The BBC has secured the rights to broadcast Champions League highlights for the next three seasons. The upcoming expanded competition will feature 36 teams and a new format, with matches increasing to 189.
The BBC will air the games on TV, iPlayer, and online during each European matchweek, marking their first access to the Champions League coverage. In a released statement, the BBC Director of Sport expressed excitement about the new deal and the opportunity to bring the Champions League to a wider audience in the UK.
The broadcasting agreement is in place until the end of the 2026/27 Champions League and is valued at over £1.4 billion. However, Premier League fans will not see five of their sides in action in the competition due to the expanded format.
The format change had initially raised the possibility of the fifth-placed team in the Premier League gaining automatic qualification, but poor performance by British teams in European competitions this season has led to the Bundesliga securing an extra place instead. This development was confirmed by UEFA following Borussia Dortmund’s win over PSG in the Champions League semi-final first leg.