UEFA Wants $3.4 Billion For European Soccer Broadcast Rights
- Top teams guaranteed more Champions League slots from 2018
- New kickoff times to boost sales on pay TV and Middle East
Guy-Laurent Epstein.
Photographer: Adrien Morlent/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The latest packages of Champions League broadcast rights, featuring more of Europe’s top club soccer teams and more prime-time games, are expected to contribute to a record 3.2 billion euros ($3.4 billion) per season in media and marketing income, said UEFA’s marketing head, Guy-Laurent Epstein.
That would mark a 28 percent increase over the last deal, which brought in 2.5 billion euros per year, making it one of the more valuable sports properties in the world. Nearly every country in the world broadcasts Champions League games, and media rights account for about 80 percent of UEFA’s club soccer revenue. Sponsorships make up the rest.