single year.

Key Takeaways

Netflix is expected to bid for the ‘global first pick’ package, securing one top UCL match per round worldwide.
UEFA is targeting at least €5 billion annually from media rights starting in the 2027-2033 cycle.
This is a huge jump from the current £3.3 billion per season revenue.
Other giants like Amazon, Apple, and Disney are also expected to compete, sparking a massive bidding war.
The new deal could involve longer six-year contracts, a change from the usual three-year cycle.

So, What Exactly Is This ‘Global First Pick’?

Look, this is where it gets really interesting. UEFA is creating a brand-new package designed specifically for a global streaming platform. If Netflix wins, they would get the exclusive worldwide rights to the top Tuesday game in each round of the Champions League. Imagine one service, one subscription, for the biggest game of the week, no matter where you are in the world.

But there’s a catch. To keep things fair and interesting, there will be a restriction on how often the same team can be featured. So you won’t just be watching the same powerhouse club every single week. This move is a clear signal that UEFA is actively courting massive streaming services to change how its content is sold.

The Money Game: Chasing €5 Billion

Let’s talk numbers because they are absolutely massive. UEFA and the European clubs are aiming to generate at least €5 billion annually. That’s about £4.3 billion or $5.8 billion. To put that in perspective, their current deal brings in around £3.3 billion per season. They’re trying to add more than a billion pounds to their yearly income.

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To make this happen, they’ve launched a new tender process through UC3, a joint venture between UEFA and the clubs. They’re even considering offering longer six-year contract terms instead of the traditional three-year deals to make the offer more attractive to bidders looking for long-term stability.

A Streaming Showdown Is Coming

Expert Analysis

Here’s the thing. This isn’t just about Netflix. It’s about the future of live sports. Netflix’s move follows its recent deep dive into live events, including boxing, WWE, and even the NFL. By bidding for the Champions League, it’s making a definitive statement: it’s a serious player in sports broadcasting. This forces other platforms to react.

Social Media Storm

You can bet this will cause a huge debate online. Will this make football more accessible or just create another subscription you have to pay for? The entry of Amazon, Apple, Disney, and DAZN into the bidding war means we’re heading for a monumental clash. They’re all expected to compete fiercely, which could drive the final price to record levels. The tender process for the 2027-2033 cycle officially kicked off in October 2025, so the battle has already begun.

So, what do you think? Is putting the Champions League on Netflix a brilliant move for fans, or just another way to fragment the beautiful game? One thing is for sure: the way you watch football is about to change forever.

Netflix Bidding For Champions League Rights; UEFA Chases Record €5 Billion Annual Deal

Key Takeaways

So, What Exactly Is This ‘Global First Pick’?