Prime Video will continue to have the first choice of Wednesday night games from the UCL
Amazon has reportedly agreed a €110m-per-season deal with UEFA to retain the rights to show selected fixtures from the UEFA Champions League in Italy. The conglomerate consolidates its position as a key figure in the broadcasting of Europe's most elite club competition in an agreement which will run until the conclusion of the 2026/27 football season.
Under the deal, Amazon will get first choice of which game to show in Italy on its Prime Video live streaming service during every Wednesday night UCL gameweek.
The streamer has also struck similar deals in the UK and Germany as it looks to muscle in on the competition in the next media rights cycle.
Starting from the 2024/25 campaign, when the new Champions League format kicks in, through until the end of the 2026/27 season, Prime Video will air one match per gameweek in the UK, around twenty games across the season. A similar deal in Germany allows Amazon first pick of Champions League fixtures on Tuesday evenings.
Sky also renew rights deal with UEFA
Linear broadcaster Sky will also retain its share of UEFA Champions League matches in Italy, paying around €190 per season for the vast majority of fixtures. However, Mediaset, with whom Sky currently share rights to UEFA club matches in Italy, is set to be left by the wayside, as Sky pursues an exclusive linear rights deal.
Securing the largest chunk of Champions League rights in Italy will go some way to restoring the status of broadcasting giant Sky in Italy, after its reputation was somewhat damaged by losing its long held grip on domestic Serie A rights to live streaming upstart DAZN several years ago.
The continuation of this deal with UEFA, and the switch to an exclusive rights model, should hugely bolster the company's football rights portfolio.
Sky will also be tempted to try and win back the domestic TV rights to the Serie A when they go to tender later this year.
Is live streaming the future of football?
Digital media companies now make up one fifth of all football broadcast rights holders as the game moves continuously towards an online viewing model.
With more and more entertainment moving online, how long will it be until live football is an exclusively internet-based phenomenon? Probably not as long as you think.
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