UC3 confirms preferred bidders for UEFA men’s club competition rights across 19 territories
UC3 has named preferred media rights bidders for UEFA men’s club competitions across 19 territories for 2027–31, reinforcing demand from both broadcasters and streamers as the joint venture pushes a multi-market tender strategy.
UC3 has selected preferred bidders for media rights to UEFA men’s club competitions across 19 territories for the 2027–31 cycle, underlining continued appetite for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League as the market shifts towards hybrid broadcast and streaming models.The process, run alongside agency Relevent Football Partners, 19 territories into a concurrent tender that UC3 said increased competitive intensity and drew interest from incumbents, new entrants, global platforms and local pay and free-to-air operators.According to The Athletic, the latest deals take annual media-rights revenues for UEFA’s men’s club competitions past the $5billion (£3.7bn) mark from 2027 onwards, a 20-per-cent increase on the current figure.UC3 positioned the outcome as validation of a commercial approach designed to balance two forces shaping the rights market, digital-first players building new fan experiences and established broadcasters delivering scale and reach.Preferred bidders were also selected for targeted packages beyond full live rights, including highlights and a UEFA Champions League final standalone offering in certain markets, which UC3 sees as a way to broaden participation and optimise value.UC3 said: “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. This outcome further validates the bold, new commercial strategy adopted by UC3.”The awarded packages show a familiar mix of pan-regional brands and local champions, with Canal+, DAZN, Disney+, ESPN, Paramount+, Sky, Viaplay and other market-specific broadcasters appearing across multiple territories.In Austria, Sky and DAZN split the UEFA Champions League first-pick match windows, with Puls4 included around the final and Canal+ taking all UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League rights.Belgium is set to become a single-buyer market for the cycle, with Canal+ selected for all UEFA men’s club competition rights.Brazil splits by competition, with Warner Bros Discovery selected for all UEFA Champions League rights, while ESPN’s linear networks and Disney+ take UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League rights.Canada is set to be anchored by Paramount+ across all UEFA men’s club competitions, a notable statement of intent in a market where European football has become increasingly central to subscription propositions.Central America, Mexico and South America follow a similar pattern, with the UEFA Champions League split across Paramount+ and ESPN’s linear networks and Disney+, alongside co-exclusive final and highlights arrangements, and full UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League rights with the ESPN and Disney combination.Denmark also splits by competition, with Viaplay selected for all UEFA Champions League rights and Disney+ for UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.Finland divides the portfolio between Nelonen for all UEFA Champions League rights and Viaplay for UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.Norway assigns the UEFA Champions League to TV2, with Viaplay taking UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.Poland sees Canal+ selected for all UEFA Champions League rights, with Polsat taking UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.Portugal breaks out into multiple layers, with Sport TV taking the first-pick UEFA Champions League matches plus highlights and a co-exclusive final, Livemode co-exclusive for the final, and DAZN selected for the remaining UEFA Champions League inventory and all UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League rights.The Republic of Ireland package is structured around multiple partners, including Premier Sports and RTÉ on first-pick windows and co-exclusive final coverage, Sky on remaining UEFA Champions League matches and all UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League rights, and additional packages linked to the UK process involving Amazon and Paramount+.Romania is set for Digi on all UEFA Champions League rights, with UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League rights to be communicated later.Sweden is assigned as an all-rights market for Disney+ across UEFA men’s club competitions.Switzerland splits between Blue for the UEFA Champions League, DAZN for UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, and Canal+ holding co-exclusive French-language packages tied to the France process.UC3 said awards not included in the list, including Bulgaria, Czechia and Slovakia, plus Romania’s UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League rights, will be communicated in due course.UC£ have already sold the media rights for the 2027-31 cycle in Europe’s five biggest markets – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – in November.The next steps are contract finalisation with preferred bidders and further announcements in markets where packages have been awarded but not yet disclosed.