Amazon Nearing £1.5 Billion Champions League UK Rights

UK broadcast rights to the UEFA Champions League are close to being secured by Amazon from 2024.

The £1.5 billion (AUD$2.6 billion) deal would see Amazon split coverage rights with current holder BT Sports, who newly renewed a AUD$2.2 Billion contract for the 2021-2024 broadcast rights.

The agreement would see coverage split between the two companies, whilst newly covering the UEFA Europa League and Europa Conference League.

The Times reported the BBC has additionally gained Champions League highlight rights for its public television broadcast.

Amazon, utilising its prime video service, made a US$94.3 million (AUD$138 million) deal in December 2019 that allows the company to broadcast the Champion League to Germany until 2024.

Amazon made a deal in 2018 which outlined exclusivity rights for 20 Premier League matches per season on Amazon Prime spanning the 2019/2020 and 2021/2022 seasons.

The news comes after ESPN beats Amazon in gaining US F1 rights.

Elsewhere in Champions League rights news, French pay-tv service, Canal+, has also been awarded a three-year deal totalling US$499 million (AUD$731.9 million) a season for exclusive rights of UEFA’s club competitions.

Set for a 2024 start, Canal+ reportedly offered a 25% increase compared to the current US$390 million (AUD$571.9 million) UEFA receives under contractual agreements.

Canal+ currently shares rights to the Champions League with BeIN sports, yet the current deal will allow Canal+ to broadcast 550 matches per season on 60 nights a year.