Spanish public-service broadcaster RTVE has successfully retained the broadcasting rights for the UEFA Champions League final for the next three years, ensuring that sports fans and betting enthusiasts will continue to enjoy free-to-air coverage of Europe's premier football event.
RTVE reportedly paid a sum of €2.5 million ($2.62 million) each for the rights to air the next three Champions League finals in 2025, 2026, and 2027, totaling an investment of €7.5 million. This deal ensures that Spanish viewers can watch these highly anticipated matches without any paywall restrictions.
Outbidding rivals
In securing these rights, RTVE outbid rival broadcasters Mediaset and Atresmedia, demonstrating its commitment to providing high-quality sports content to its audience. However, it's worth noting that pay-TV rightsholder Movistar+ will also broadcast the final as part of their tournament coverage.
The decision by RTVE to retain broadcasting rights is likely influenced by past viewership data. The 2024 Champions League final of Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund attracted an average of 6.17 million people on RTVE - a significant increase from the previous year's final which drew only 3.6 million viewers due to lack of Spanish representation.
Future finals locations
Looking ahead at future tournaments, Munich’s Allianz Arena in Germany is set as host venue for the upcoming 2025 final while Budapest’s Puskas Arena in Hungary will take over in 2026. However, there remains uncertainty regarding where exactly the grand finale will be held in 2027 after Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium was stripped off hosting duties due to renovation work at this historic venue.
Spain has thrown its hat into consideration with Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium, boasting a capacity of 70,460. The only other bid comes from Azerbaijan’s AFFA governing body proposing the Baku Olympic Stadium, home to the Azerbaijani national team and club side Qarabag.
The retention of Champions League final rights by RTVE through 2027 is a significant win for sports fans and betting enthusiasts in Spain. With free-to-air coverage guaranteed for the next three years, viewers can look forward to enjoying Europe's most prestigious football event without any additional costs.
