The Caribbean Premier Sports Limited (CPSL) has recently acquired exclusive rights to club competitions organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). This significant development covers the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League matches for the next three seasons.
The acquisition entails that Rush Sports, Flow Sports, and Sports Max channels owned by CPSL will be broadcasting the top-tier UEFA Champions League (UCL), second-tier Europa League, and third-tier Conference League. This move marks a new era in sports broadcasting within the region as it allows CPSL platforms to cover an impressive total of 545 matches across each of the 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 seasons.
Flow Sports and Sports Max have previously shared UEFA club rights for several cycles. The tender for these rights was made live by UEFA along with its club competition rights agency Team Marketing on February 26th. The deadline set for bids was March 26th.
Caribbean players in spotlight
This development is particularly exciting as players from the Caribbean are set to participate in UEFA's upcoming season. One notable player includes Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey from Jamaica who will be participating in these prestigious tournaments.
In terms of international broadcast partner portfolio for UEFA’s trio of men’s club competitions, DAZN secured exclusive rights earlier this month in New Zealand while Megogo streaming service retained their rights in Ukraine during mid-June.
In North America specifically, Paramount continues to hold exclusive English-language rights within US borders while Spanish-language rights are held by TelevisaUnivision.
Changes in format for upcoming seasons
UEFA's upcoming season will see a change in format across all its club competitions. The Champions League will now comprise a total of 203 UCL matches per season across 19 match weeks, a significant increase from the previous 17 match weeks and 137 games.
The Europa League and Conference League will also see an expansion this season, with the total number of matches increasing from 282 to a staggering 342. This change in format is expected to provide more opportunities for teams and players while offering fans more thrilling football action.
CPSL's acquisition of UEFA club rights marks a significant milestone in Caribbean sports broadcasting. With an increased number of matches and new formats, fans can look forward to exciting seasons ahead.
