AP Source: Britain’s BT retains Champions League TV rights

By: Rob Harris, The Associated Press Posted: Last Modified:

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LONDON - The Associated Press has learned the rights to broadcast Champions League soccer games in Britain have been retained by BT Sport.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/11/2019 (2478 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LONDON – The Associated Press has learned the rights to broadcast Champions League soccer games in Britain have been retained by BT Sport.

A person familiar with the three-year deal told The Associated Press that BT will continue to show every game live and air highlights for three seasons from 2021-2024.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deal ahead of an official announcement.

Guy Fawkes Night fireworks go off outside the stadium during the Champions League group E soccer match between Liverpool and Genk at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Guy Fawkes Night fireworks go off outside the stadium during the Champions League group E soccer match between Liverpool and Genk at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

The deal is not worth less than the 1.2 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) that BT paid for the 2018-2021 rights. Precise details of the finances were not available.

BT and UEFA declined comment.

It means games in European soccer’s elite competition in Britain will remain on subscription television, although BT has made the final available free.

BT faced opposition from satellite broadcaster Sky, which was bought last year by American telecommunications conglomerate Comcast and was trying to regain rights it held until 2015. Free-to-air channel ITV was also exploring regaining rights, having shown one game per round until 2015.

Britain is the most lucrative market for Champions League rights.

English teams have contested the last two finals, with Liverpool losing to Real Madrid in 2018 before beating Premier League rival Tottenham in last season’s showpiece.

UEFA last week struck a deal in the United States with CBS and Univision, who will pay a combined $140 million a season for Champions League rights from 2021 in a three-year deal. That is an increase from the $100 million in the current Turner/Univision deal.

The American deal is yet to be announced but it was reported on Friday by the AP.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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