Netflix is reportedly preparing to bid approximately $5.9 billion for the global broadcasting rights to the UEFA Champions League, starting from the 2027–28 season. This move marks a significant step for the streaming giant into live sports broadcasting.
The bid is part of a broader overhaul by UEFA and the European Football Clubs organization (formerly the European Club Association) to modernize the sale of media rights for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. The new strategy aims to attract global streaming platforms and increase annual revenue from approximately €4.4 billion to €5 billion or more.
One of the key changes in the upcoming rights cycle is the introduction of a “global first-pick” option, allowing a single broadcaster to secure exclusive worldwide rights to one Champions League match per round. The winning platform would gain the first choice of Tuesday games, with restrictions to ensure variety and prevent the same teams from being featured repeatedly.
Netflix’s potential involvement in this bidding process follows its recent ventures into live sports broadcasting, including securing U.S. rights for FIFA’s 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups and airing high-profile events such as the Tyson vs. Paul boxing match, which garnered 65 million peak streams.
The outcome of this bidding process is expected to reshape the landscape of European football broadcasting, with significant implications for both traditional and digital media platforms.
Read more on Tech Gist Africa:
Apple has launched it’s first ever sports app
Canal+ has officially completed its $3.17 billion acquisition of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group
