The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the UK's public-service broadcaster, has secured a five-year deal to broadcast live matches from the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) club competition starting this season. This agreement will significantly enhance the visibility of women's football in the UK and provide sports fans with more opportunities to engage with their favourite teams.
Running until 2030, this deal will see up to seven live matches – including the final – aired each season across various BBC platforms. These include BBC television channels, BBC iPlayer streaming platform, and BBC Sport website and app. In addition to these, both legs of one semi-final and four matches from earlier stages in the competition will also be broadcasted. Highlights from other games will be available across all digital platforms and social media channels managed by BBC Sport. This season, three British clubs - Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United - are set to compete in UWCL. Reigning champions Arsenal are expected to put on a strong performance while Chelsea and Manchester United aim for glory.
The coverage begins with Manchester United's match against Paris St-Germain at Old Trafford on November 12th followed by Chelsea’s clash with Spanish giants Barcelona on November 20th. BBC Radio 5 Live is also set to continue providing live commentary throughout the season for those who prefer audio updates.
Disney holds bulk of UWCL rights
While this new agreement marks a significant step for women’s football coverage in Britain, it should be noted that Disney holds most of the UWCL rights within UK territory. Earlier this year, Disney won a rights tender for broadcasting all 75 fixtures each season through its OTT streaming service Disney+. This five-year deal commences with the upcoming 2025-26 campaign running through till end of the 2029-30 season.
This new deal complements the BBC's existing agreement with UEFA to show highlights from the men's Champions League during the current 2024-27 three-year cycle. This was a landmark moment for BBC as it marked their first time securing rights to Europe’s elite club competition.
Alex Kay-Jelski, BBC director of sport, said:
"This is a great moment for women's football and for BBC Sport. Bringing the UEFA Women's Champions League to a free-to-air audience is huge, but what makes this truly game-changing is our digital offering.
"Our multi-platform strategy means fans won't just watch the biggest games live on TV; they'll experience the best moments, goals, and highlights across our website, app, and social media platforms. We're making the competition more accessible, more visible, and more connected than ever before."
Changes in UWCL format
The UWCL is set to change its format for the 2025-26 campaign, moving towards a league phase featuring 18 sides, followed by a playoff round. This shift will increase the number of games on offer, providing more content for fans and broadcasters alike. The new campaign kicks off on October 7th.
This five-year deal between BBC and UEFA is an exciting development for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike. It not only increases access to live women's football matches but also contributes significantly towards promoting gender equality in sports broadcasting.
